Readers Respond: How Do You Grow Candytuft?

Have you grown candytuft? Share with us any information you have about how to grow candytuft. For example:

• Do you prune your candytuft annually, thereby keeping it compact, or do you prefer to let it get viny?
• What are the sunlight and soil conditions like where you grow candytuft?
• Do you fertilize your candytuft?
• What other plants are growing around your candytuft?

Drawing on your expertise in growing candytuft, share your knowledge with us. And if you've made mistakes and would like to provide that information (so the rest of us can avoid the same blunders), also feel free to pass that along!

Just Discovering Candytuft

This is the 1st year in our new house, and I've discovered that we have a wonderful bunch of Candytuft growing in our front planter boxes. They have an abundance of bright & beautiful showy white flowers that seem to glow at night. They are in a location that gets partial sun but seem to be thriving and have been there for a few years now. I put fresh LeafGro and mulch around them to give them nourishment for the season. I absolutely LOVE this plant and plan to add it to other areas in my yard.

—Guest Dianne Westbrook

Love my Candytuft

It was in our garden when we moved into our home and it is beautiful. The mound was about 3 ft. in diameter. I cut it back and plan to transplant it on the edge of a rock wall after removing some 40-year-old junipers. It looks great all summer. (The best part of the garden that we inherited).

—Guest Jo Schantz

Candytuft

I use them as a border planting. They bloom the same time as my iris and tulips. The only problem is the grass that grows in between them. I then clip them after blooming to keep them compact. They are a nice green border after flowering.

—Guest beachamdeborah@yahoo.com

Growing Candytuft

I have mine in a small berm in a full sun location. It is next to an asphalt driveway. I have only had it 2.5 years. I have not trimmed it yet but it is a compact plant about 14 inches in diameter. I do not water it. It is mulched and is completely covered in bloom for about a month in the spring. Jonquil and sedum share the berm.

—Guest Casually!

Rock Garden Wonder

I have two "bunches" of candytuft in my rock garden and it stands out among the crowd. It is so beautiful next to big rocks as it illuminates them. I've recently pulled some up and transplanted it and will see how it does. My rock garden gets full sun, has good soil but not good drainage, so I consider it very hearty. I cut it back when it gets too tall and within weeks it's back to it's full bloom beauty. I also started a moon garden on the north side of my home that includes white astillbe, lilly of the valley, white bleeding hearts, white delphinium, white daisies, and white foxglove. I plan on planting some candytuft in the front to really make it stand out. By the way, did I mention I started the candytuft from seed in the rock garden? Maybe that works better than transplanting it...we'll see!

—Guest How I grow Candytuft

Trial And Error

I almost lost my candytuft trying to find the right growing environment. Then I saw it as part of a rock garden on this website. It is now part of an area where we lost a massive oak tree. The soil is a combo of saw dust from the ground out stump, debris from replacing the driveway and clay that is native to the area. The candytuft is THRIVING in all day hot sun and dry conditions. I cut it back for the first time this year as it was taking over. In full bloom, it is neon white and BEAUTIFUL. I love it and and thank this website for helping me save it.

—Guest Candytuft

Pure White Candytuft

l grow mine in part shade and part sun in a quite moist area. l have boxwood beside it with trailing ivy. the plant is not big enough yet for it to go viney but l know I will split it when it does. It does like a lot of sun.

—Guest easy

How to Grow Candytuft

Iberis (Candytuft) comes from Iberia (Spain), which tells us something about the plant. Lots of sun, well drained soil. I shear mine back to a mat of leaves when flowers are finished. More leaves grow and make a nice mound. I add a little compost under the mound every so often...once a summer or more often.

—Guest Candytuft

Where to Grow Candytuft

Most of our Candytuft is on the edge of a retaining wall. It seems to do well in this very well drained area. Some has been moved to other areas and is growing well. I only prune to trim off the spent flowers and to remove winter kill that happens some years in our harsh Vermont climate. Sometimes I prune it back if it is crowding other plants; it does spread. We started with one plant more than 20 years ago. I have difficulty getting the grass out of the clumps, but I have some luck by picking up the vines and working underneath to get hold of the grass.

—Guest Kathy Howard

Growing Candytuft

I don't prune my candytuft because I have it planted at the top edge of a stone retaining wall, and I like to have the plants get big (viny) and cascade down over the stone. My candytuft gets partial sun (I know more sun would be better) and grows in a soil with sharp drainage. I seldom fertilize it. I have spurge and daffodils growing next to my candytuft.

—Guest Ron Kaat