How far apart should I plant Perennial candytuft?

About 35 cm (14 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 30–60 cm (12–24 in).

Does Perennial candytuft need full sun?

Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.

How much water does Perennial candytuft need?

Low water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance none.

How cold-hardy is Perennial candytuft?

It tolerates about -32 °C (-26 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 4.

When does Perennial candytuft flower?

From about April for 4–7 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).

Is Perennial candytuft poisonous to cats and dogs?

For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Not known to be poisonous.

What grows well with Perennial candytuft?

Traditional lore says rhubarb planted near brassicas helps against clubroot and pests; the evidence is weak and not confirmed by trials. Nasturtiums act as a trap crop for cabbage white butterflies and blackfly, drawing some pressure away from brassicas.

Perennial candytuft Iberis sempervirens

Perennial candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) is an evergreen perennial flowering plant in the Brassicaceae family, native to Mountains of southern Europe and Turkey. It grows 15–30 cm (6–12 in) tall and 30–60 cm (12–24 in) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -32 °C (-26 °F). Space plants about 35 cm (14 in) apart.

Plan Perennial candytuft in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.

Perennial candytuft at a glance

Type	Perennial flowering plant, evergreen
Family	Brassicaceae
Mature height	15–30 cm (6–12 in)
Mature spread	30–60 cm (12–24 in)
Spacing	35 cm (14 in) centre to centre
Sun	Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day
Water	Low; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance none
Soil pH	6–8
Cold hardiness	About -32 °C (-26 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 4)
Heat stress	Likely above about 34 °C (93 °F)
Flowering	from about April for 4–7 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones)
Wind tolerance	Moderate
Pollinator value	High
Edible	Not grown as food
Native to	Mountains of southern Europe and Turkey
Common in gardens of	🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇫🇷 France, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇨🇦 Canada

Is Perennial candytuft toxic?

People: not known to be toxic
Cats: not known to be toxic
Dogs: not known to be toxic

Not known to be poisonous.

If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.

Companion planting: what to grow with Perennial candytuft

Good neighbours

good With Rhubarb: Traditional lore says rhubarb planted near brassicas helps against clubroot and pests; the evidence is weak and not confirmed by trials. Evidence D
good With Nasturtium: Nasturtiums act as a trap crop for cabbage white butterflies and blackfly, drawing some pressure away from brassicas. Evidence C

Questions about Perennial candytuft

How far apart should I plant Perennial candytuft?: About 35 cm (14 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 30–60 cm (12–24 in).
Does Perennial candytuft need full sun?: Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
How much water does Perennial candytuft need?: Low water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance none.
How cold-hardy is Perennial candytuft?: It tolerates about -32 °C (-26 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 4.
When does Perennial candytuft flower?: From about April for 4–7 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
Is Perennial candytuft poisonous to cats and dogs?: For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Not known to be poisonous.
What grows well with Perennial candytuft?: Traditional lore says rhubarb planted near brassicas helps against clubroot and pests; the evidence is weak and not confirmed by trials. Nasturtiums act as a trap crop for cabbage white butterflies and blackfly, drawing some pressure away from brassicas.

Sources and evidence

Evidence grade A (A: strong evidence).

Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
RHS Find a Plant (plant profiles and growing guides), Royal Horticultural Society
Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, Missouri Botanical Garden

Notes and assumptions

A rock-garden plant: give it gritty, very free-draining soil, full light and a collar of gravel around the neck; winter wet kills it far more often than cold.
A low evergreen subshrub of narrow dark leaves covered for weeks in spring with flat, pure white flower heads. Tough and long-lived on walls, path edges and rockeries.

Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.

Related plants

Broccoli Brassica oleracea var. italica
Cauliflower Brassica oleracea var. botrytis
Cabbage Brassica oleracea var. capitata
Kale Brassica oleracea var. sabellica
Radish Raphanus sativus
Bok choy Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis
Brussels sprout Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera
Kohlrabi Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes