Snow-in-summer – info, planting, care and tips

Snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum)
Snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum)

With its gray-felted leaves, it is very suitable for rock gardens and as a plant for borders. The care effort is low and it grows quickly. From May large, airy, white clouds of flowers appear over the gray tomentose foliage.

Profile of snow-in-summer:

Scientific name: Cerastium tomentosum

Plant family: carnation family( Caryophyllaceae)

Other names: –

Planting time: autumn (some varieties in spring)

Flowering period: May to June

Location: sunny

Soil quality: stony to sandy, calcipholous, moderately nutritious, low in humus

These information are for temperate climate!

Use in: ground cover, borders, group planting, planters, dry stone walls, roof garden, rock garden, potted garden

Winter hardiness: hardy, USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5

Bee and insect friendly: Yes

Plant characteristics and classification of snow-in-summer

Plant order, origin and occurrence of snow-in-summer

Snow-in-summer is a herbaceous flowering plant and a member of the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae). It belongs to the genus of mouse-ear chickweed (Cerastium). Its origin is in the alpine regions of Europe.

Characteristics of snow-in-summer

Plant

The snow-in-summer is an evergreen, forming creeping runners, perennial, herbaceous plant that reaches stature heights of 15 to 30 centimeters (6 to 12 in).

Leaves

The silver gray to silvery green leaves are up to 3 centimeters (1.2 in) long and linear to lanceolate.

Blossoms

From May to June it blooms with funnel-shaped white star flowers. The inflorescences consist of up to 15 flowers. The calyx is 5 to 7 millimeters (0.2 to 0.28 in) long. The petals are white and twice as long as the calyx.

Flower of snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum)
Flower of snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum)

Snow-in-summer – cultivation and care

Location

The plant prefers a sunny location.

Soil

Snow-in-summer grows best on dry to moderately dry, well-drained and moderately nutritious soils.

Propagation

The Best time for planting is autumn, depending on the variety also in spring.

Watering

Water less often, but rigorously and penetratingly. This stimulates the plant roots to grow into the deeper layers of the soil, which means they survive dry periods better.

Fertilization

Fertilization is not necessary.

Care

Divide the plant every 2-3 years and remove weak roots and shoots. The reward is better growth and flowering power.

Propagation

Propagation is possible by sowing, by cuttings in spring and by division in autumn.

Diseases and pests

None known.

Wintering

Snow-in-summer is hardy to minus -20 °C / -4 °F and does not need winter protection.

Use in the garden

The plant shows at its best in borders, rock garden, in the foreground of borders, wall joints and dry stone walls and as all-over greenery. Particularly beautiful are combinations with wild tulips, sweet alison, purple avens, soapwort and low Canterbury bells.

2 Comments

  1. It’s taking over my bed, how can I permanently get rid of it without damaging adjacent plant roots?

    • Have you tried to just pull it out? Maybe you can get all of its root. Otherwise, you may have to dig it out and hope that the other plants will survive. But you should not do this in summer, when the weather is dry, so the other plants can recover better in autumn or spring.

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