Iberis umbellata

RHS Plant Profile
garden candytuft

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garden candytuft Dorling Kindersley 2003
garden candytuft RHS

Other common names

common candytuft, florist's candytuft, globe candytuft, purple annual candytuft, purple candy-tuft

Annual Biennial Bedding

A small, bushy annual to 30cm, with slender leaves and sweet-scented white, pink, purple or crimson flowers in flattened clusters in late spring and summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1–2 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H4

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Brassicaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Iberis can be annuals, evergreen perennials or sub-shrubs, with narrow leaves and racemes of white, pink or purple flowers
Name Status
Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in poor to moderately fertile, neutral to alkaline, moist but well-drained soil in full sun.

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Garden edging
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs, snails and caterpillars

Diseases

May be susceptible to club root