Cerastium tomentosum
Dusty miller, Snow in summer
- Height × spread
- 0.18m × 0.3m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Flowers
- Summer
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This snow-in-summer is extremely pretty with frothy white mounds of rounded flowers and attractive foliage. It grows where other plants fail and looks fresh. This plant isn't for the favoured rockery position unless that is the only plant you want there as it is invasive. The best strategy is to give it an environment it finds hard to handle: dry places where nothing wants to grow or at the base of harsh brick walls, and you could use it to clothe banks. It has been seen where the planting occupies a space that is a mere hand span from front to back whilst it makes it makes a ribbon about 8m (26ft) long.
- Flower colour
- White
- Foliage colour
- Grey
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Dome
- Height
- 0.18m
- Spread
- 0.3m
- Season of interest
- Summer
- Flowers in
- Summer
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Seaside garden, Rock garden, Mediterranean garden, Cottage garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Loam (normal), Poor soil
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil, Dry soil, Drought resistant
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Ground cover, Bedding plant
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water in dry periods
Established plants in the ground can cope with 7-10 days of dryness, and shrubs often manage 2 to 3 weeks. Water one section of the garden thoroughly each day rather than a little everywhere. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided if it becomes too large or another plant is required. This may involve physically dividing the clump in two, removing offsets or small bulbs or dividing rhizomes. The new plants can be grown in pots or planted in the ground.
Summer
Summer - early · Outdoors
Feed a general fertiliser
Where plants have moderate needs for nutrients, they can simply be given a general feed, fairly early in the growth season so that the growth has plenty of time to harden off before the cold weather.
Give plants a general boost with the application of a general purpose fertiliser which is spread around the root area of the plant, with amounts as directed on the feed label.