How to Grow Perennial Iberis Plants in your Garden

Gardener's HQ Guide to Growing Candytuft

Iberis can either be hardy annuals or perennials; this section is dedicated to the perennial varieties of Iberis. Go to this page for further information on: annual Iberis.

The Perennial plants are low growing spreaders that have a woody nature. This makes them ideal plants for in rock gardens and to trail over walls.

Iberis reach a height of between 15 and 30 cm in height and flower in the middle of spring with tiny white flowers. The common name for Iberis is Candytuft.

Iberis sempervirens
Iberis sempervirens by TANAKA Juuyoh (田中十洋).

Iberis Growing and Care Guide

Common Names: Candytuft
Life Cycle: Hardy Perennial
Height: 15 to 30 cm (6 – 12 inches)
Native: Old World
Growing Region: Iberis semperviren; I. saxatilis 3 - 9 | I. gibraltarica 7 - 9
Flowers: Middle of Spring
Flower Details: Tiny, White, fragrant
Foliage: Evergreen, Glossy
Sow Outside: 1/4 inch (6 mm), Early Spring before the last frost or in Autumn.
Sow Inside: Eight weeks in advance. Germination takes 10 days to two months at about 60°F (~15°C). Transplant outdoors following the last frost at a spacing of 12 to 24 inches (30 – 60 cm).
Requirements and care: Grows best in sunny or partially shaded areas. Good drainage. Rich soil. pH 6-7.5. Keep soil moist for best results. Tidy plants by trimming once blooming has finished. Propagate by taking cuttings (or by division in warm areas) once flowering has finished.
Family: Brassicaceae.
Closely Related Species: Cabbages, Mustards.
Miscellaneous: The Candytuft name is derived from the old name for Crete (Candia).

How to Grow Candytuft (Perennial Iberis)

Perennial Candytuft – Iberis – can be grown outdoors from seed. Sow the seeds at a depth of 6 mm, either before the last frost of spring or in the autumn. Iberis can grow in either sunny or partially shaded areas of the garden. They prefer to grow in a rich soil that has a pH of 6 to 7.5 and good drainage.

If you first want to grow candytuft indoors then start about two months before you expect the last frost of spring. They will take from two to eight weeks to germinate at a temperature of 12 to 17 degrees Centigrade. once ready transplant the candytuft seedlings into the garden with a spacing of 30 to 60 cm after the last frost of spring.

Caring for Candytuft - Iberis Genus Plants

If you require more perennial Iberis plants then cuttings can be had after flowering has finished, or the plants can be divided in the autumn. Once growing candytuft and other Iberis species are easy to look after; it is important to keep the soil fairly moist; and trim the plant following flowering to keep up appearances.

I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Iberis Perennial Candytuft plants. You may also enjoy the following Gardener's HQ growing guides: How to grow Horseradish and Matthiola plants.