Growing Empress Mixture Iberis (Candytuft) Garden Seeds

For earliest blooming, start Empress Mixture Candytuft seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the final frost and transplant once there are two sets of true leaves. Empress Mix iberis seeds will germinate within 14-21 days with full lighting. If transplanting outside, harden off seedlings into a sunny spot in the garden, or an equally bright place indoors. Plant 3-4 Empress Mix iberis seeds ¼ inch deep and 18 inches apart in average, loamy, and well-drained soil in full sun. Candytuft is drought tolerant but avoid overhead watering to minimize wetting foliage as Empress Mixture iberis seeds are susceptible to molds, mildews, rust, leaf spots, and rot if not properly ventilated. Empress Mix Candytuft will thrive with shade and deadheading to prolong vigor into the long summer months. Potential insect problems include aphids, spider mites, mealybugs, thrips, whitefly, slugs and snails. Candytuft iberis seeds will mature in 70-77 days as 12-18 inch tall shrubby uprights with an 18 inch wide spread of densely floreted blooming clusters of lilac, pink, and alpine white.

Iberis amara, or most commonly known as Rocket Candytuft or Annual Candytuft, is native to southern Europe and thrives as a perennial in the warmer Mediterranean winters similar to thyme. The genus Iberis earns its name from the Iberian Peninsula of southern Europe (Spain and Portugal), where it is found to grow naturally. In the past, Iberis amara had been considered an edible variety but now, however, its extremely bitter taste is a bit too heavy for the modern palate and is no longer considered treated as edible.