Snow-in-summer is a low-growing, herbaceous perennial that will form a 6-inch tall mat of attractive narrow leaves. The plant spreads by underground runners and makes a good ground cover; however, it is a short-lived plant that may result in dead patches in a covered area. In late spring to early summer, stems with showy star-shaped white flowers will protrude 8 to 12 inches above the ground-covering mat. Each stem can produce up to 15 blooms. A native of Italy, the numerous blooms on Snow-in-summer form a carpet of white, hence its common name. The genus name comes from the Greek word keras meaning horn in reference to the seed capsule which in some species is bent slightly like a cow’s horn. The specific epithet is in reference to the plant's woolly white leaves and stems. Self-seeding will occur if the spent blooms are not removed. Divide every few years in the spring or fall. Propagation can also be done from cuttings in early summer. Pruning should not be done in the fall, wait until spring. The plant is deer resistant and does well in poor, dry, sandy, well-drained soils in full sun. It can tolerate a wide range of soils except for poorly-drained ones, which inevitably lead to root rot. It does well in cool summer climates but is less successful in the high summer heat and humidity of the deep South. Large beds can be mowed on a high setting. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Root rot can occur in locations where good drainage is not provided. It does not tolerate foot traffic. It can be weedy in locations with cooler summer climates where the plant is robust and there are less invasive, more compact cultivars of this species available. Does not perform well in climates with high humidity or in a location with insufficient sunlight.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Mountains
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Ascending; Creeping; Dense; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Linear; Oblong
Leaf margin
Undulate
Leaf feel
Velvety
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
One inch, narrow, grayish-green leaves covered with soft-textured whitish hairs. Oblong to lance-shaped. Leaves (1 inch long and 1/4 inch wide) form a 6 inch tall foliage mat.
Flower color
White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Displays a bundle of 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch 5-petaled white flowers in late spring into June.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Black
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Cylindrical, slightly curved capsules. Small nonshowy fruit.
Stem color
Gray/Silver
Stem detail
Wiry branching stems with up to 15 showy star-shaped white flowers will protrude 8 to 12 inches above the ground.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Italy, Corse & Sicilia
Distribution
Introduced into the United States from Alaska, to Northwestern states, and eastern down to North Carolina. Also grown in the UK and Iberian peninsula.