Snow-in-Summer

Snow-in-Summer
(Cerastium tomentosum)

My mother-in-law introduced me to Snow-in-Summer when we bought our first house over twenty years ago. Since then I've grown this low growing ground cover with dusty green foliage and pretty white flowers at every house we've owned. This move will be no different.

Snow-in-Summer is a very easy to grow, low maintenance perennial. It is undemanding and will grow in most soil and light conditions. This plant is invasive so needs to be contained by borders if you want to use it as a border. Otherwise, let it spread. Snow-in-Summer blooms late spring to early summer. I propagate by dividing the rootball then planting the second clump where I want or in a pot for moving. I keep the soil moist but not wet until the new clump has rooted and shows signs of new growth then water as normal.

I've only encountered minimal problems with Snow-in-Summer. Unless the clump is dense, weeds like quack grass can root within the Snow-in-Summer. The easiest way to deal with this is manual removal until the clump gets dense enough to strangle out weeds. If the Snow-in-Summer is planted where leaves will fall on it during the autumn, remove the leaves. If you don't, the leaves will cause the plant to die off. The biggest problem I had with this plant at one house was our cat who decided the Snow-in-Summer made a nice bed for him. Now this cat was a heck of a lot more determined to get his way so finally I gave up. Aside of the perpetual indent made by the cat, the Snow-in-Summer thrived and spread. This is one plant I'm looking forward to growing in my new gardens.

Happy Gardening!

Garden Gnome
©2007