Alexander's White is an evergreen candytuft that covers itself in pure white flower clusters from mid to late spring. It is a low, fine-textured selection that tends to bloom early in the candytuft season.
The plant forms a low, spreading mat about 8 to 10 inches tall and 1 to 2 feet wide, with narrow dark green leaves that stay green through winter. It is drought tolerant once established, and it is ideal for edging, rock walls, the cracks between paving stones, or as a small-scale groundcover.
What it looks like
Narrow, glossy, dark green evergreen leaves about 1 to 1½ inches long line short, woody-based stems. In mid to late spring, flat-topped clusters of small, pure white, four-petaled flowers cover the plant so thickly that the foliage is almost hidden. The plant forms a low, spreading, cushion-like mound about 8 to 10 inches tall and 12 to 24 inches wide. After bloom it remains a neat dark green mat. At peak it looks like a thick white blanket spilling over edges and stones.
Growing it with lavender
Candytuft likes the same sun and sharp drainage as lavender, and its white spring carpet makes a clean edging in front of lavender, blooming weeks before the lavender opens and staying evergreen after.
Care
Grow in full sun in well-drained soil, from lean to average; it handles drought once established and dislikes wet winter soil. Hardy in zones 3-9. Shear the stems back by about a third after flowering to keep the plant dense and tidy.
At a glance
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Botanical name: Iberis sempervirens
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Flower color: Pure white
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Foliage: Glossy dark green, evergreen
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Growth habit: Low, spreading mat
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Mature size: 8–10 in tall × 12–24 in wide
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USDA hardiness zones: 3–9
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Light: full sun
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Bloom start: Late-April
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Peak bloom: Mid-May
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Bloom pattern: Single Flush
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Deer resistance: Moderately resistant
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Pollinator value: Good
Sizes and shipping
Dormant bare-root plant, sold in boxes of 25 per variety (order in multiples of 25). Bare-root plants ship or are picked up March 1–May 31 only. They are soil-free, so they may ship to every state in that window. Dormant plants often show little or no top growth on arrival; plant or heel them in promptly.
Lavender companion · grow guide
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