Iberis
( eye - BEAR - iss )
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At-A-Glance InformationCommonly known as Candytuft, these plants reach a foot tall and are from southern and western Europe. They need full sun to partial shade and regular water. These flowers will attract butterflies to your garden. Both annual and perennial varieties bloom freely over early spring and summer months. Annuals prefer areas where summer nights are cool. These versatile plants can be used as small-scale groundcover, as edgings, in rock gardens or containers, and are great as cut flowers. Take care when planting these flowers in the garden, as they are mildly poisonous to humans and pets.
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Iberis Species and Varietals
The genus Iberis is a member of the plant family Brassicaceae and includes 30 species. Candytuft grow best in zones 1-24, though this varies somewhat depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
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Iberis amara (Wild Candytuft, Rocket Candytuft, Bitter Candytuft, Annual Candytuft) This species is native to Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Spain and Switzerland. It has been introduced to and naturalized in many other areas around the globe. This species typically reaches between 4 and 12 inches tall when in bloom and produces green foliage and white flowers. There are also some garden varieties available in deeper shades of pink, violet, or fuchsia. |
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Iberis 'Absolutely Amethyst' This foot tall perennial has pinkish purple blooms. |
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Iberis gibraltarica (Gibraltar Candytuft) Best in zones 4-9 and 14-24, stems on this plant bear flat clusters of light pink to purple flowers which sometimes have white centers. These plants are native to North Africa, and are the national flower of Gibraltar. This species is fantastic for growing in rock gardens and in borders. |
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Iberis 'Masterpiece' This perennial flower grows to 12 inches tall and 24 inches wide, with an upright habit. Flowers are white with pink centers. |
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Iberis saxatilis (Rock Candytuft) This species is native to southern Europe and northwestern Africa, and is typically used as an ornamental in rock gardens. It has a cascading growth habit, and can be evergreen or semi-evergreen depending on the climate it is grown in. Flowers are typically white, aging to pinkish or purplish. Stems form adventitious roots where they touch soil. Great for alpine gardens. |
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Iberis sempervirens (Evergreen Candytuft, Perennial Candytuft)
This species is a perennial favorite and grows to 12 inches tall and about as wide. Leaves are dark green and endure throughout the year. These plants are native to Morocco, Algeria, Syria, Turkey, Spain, France, Italy, Romania, and the Balkan Peninsula. Flower clusters of white are perfect for adding softness to fresh arrangements. Varieties are outlined below.
This species is a perennial favorite and grows to 12 inches tall and about as wide. Leaves are dark green and endure throughout the year. These plants are native to Morocco, Algeria, Syria, Turkey, Spain, France, Italy, Romania, and the Balkan Peninsula. Flower clusters of white are perfect for adding softness to fresh arrangements. Varieties are outlined below.
'Alexander's White'
This variety is compact, getting to 6 inches tall and has delicate foliage. |
'Little Gem'
Reaches 4-6 inches tall. |
'Purity'
6-12 inch tall plant that has a spreading habit. |
'Snowflake'
4-12 inches tall and 1.5-3 feet wide. Flowers form in larger clusters on shorter stems. |
'Snow White'
12 inch tall, 24-inch wide mound. |
'Tahoe'
An upright grower that reaches 10-12 inches tall and just as wide. |
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Iberis umbellata (Globe Candytuft, Garden Candytuft) This species is a bushy annual that grows to 12-15 inches tall and 9 inches wide. Flowers come in a variety of colors including slalmon, white, pink, rose, red, purple, and lilac. Variety 'Candy Cane' (pictured) has rose, purple, lilac and white flowers and the Dwarf Fairy series reaches just 6 inches tall. |
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Caring for Iberis
Plant annual species in spring, and perennial species in spring or fall. Iberis, or Candytuft, does well in full sun exposure. These plants can grow well in partial shade, but will flower best when they receive between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day. In warmer climates, provide some late afternoon shade when temperatures are the warmest. They need excellent drainage to thrive; in their native range, they typically grow in gravelly or sandy alkaline soils. They are perfect for rock gardens. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing.
Fertilize yearly in early springtime with a application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Pruning Iberis plants is simple: remove spent blooms and any unsightly foliage. These plants bounce back well from pruning. Late in the season, plants can have a tendency to get leggy, especially if they are grown in too much shade. Plants can be cut down to about four inches tall at this point, and a flush of new growth and flowering will be triggered.
Fertilize yearly in early springtime with a application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Pruning Iberis plants is simple: remove spent blooms and any unsightly foliage. These plants bounce back well from pruning. Late in the season, plants can have a tendency to get leggy, especially if they are grown in too much shade. Plants can be cut down to about four inches tall at this point, and a flush of new growth and flowering will be triggered.
Propagation
Iberis can be propagated either by division or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Candytuft, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Iberis by Seed
Propagating Iberis by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:
Propagating Iberis by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
- In either late winter or early springtime, get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Propagating Iberis by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:
- Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the root(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
- Start to tease apart the roots with your gloved fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section attached.
- Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions and water thoroughly.
- Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.
Candytuft seed heads dry out and turn brown before dropping seeds.
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Iberis seeds are typically light brown to tan in color.
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Problems and Pests
Iberis, or Candytuft, is susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases in the landscape:
- Caterpillars
- Snails and Slugs
- Powdery Mildew
- Fungal Leaf Spot
- Rust
- Downy Mildew
- Crown Rot
- Root Rot
Gallery
Candytuft is a low-growing plant that produces profuse shows of white flowers.
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These plants do well spilling over walls or containers.
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Iberis flowers planted under a deciduous tree.
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This mixed bed features Candytuft, Alyssum, and various other low-growing pollinator plants.
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These plants can be grown either in containers or in the ground.
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Candytuft provides a fluffy base for Woodland Phlox and Tulips.
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Videos
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Learn about these great garden ornamentals.
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How to prune candytuft.
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Care tips for these flowers.
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A profile of the Candytuft plant.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 371, Iberis
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