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Iberis sempervirens

Image of Iberis sempervirens

John Rickard

Family

Brassicaceae

Botanical Name

Iberis sempervirens

Plant Common Name

Perennial Candytuft

General Description

The bright white blooms of perennial candytuft add old-fashioned charm to spring borders. Narrow, evergreen foliage of dark green covers it throughout the year and adds textural interest in winter. This crucifer hails from warm, dry locations across the Mediterranean, so it is also quite drought tolerant and tough.

Perennial candytuft is technically a subshrub, which means its stems are semi-woody and do not die back in winter. The low, mound-forming plant spreads over time slowly to form sweeps of green. In spring it offers clusters of pure white flowers in abundance. These are four-petaled, have a sweet fragrance and attract bees and butterflies. The small, brown, inconspicuous fruits that follow are called siliques and drop their seed by summer.

These are full sun plants all the way. They naturally inhabit coastal and mountainous regions that have dry, rocky or sandy calcareous soils. After flowering, it is wise to shear the plants back by 1/3 to maintain a neat appearance and keep them from self-sowing. They may also need to be divided every two to three years if a smaller plant is desired. Division should be done in fall.

This easy to grow ornamental is ideal for rock gardens, wall plantings or any open sunny perennial garden. It can also be planted as a ground cover for tough areas. There are lots of wonder cultivars that vary in size and floral characteristics.

Characteristics

  • AHS Heat Zone

    9 - 3

  • USDA Hardiness Zone

    5 - 9

  • Sunset Zone

    1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

  • Plant Type

    Perennial

  • Sun Exposure

    Full Sun, Partial Sun

  • Height

    6"-12" / 15.2cm - 30.5cm

  • Width

    24"-36" / 61.0cm - 91.4cm

  • Bloom Time

    Spring, Early Summer

  • Native To

    Southern Europe, Mediterranean

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Neutral, Alkaline

  • Soil Drainage

    Well Drained

  • Soil type

    Loam, Sand

  • Tolerances

    Salt

  • Growth Rate

    Fast

  • Water Requirements

    Drought Tolerant, Average Water

  • Habit

    Cushion/Mound-forming

  • Seasonal Interest

    Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Showy

  • Flower Color

    White

  • Fruit Color

    Green

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Summer)

    Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Fall)

    Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Winter)

    Dark Green

  • Fragrant Flowers

    Yes

  • Fragrant Fruit

    No

  • Fragrant Foliage

    No

  • Bark or Stem Fragrant

    No

  • Flower Petal Number

    Single

  • Repeat Bloomer

    No

  • Showy Fruit

    No

  • Edible Fruit

    No

  • Showy Foliage

    No

  • Foliage Texture

    Fine

  • Foliage Sheen

    Glossy

  • Evergreen

    Yes

  • Showy Bark

    No

Special Characteristics

  • Usage

    Alpine, Edging, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    No

  • Invasive

    No

  • Attracts

    Butterflies

  • Self-Sowing

    Yes