Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden Ltd
Candytuft Crown Mixed
Candytuft Crown Mixed
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Candytuft 'Crown Mixed' Seeds
If you have gaps at the front of your border or hard edges along a path that need softening, Candytuft is the answer. 'Crown Mixed' is a charming low-growing annual that spreads to form a dense mound of foliage topped with flat, confetti-like flower clusters.
The mix includes a regal palette of shades from deep royal purple and lilac to carmine-rose and crisp white. It is incredibly fast-growing and effective at suppressing weeds, acting as a "living mulch." It is also a magnet for butterflies, who find the flat flower heads the perfect landing pad for a nectar pitstop.
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🌿 Understanding the Plant
Candytuft is a Hardy Annual.
Do not confuse this with the perennial white Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens). This annual variety (Iberis umbellata) is faster growing, comes in more colours, and blooms for a longer season.
The "Umbels": The flower heads are "umbels" (umbrella-shaped). They are made up of lots of tiny florets clustered together, creating a flat surface that looks like a little crown.
🌱 Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow
This is one of the easiest seeds to grow, perfect for filling gaps rapidly.
Germination:
Sow directly outdoors from March to May, or in Autumn (Sept) for early flowers next year. Scatter seeds onto the surface of raked soil and cover lightly (3mm deep). Germination takes 14-21 days.
Where to Sow:
It needs full sun to flower profusely. It thrives in poor, well-drained soil and is remarkably drought tolerant. It is excellent for rockeries, gravel gardens, or edging raised beds.
Care While Growing:
The "Shear": After the first flush of flowers has faded (usually mid-summer), take a pair of shears and cut the plants back by one-third. Water well, and they will often produce a second flush of flowers for autumn.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Latin Name | Iberis umbellata |
| Common Name | Candytuft 'Crown Mixed' |
| Hardiness | H3 (Hardy Annual) |
| Light Required | Full Sun ☀️ |
| Height | ↕️ 25cm - 30cm (Dwarf) |
| Spread | ↔️ 20cm |
| Spacing | 🌱 15cm apart |
| Great for | 🧱 Edging Paths 🦋 Butterflies 🪨 Rockeries 🏺 Containers |
| Seed Count | Approx. 500 seeds per packet |
🤝 Perfect Garden Companions
As a ground-hugging plant, Candytuft looks best in front of taller, spiky flowers:
- 🌼 Californian Poppy (Eschscholzia): The Drought Lovers. Both plants thrive in poor, dry soil and love the sun. The orange of the poppy contrasts brilliantly with the purple Candytuft for a vibrant, low-maintenance display.
- 🌙 Night Phlox 'Midnight Candy': The Scented Edge. Both are low-growing plants perfect for the front of a border. While Candytuft provides the daytime colour, Night Phlox provides the evening fragrance.
📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar
Sow outdoors in spring or autumn. Flowers June to August.
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow Outdoors | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | |||||||
| Flowers | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 |
⚠️ Top Tip
Sow a second batch of seeds in June. These late plants will flower in September and October, keeping the colour going right until the first frosts.
🏆 Officially Recognised Excellence
Candytuft is a biodiversity champion. It provides an accessible nectar source for small butterflies and hoverflies, making it an essential part of any wildlife-friendly garden plan.
