Cerastium Seeds | Snow-in-summer
LATIN NAME: Cerastium
COMMON NAME: Snow-in-Summer
Plant Profile
Snow-in-Summer (Cerastium) is a distinctive species. The flowers pull in pollinating insects, which quietly widens its usefulness in the garden. Gardeners value it precisely for this blend of qualities.
Science & Biotechnology
Botanists studying the Cerastium group regularly include Cerastium in comparative work, and the species also appears in horticultural trials aimed at gardeners and growers. Members of genus provide material for studies of plant adaptation, reproductive biology and evolution of traits associated with exposed habitats. With present-day seed handling, raising this species well within the reach of any careful grower.
Uses & Benefits
Snow-in-Summer works well in borders, containers and dedicated beds. Snow-in-summer is chiefly grown as a groundcover or edging plant. Its trailing stems can soften edge of paths, rockeries and dry borders, while white flowers create a seasonal carpet. It is also useful in teaching collections because its low habit makes vegetative structure easy to observe. Mature plants need little attention in a well-chosen position.
Snow-in-summer and its kin are silvery groundcovers with only minor folk records; they earn their place as drought-tolerant edging.
Growing from Seed
Snow-in-Summer is one of those generous plants that come along well from seed. Sow seed on surface of a fine, well-drained medium and press gently into contact with the soil. Keep surface lightly moist and provide bright light. Broadcast the seed thinly over a fine, free-draining compost, sieve a little more compost on top, and water with a fine rose. Shift the seedlings into small pots as soon as they can be handled, and give them bright light until planting-out time.
Our Take
Among the Cerastium group, it is one of the more distinctive species in cultivation. Its long record of traditional use, described above, gives the plant a story beyond ornament. Even moisture while the seed is chitting is the main thing; afterwards it largely looks after itself.
Related Reading
More species in the same orbit as Snow-in-Summer: