Iberis sempervirens 'Snowflake'

Iberis sempervirens is low-growing perennial and an early season favorite. This low, bushy plant produces mounds of blinding white flowers that last throughout the spring and into early summer.
Forming dense evergreen mats this easy to grow plant is useful in many planting schemes. Growing to only 15cm (6in) tall with a spread of 30cm (12in) they produce a mass of tightly packed flowers on short stems, the blooms are around 5cm (2in) wide

This perennial form of Candytuft does best in full sun in well drained soil, but is an all round tough plant suitable for problem areas. It is very tolerant of low fertility soils and of high humidity. It will tolerate drought-prone areas and is suitable for container growing, coastal areas, for pathways and crevices of ornamental walls. Iberis is a lovely plant for rock gardens and well-drained borders, plants can also be used to cascade down walls or over banks and flower pots.

When not in flower, the mats make a good background for other flowers that enjoy similar growing conditions, especially rock plants like Aubrietia, Thrift, Alpine Pinks and early dwarf spring bulbs.
The foliage remains evergreen throughout the year, providing structure to a rock garden in winter when there is little else to see and adding a little greenery to the winter garden. Plant strategically along paths or to outline steps etc to make the most of this valuable feature.
Give these early season low-growing perennials a try. Their spring colour and green foliage in winter offer year-round interests that make them tough to beat.

• Awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit
  Iberis sempervirens 'Snowflake' has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit (AGM).

Sowing: Sow in February to June or in September to October

Sowing Indoors:
Prepare pots or trays with good free draining seed compost; moisten by standing in water, then drain. Surface sow two seeds per pot or cell. Iberis need light to germinate so do not cover the seeds with compost; simply press them gently down to firm them in. Cover the seed with a fine layer of vermiculite if you have it.
Seal pots in a polythene bag or cover trays with clear plastic lids until after germination which usually takes 16 to 21 days at around 20°C (68°F). Remove the polythene bag once the first seedlings appear.
Transplant when seedlings are large enough to handle and there are at least two sets of true leaves. Transplant autumn sown seedlings to pots to grow on and overwinter in a coldframe or unheated greenhouse.
Spring sown seedlings can be transplanted directly outdoors once all frosts have gone. Gradually hardened off by placing them outside in a sheltered position during the day. Bring them in at night to avoid frosts. Space 15 to 22cm (6 to 9in) apart in full sun to light shade in a light, well-drained soil.

Sowing Direct:
Seeds can also be sown directly in open ground in spring once all risk of frost has gone. Remove all weeds and large stones. Rake over the surface of the soil until you have a nice fine tilth. Sow a seeds into the prepared area. Do not cover the seeds as they need light to germinate. Keep moist at all times. Thin out the seedlings as they grow to 15 to 22cm (6 to 9in) apart.

Cultivation:
An important provision is that plants have good drainage; water them only when they are dry.
Prune lightly right after blooming to induce a repeat flower display, but otherwise leave the plants alone. Do not prune in autumn, simply remove damaged foliage in spring

Plant Uses:
Suitable for ground cover, rockeries, cascading over walls, borders, edging paths, planters, window boxes.

Origin:
Iberis (pronounced i-be’ris sem-per-vi’rens) is a genus of flowering plant belonging to the family Brassicaceae they are native to Southern Europe and the Western parts of Asia. The genus comprises of about 50 species of herbs and subshrubs. All species are low growing and produce masses of flowers.

Nomenclature:
The genus name ‘Iberis’ is named after the Iberian Peninsula where a plant might first have been described from a species collected in Spain.
The species name sempervirens is taken from the Latin semper meaning ‘always’ and viridis the Latin for ‘green’ referring to its evergreen foliage.
These species are commonly known as candytufts. The name "candytuft" is not related to candy, but derives from Candia, the former name of Iraklion on the island of Crete.