College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources

Plant Database

Iberis sempervirens

Candytuft

Brassicaceae

CandytuftCandytuft
Expand

Habitat

  • native to southern parts of Europe and parts of Asia
  • zone 4

Habit and Form

  • low growing groundcover
  • evergreen
  • 0.5" to 1" tall
  • spreading habit
  • slow growth rate
  • fine texture

Summer Foliage

  • simple, evergreen leaves
  • alternate leaf arrangement
  • linear leaf shape
  • 1" to 2" long
  • entire leaf margin
  • dark green leaf color

Autumn Foliage

  • none

Flowers

  • white flowers
  • flowers borne in terminal racemes
  • blooms in late April
  • flowers are long lasting

Fruit

  • not ornamentally important

Bark

  • thin
  • covered by foliage
  • green

Culture

  • easy to transplant
  • full sun to partial shade
  • pH adaptable
  • prune after flowering

Landscape Use

  • for flowering effect
  • for early color
  • for evergreen groundcover

Liabilities

  • powdery mildew
  • plant can become leggy open

ID Features

  • green stems and leaves all year
  • pure white flowers in April
  • low growing
  • linear leaves

Propagation

  • by seed
  • by cuttings

Cultivars/Varieties

'Christmas Snow' (also listed as 'Snowflake') - A notable selection, as the plant reportedly flowers twice during the season -- both in spring and fall. The plant grows 1' tall and bears lustrous green leaves.

'Little Gem' and 'Purity' - These two forms are more dwarf than the species, usually failing to exceed 6"-8" tall. The leaves are smaller, as well, but the plants produce abundant flower clusters.

© Copyright Mark H. Brand, 1997-2015.

The digital materials (images and text) available from the UConn Plant Database are protected by copyright. Public use via the Internet for non-profit and educational purposes is permitted. Use of the materials for profit is prohibited.

Citation and Acknowledgements: University of Connecticut Plant Database, https://plantdatabase.uconn.edu/, Mark H. Brand, Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, Storrs, CT 06269-4067 USA.