Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Cloud Cover Snow in Summer: A Silver Carpet at Lavender's Feet
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Cloud Cover snow in summer is the one kind of snow anyone welcomes in June. This compact groundcover forms a dense mat of thick, woolly, intensely silver-white leaves, then disappears under a blanket of pure white, star-shaped flowers in late spring. It stays just 4 to 6 inches tall and spreads more than two feet wide.
It loves the same full sun and lean, gravelly soil as lavender, and its silver carpet looks like it was made to sit in front of a lavender row.
Cloud Cover at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Cerastium tomentosum 'Cloud Cover' |
| Flowers | Pure white stars, about three-quarters of an inch across |
| Foliage | Thick, woolly, silver-white; semi-evergreen |
| Size | 4 to 6 inches tall, 26 to 32 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts late May, peaks early June |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 7 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Deer | Resistant |
Silver on silver, then white before purple
Cloud Cover gives a lavender bed a finished floor. Its silver-white leaves echo the gray tones of lavender foliage but sit low and flat, so the bed has layers: a silver carpet, then the lavender mounds, then the purple wands. In late May and early June the carpet turns white, right before lavender starts to bloom, so the bed opens its season early.
After bloom, the dense silver mat holds its shape and color through summer and into late fall, long after many groundcovers look tired. Keep it a few inches back from lavender crowns so the base of each lavender stays dry and airy. Plan the edge in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Soil: lean to average with sharp drainage. Gravelly or sandy soil is ideal.
- Water: water to establish, then very little. It handles drought well and dislikes wet feet.
- Shearing: shear off spent flower stems after bloom to keep the mat dense and tidy.
- Heat: it prefers cooler summers. In hot, humid spells the center can thin, so full sun and good drainage matter.
- Watering method: avoid overhead watering, which can rot the woolly leaves in humid weather.
- Winter: very hardy in Michigan. Avoid low spots where water or snowmelt sits.
Slopes, walls and rock gardens
Cloud Cover is happiest where water runs away fast: on a sunny slope, spilling over the top of a stone wall, or tucked between rocks. It helps hold soil on banks and makes a bright, low edge along a gravel path. Deer leave it alone, which is welcome in open, rural gardens.
About the plug tray
Cloud Cover is offered as a 72-cell plug tray, a practical way to carpet a slope or edge a long bed. See the product page for current availability, or visit the Wholesale Hub.
Frequently asked questions
Will it spread into my lavender?
It spreads to more than two feet wide. Give it room, and trim back any stems that creep onto lavender crowns.
Why is the middle of my mat thinning?
Hot, humid weather or soggy soil. Improve drainage and shear after bloom to encourage fresh growth.
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