Botanical name
Cerastium tomentosum
Other names
Snow-in-summer, Wooly mouse-ear chickweed , Dusty miller , Jerusalem star , Snow plant , Snow in summer
Genus
Cerastium
Species
C. tomentosum – C. tomentosum is a vigorous, mat-forming, deciduous perennial with linear, white-hairy, silvery grey-green leaves and, in late spring and summer, star-shaped, white flowers with notched petals.
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Mat Forming
COLOUR
Flower
White in Spring; White in Summer
Foliage
Silvery-grey, Grey-green in Spring; Grey-green, Silvery-grey in Summer; Grey-green, Silvery-grey in Autumn
HOW TO CARE
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease free
General care
Pruning
Trim back spent flower stems to prevent unwanted seedlings and to promote a tidy, compact shape. Can be mown at a high setting. Ideal for dry, sunny banks or gravel gardens.
Propagation
Tends to self-seed. Divide every year to help maintain a compact mat size.
Propagation methods
Division, Seed, Stem tip cuttings
WHERE TO GROW
Cerastium tomentosum (Snow-in-summer) will reach a height of 0.15m and a spread of 1.5m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Banks and Slopes, Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Drought Tolerant, Gravel, Ground Cover, Low Maintenance
Cultivation
Grow in dry, sandy soil in full sun. Will not tolerate waterlogged conditions. Best in areas with cool summer climates
Soil type
Chalky, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
