Cerastium tomentosum (Snow-in-summer)

Photo/Illustration: Todd Meier

(Based on 2 user reviews)

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Hardiness Zones:

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Botanical Name: Cerastium tomentosum sir-ASS-tee-um toe-men-TOE-sum Common Name: Snow-in-summer Genus: Cerastium

Snow-in-summer is great for rock gardens and dry areas, and also works well as a container plant. Plant it on a stone wall for a cascading effect. Snow-in-summer needs room to perform. A single plant can carpet an area as wide as a yard across. After the flowers fade, the silver/grey foliage shines on in contrast to more predictable shades of green.
Noteworthy characteristics: These plants can be short-lived.
Care: Plant in a sunny spot in well-drained soil.
Propagation:

Sow seeds in spring indoors or after last frost, divide plants in spring or autumn, or sow seeds in autumn after last frost.

Problems:

 No serious problems other than root rot.

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posted by northerngrl
7/20/2010
Region: Upper Plains
Zone: 3

In our garden this plant was immediately colonized by millions of ants and ultimately became an eight inch high flowering ant hill. Initially I thought this was our problem (we do have lots of ants in our neighborhood). However, I have since noticed that there are frequently massive ant hills beneath clumps of cerastium in gardens all over the city. I would avoid it.

posted by judgehort
1/27/2010
Region: Northeast
Zone: 7

Here is another plant that strikes terror in the mind of an experienced gardener. I had to root out and burn wheelbarrow-loadsful of Cerastium when I bought a property and tamed the garden of a previous owner. It is a pretty plant but of use only in a very wild garden, if at all.

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Photo/Illustration: Todd Meier

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