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perennial

Silver Carpet Snow-In-Summer

Cerastium tomentosum 'Silver Carpet'

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Silver Carpet Snow-In-Summer (Cerastium tomentosum 'Silver Carpet') at Green Thumb Nursery

Silver Carpet Snow-In-Summer flowers

Silver Carpet Snow-In-Summer flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Silver Carpet Snow-In-Summer (Cerastium tomentosum 'Silver Carpet') at Green Thumb Nursery

Silver Carpet Snow-In-Summer foliage

Silver Carpet Snow-In-Summer foliage

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  8 inches

Spread:  24 inches

Sunlight:  full sun 

Hardiness Zone:  2b

Other Names:  Silberteppich

Description:

A low maintenance groundcover for sun and poor soil; highly prized for its silvery woolly foliage; In late spring and early summer it is absolutely smothered in luminous white flowers; a less aggressive spreader than the species

Ornamental Features

Silver Carpet Snow-In-Summer is smothered in stunning white star-shaped flowers with yellow eyes at the ends of the stems from mid spring to early summer. Its attractive tomentose narrow leaves remain grayish green in color with hints of silver throughout the year.

Landscape Attributes

Silver Carpet Snow-In-Summer is an herbaceous evergreen perennial with a ground-hugging habit of growth. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

  • Spreading

Silver Carpet Snow-In-Summer is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Mass Planting
  • Rock/Alpine Gardens
  • Border Edging
  • General Garden Use
  • Groundcover
  • Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
  • Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Silver Carpet Snow-In-Summer will grow to be about 8 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Silver Carpet Snow-In-Summer is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its spreading habit of growth, it is ideally suited for use as a 'spiller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the edges where it can spill gracefully over the pot. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Massing  Rock  Edging  Garden  Groundcover  Naturalizing  Container 
Applications
Flowers  Foliage Color  Texture 
Ornamental Features