Candytuft Flowers for the Garden

Geography

• Native to Europe, candytuft grows well throughout the U.S. It is adapted to U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 5 to 9 as a perennial. Gardeners in cooler locations can plant this flower as an annual, since it won't survive chilly winters.

Color and Size

• The flowers come in hues of pink, purple and white. Look for seeds or plants all of one color, or choose a mix of colors for planting. Candytuft can reach up to 1 foot tall, with a vertical spread of up to 4 feet. This wide horizontal growth habit creates a mat of roots and stems that can choke out other plants in the garden bed if not carefully maintained. If you don't have time to weed it, consider planting candytuft in a container or in areas where you need large coverage and can take advantage of its spreading.

Planting

• Candytuft prefers full sun during cool spring weather, but likes partial shade in the summer when things get hot. If you have mild summers, it should be fine in full sun. Candytuft prefers rich, well-draining soil and needs regular water. If planting from seed, wait until the soil temperature reaches 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Dig a shallow trench, about 1/16 inch deep, and lay the candytuft seeds in the trench. Cover with soil and then water to wet the ground. If transplanting established plants, dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the plant's root system. Remove the plant from its container and place it in the hole so it sits upright and its roots spread against the soil. Fill in the hole with dirt to complete planting.

Care

• This plant can get woody if not trimmed, so shear candytuft by half after the flowers fade to keep it low and bushy. If you live in zones 5 to 9, cut candytuft back to the ground in the autumn as part of your fall cleanup. It will emerge on its own in the spring.

Benefits

• Hummingbirds, butterflies and bees will frequent your garden, drawn by the candytuft flowers. This bloom works well as an edge plant or ground cover, a filler for bare spots and an addition to your rock garden. The flowers also work well in bouquets. Candytuft has few pests, so it makes a relatively trouble-free garden addition.