Candytuft is slightly toxic to humans.
Candytuft Care
Here are the main care requirements for growing candytuft.
Light
Candytuft will tolerate some shade but blooms best when planted in the sun.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
More importantly, it is critical to provide them with excellent drainage.
Because candytuft craves well-drained soils, it is perfect forrock gardens.
The natural environment for candytuft tends to have drier air conditions.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
Fertilizer
Fertilizing candytuft is not necessary but can help ensure abundant blooms.
A slow-release fertilizer will help candytuft grow if applied in early spring.
Choose a low-nitrogen, high-phosphorous mix for best results.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
For the amount to use, follow the product label instructions.
However, if you are planting candytuft flowers behind aretaining wall, legginess may actually be a good quality.
In this case, prune them only if you think the stems are getting too woody-looking.
The Spruce / David Beaulieu
Pruning will spawn new, fresh growth.
Stem cuttings are not recommended since this method takes some time.
Here’s how to divide roots.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
Because it is slow-growing, it only needs to be repotted every few years.
A 1- to 2-inch layer of standard mulch will have the same effect.
In warmer regions, no winter protection is needed.
Badly affected plants should be removed.
Rarely fatal, fungal diseases are more likely in humid conditions where air circulation is poor.
If the disfiguring appearance is deemed intolerable, these infections can be treated with a fungicidal spray.
What Does a Candytuft Flower Look and Smell Like?
The flowers usually do not smell sweet and gardeners either appreciate or dislike the cabbage-like scent of candytuft.
A light feeding with a phosphorus-rich fertilizer in the early spring can help maximize blooming.
Deadheading Candytuft Flowers
Extend the bloom period by fully deadheading candytuft flower stalks after the blooms fade.
But you may witness the following problems.
If you dig up a plant with these symptoms, you usually can identify deformed roots.
Affected plants must be removed and destroyed.
Candytuft is considered a hardy perennial that comes back every year in moderately cool and warm climates.
It may act as somewhat of an annual in very hot or very cold climates.
Candytuft blooms into the early summer but deadheading may produce a second flush.
Candytuft spreads very slowly through self-seeding and establishing roots wherever stems happen to touch the ground.
Toxic Plants.University of California.
Iberis sempervirons.Oregon State University.
North Carolina State Extension
Clubroot.
University of Minnesota Extension.
