<i> Cerastium tomentosum </i> : Snow-in-summer : Flowering, low-growing perennial

Plants with foliage of silvery-gray are wonderful when used for such visual effects as breaking up the monotony of a planting of shrubs or calming a busy sea of plants in a border. Example: Cerastium tomentosum , snow-in-summer, makes a good contrast to low-growing, dark-green-leaved verbena with flowers of dark rose-pink. In desert gardens, it is striking set against the blackish-purple succulent Aeonium arboreum “Zwartkop.” And it’s a nice complement among shrubs such as rosemary, with glossy, feathery foliage and light-blue flowers.

Snow-in-summer’s common name comes not from the gray foliage, but from the blanket of white, daisy-like flowers that shoot up over the plant during warm weather. The ground cover, with small, three-quarter-inch elliptical leaves, grows in low (6 to 8 inches) patches, which spread out quickly within the year. And it’s not as tall as santolina (of similar color and effect), which has a tendency to get woody and turn brown at the bottom.

Sun-loving and drought-resistant, snow-in-summer thrives with little care. And herein lies its downfall. It can be killed by the hands of gardeners who love too much--with water, with fertilizer. When swamped in water, snow-in-summer can contract root rot, which becomes apparent as bare spots in the foliage. Even liquid fertilizers are too strong and will damage the plant. Fertilizing once a year is enough.

Snow-in-summer does well now only in the hotter, inland areas, but also in areas that receive a foot or two of snow. Quite hardy, it comes back after snow and frost. To keep it looking tidy, clip it back when it starts to look gangly. Again, avoid overwatering.

If you do not find snow-in-summer at the nursery, have it ordered from Mitsuwa Nursery in Moorpark, B&C; Growers in Chino or El Modeno Gardens in Irvine.