Snow in Summer (Cerastium Tomentosum) – Easy-to-grow from Snow in Summer seeds, this perennial is a great herbaceous ground cover plant which is low-growing, creeping, very dense and mat-like, and 6 inches tall by 12 – 24 inches wide. Although Cerastium Snow In Summer tolerates no foot traffic, it performs very well as a general flowering ground cover plant. It works very well on sunny banks that are too steep to mow, between stepping stones, and in the cracks of stone walls and ledges.
The evergreen leaves are grayish green and covered with soft-textured whitish hairs. Each reaches 1 inch long by 1/4 inch wide and is oblong in shape. Growth for this perennial ground cover is moderate to fast. Snow in Summer ground cover plants perform best in well-drained, sandy or loamy soil with low fertility. Excellent tolerance to drought and little watering is required once they are established. Snow-In-Summer prefers full sun; however, plants in hot zones do better in light shade. Trim back the spent blooms to tidy up the plant. Snow in Summer ground cover can spread by self-sowing.
Sow Snow in Summer seeds indoors 6 – 8 weeks before setting out. Use small pots and sterile starter mix. Sow Cerastium seeds lightly on the surface of the starter mix, and press the Snow in Summer seeds into the mix. This ground cover seed needs light to germinate. Keep the seeds moist until germination, harden the seedlings for 10 – 14 days before planting Snow in Summer ground cover plants into their permanent location.
Groundcover Specifications
Season: Perennial
USDA Zones: 3 – 10
Height: 6 inches
Bloom Season: Late spring and summer
Bloom Color: White
Environment: Full sun
Foot Traffic: No
Soil Type: Well-drained, pH 6.5 – 7.2
Deer Resistant: Yes
Planting Directions
Temperature: 68F
Average Germ Time: 14 – 21 days
Light Required: Yes
Depth: Do not cover the seed but press into the soil
Sowing Rate: Approximately 5000 seeds cover 100 square feet
Moisture: Keep seeds moist until germination
Plant Spacing: 8 inches