Originally from Europe and part of the cabbage family Brassicaceae, candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) is popular worldwide as a groundcover plant thanks to its pretty white flowers and forgiving nature.
Drought, rocky soil, hot weather, and harsh sun don’t bother creeping juniper, and the plant is pretty resistant to deer and other herbivores. As a bonus, its blue-green foliage is attractive and releases a pleasant smell when disturbed.
The soft, lacy foliage feels good under foot and can handle moderate traffic, so it’s a nice lawn alternative if you’re looking for a drought-tolerant option that’s also attractive to pollinators. In early summer, clusters of canary yellow flowers top the dense mat of green leaves.
This ground cover is very easy to keep alive, but also highly vigorous, so be sure to only establish it where you’re sure you actually want it. When your creeping lilyturf goes dormant in winter, let the old leaves mulch the soil and then cut them back in spring to make room for new growth.
It thrives in a “foresty” soil type: rich with humus, lightly moist but well-draining, and slightly acidic to neutral in pH. A happy plant will produce dark red and rather hairy little blooms.