Plant library · Perennial Flowers
Iberis sempervirens
Candytuft is a low, spreading perennial that brings a dense white display from mid spring into early summer. At roughly 9 inches tall, it keeps the front of a sunny bed defined without blocking views of taller planting behind it. Its evergreen character also gives an edge or rock-garden pocket a year-round outline, while the spring flowers create a brief, bright focal band.
Use candytuft along the sun-facing front of borders, beside paths, at the lip of raised beds, or where a rock garden meets a retaining wall. Its mounding, spreading habit suits places where stems can soften a hard edge or spill slightly over a wall without entering the main walking line. Set it in repeated groups for a continuous low ribbon, and keep taller perennials behind it so they do not shade the flowering surface.[1][2]
Plant on 12-inch centers for a close, linked edging. Individual plants can spread about 18 inches wide, so a single row will knit into a broader strip as plants mature; allow that outward reach on the bed side rather than placing crowns tight against paving. Along a path, set the row back enough that the mature mound remains clear of the travel surface and is easy to trim after bloom.
Reserve a full-sun position with sharply drained soil, especially around the crown. Candytuft fits low-water areas once established, but it is not a choice for a damp swale, irrigation overspray zone, or a bed that stays wet in winter. A raised, gravelly, or wall-front position can help keep its root zone from remaining saturated.[1][2]
White flowers are the main event from mid spring to early summer, so place candytuft where that seasonal flush can define an edge before summer perennials fill out. Light trimming after flowering maintains a compact mound and encourages fresh growth. In colder winter areas, evergreen foliage may look less tidy after exposure, making it best suited to an edge that can be refreshed in spring.[1][2]
Avoid crowding candytuft with vigorous plants that will overhang its low crown or trap moisture around it. Its spreading stems may root where they rest on soil, gradually widening a planting beyond the original line. Leave a narrow maintenance reach from a path or open bed edge so wandering growth can be redirected and the post-bloom trim is simple to complete.[1][2]
Editorial content updated 2026-07-20.