snow-in-summer
Cerastium tomentosum
Overview
The snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum) is a stunning evergreen subshrub. It is a low-growing perennial that displays a lovely carpet of white flowers and bright green foliage in the summer. This is what gives it its name. It is an excellent choice for adding texture to the garden, and its white flowers will add a tremendous amount of contrast to a garden. The lovely foliage is deer and rabbit resistant, and it is reasonably drought tolerant. It is versatile and easy to grow, making it an ideal choice for beginner gardeners. All in all, it is an amazing plant that blooms for weeks and is a great addition to any garden.
Care Guide
Watering
Snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum) should be watered when soil is dry to the touch up to 1 inch below the surface. It is best to water deeply but less often, such as once or twice a week in summer and once every 10 days in the cooler months. When watering, make sure to soil is evenly moist, but never soggy or soaked in water.
Light
Snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum) needs partial to full sun exposure throughout the day, in order to thrive. It prefers 4-6 hours of direct sunlight each day, preferring more shade in the hottest part of the day, during the middle of summer. Early morning and late afternoon/early evening sun exposure this species enjoys the most as these hours typically provide increased humidity and protection from intense heat and sunlight. Snow-in-summer should not be planted in an area that has less than 4 hours of sunlight each day as this can lead to lower quality blooms and unable to compete with competing plants in the area.
Soil
Rocky , gravelly , dry, Well-drained
Temperature
Hardiness zone 3-7.
Pruning
Snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum) should be pruned lightly in late winter (December to February) to remove any damaged or dead foliage, as well as remove any woody-looking stems to promote new growth. To promote dense, bushy growth, lightly prune the plant in late summer or early fall, cutting parts of the plant back down to almost ground level. This light pruning helps to promote blooming in the upcoming spring.
Propagation
Division, Cutting, Seed Propagation, Layering Propagation
Diseases & Pests
Common pests: Drought resistant.
Related plants
Other plants you might like if you grow snow-in-summer.
