Start candytuft from tip cuttings after it finishes blooming. Do not sow a named cultivar and expect the same plant, because those seedlings will not come true.
Take tip cuttings after it finishes blooming
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | Late spring into early summer, after the flowers fade, from new leafy tips | Do not take a flowering shoot, and do not wait until the wood is old and bare |
| Cutting | Tips about 2 to 5 inches long; strip the lower two-thirds of the leaves | Do not leave a long leafy stem in the mix, which rots |
| Mix | A gritty, free-draining mix — mostly perlite or coarse sand, with a little peat or fine bark | Do not use a heavy, water-holding potting soil |
| Aftercare | Bright light out of direct sun and wind; keep the mix just moist until roots form in about five to eight weeks | Do not bake the cuttings in hot sun or let the mix dry out |
Candytuft roots readily from short tip cuttings taken after bloom, which is the reliable way to keep a named plant. Take 2 to 5 inch tips of new growth, strip the lower leaves, and stick them in a gritty mix. Keep them bright but out of hot sun and wind until roots form, usually in five to eight weeks. [1] Mid-summer cuttings from the same leafy wood also root well. [2]
- After the flowers fade, take 2 to 5 inch tips from healthy new growth, not from old bare wood.
- Strip the leaves from the lower two-thirds of each cutting.
- Push the cuttings into a moist, gritty mix, firm the mix around the stems, and water them in.
- Stand the pot in bright light out of direct sun and wind. Keep the mix just moist until a gentle tug meets resistance, usually in five to eight weeks.
- Pot each rooted cutting on its own, grow it on for a couple of weeks, then set it in the garden. Read How to Grow Candytuft for the planting spot.
When do I take candytuft cuttings?
After it finishes blooming, in late spring or early summer. Take short leafy tips, not flowering shoots or old woody stems.
Pin a stem down so it roots where it touches the soil
Candytuft stems often root on their own where they lie on the soil. You can hurry that along by pinning a leafy stem into contact with gritty ground, then lifting the new plant once it has its own roots. [3]
- Choose a low, leafy stem that already touches the soil, or can be bent down without snapping.
- Pin it in place with a landscape staple or a small stone so the stem stays in contact with gritty, well-drained soil.
- Keep that spot just moist until you feel resistance when you tug the stem, which means roots have formed.
- Cut the new plant free of the parent and move it, or leave the layer in place to thicken the mat. [4]
Can I layer candytuft instead of taking cuttings?
Yes. Pin a leafy stem to the soil so it stays in contact, wait until it has its own roots, then cut it free or leave it to spread.
If you want more plants, take short tip cuttings after bloom and root them in a gritty mix, or pin a stem to the soil until it makes its own roots.
FAQ
Can I grow candytuft from seed?
Not to keep a named plant. Cultivars do not come true from seed. Seed packets labeled candytuft are often annual Iberis umbellata, a different species you sow each year. Take cuttings of this evergreen plant.
Can I divide an old candytuft clump?
It is a poor bet. The center is woody, and torn pieces often fail. Take tip cuttings or pin a stem down instead.
Why did my cuttings rot instead of root?
A heavy, wet mix or hot sun is the usual reason. Use a gritty mix, keep it just moist, and keep the cuttings out of direct sun and wind until they root.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Everydaywits -
https://www.everydaywits.com/propagate-iberis-sempervirens-candytuft/ - [2] University of Arkansas Extension -
https://www.uaex.uada.edu/yard-garden/in-the-garden/docs/candytuft.pdf - [3] NC State Extension -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/iberis-sempervirens/ - [4] Almanac -
https://www.almanac.com/plant/how-grow-and-care-candytuft-iberis-sempervirens
This note is part of Iberis Guides.
More notes on making another plant live in Propagating Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors