Iberis 'PINK ICE'™ candytuft
Iberis
The genus Iberis belongs to the mustard family and comprises roughly thirty related species united by the clear legacy of Mediterranean rocky slopes and a set of shared traits: four‑petalled flowers, dry siliques and a tendency towards low, spreading growth. Even so, there are striking differences among them. Perhaps the best‑known, Iberis sempervirens, is a typical evergreen cushion plant that forms continuous white carpets in spring; Iberis saxatilis is a rock‑hugging, even lower species that clings tightly to stone and excels in gravel gardens; Iberis umbellata, often grown as an annual, has more upright stems and a wider range of flower colours; Iberis amara, known as bitter candytuft, is annual or biennial and biologically notable for its asymmetric petals (two are markedly larger), a feature frequently used in genetic studies; and several local endemics, especially those in mountain enclaves, are adapted to very specific substrates. All share a preference for sun, well‑drained, often calcareous soils and the ability to form dense mats that in the wild often resist herbivory thanks to the bitter, pungent secondary compounds typical of the mustard family. In early spring, however, their nectar‑rich flowers serve as an abundant resource for many pollinators. The genus Iberis was formally established by Carl Linnaeus (1707–1778) in Species Plantarum (1753), though the name itself comes from classical Latin, where it refers to the Iberian Peninsula
Pink Ice™ is a lovely hybrid variety of candytuft with profusion of soft pink flowers atop 10-15 cm tall stems. They last for a long time and new buds appear along the stems when you trim the plant cutting away faded tops. This way the plant can bloom until midsummer. Leaves are deep green, narrowly ovate, only some 3cm long, evergreen. Pink Ice™ is a novelty hybrid from 2011, originating as a selection from amongst more iberis species in a trial bed. The inventor is Rodney W.Richards from Hereford, UK. Patented in 2013 under PP23,854.
Its requirements and care are straightforward. It needs full sun; otherwise it flowers less and the cushion may loosen. The soil must be well drained, ideally gravelly or sandy, because persistent moisture is the most common cause of failure. Watering is necessary only at planting and for a few weeks afterwards to help it establish, and during prolonged droughts. Feeding is unnecessary; in fact, overly rich soil leads to lusher but less compact growth. Light trimming immediately after flowering helps maintain shape and encourages density. It can be grown in containers if the pot is shallow, wide and very well drained. Wind does not trouble it, but long periods of winter wet do. Candytufts are extremely hardy, tolerating down to −34 °C (USDA 5) as long as the soil is not waterlogged.
Last update 20-05-2014
