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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.
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.
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.