Cephalaria gigantea
Tatarian cephalaria
caprifoliaceae
Yellow pincushion flowers on tall wiry
stems; compound leaves
5–7 ft. (3 ft.) high; 3–6 ft. wide
Full sun
Blooms June–August
Zones 3–8pruning Flowering stems are
branched, so deadhead to lateral new
flowers. After all flowering is finished,
cut flowering stems down to the
ground. Deadleafing may also be
necessary as plants are usually tatty by
late summer or early autumn, particu-
larly with dry conditions. If damage is
major, cut plants down to about 1 ft.
above the ground. They are not
especially attractive at this stage, so it
would be a good idea to include
late-blooming plants as companions
to help hide pruned plants. Plants
don’t appear to respond to cutting
back or pinching before flowering to
reduce height or delay bloom. Plants
should be cut down for the winter.
Leaves of cephalaria have tiny bristly
hairs that can irritate the skin when
pruning.
other maintenance Moisture is
necessary to maintain health of the
leaves. Sometimes requires staking.
Divide every 2–3 years in the spring.
Give plenty of space in the garden.
Cerastium tomentosum
snow-in-summer
c aryophyllaceaeSmall white flowers; mat-forming silver
leaves
4–8 in. high; 18 in. wide
Full sun
Blooms June
Zones 3–7
pruning Plants should be sheared
back by a third to half and shaped after
flowering to keep in good form and
prevent open centers void of leaves.
Hedge shears are the best tool for the
task. The plant’s typical “softness” will
quickly return after shearing. Prune
back whenever the plant gets out of
bounds. Don’t do any heavy shearing
during hot, dry conditions. Do not
prune for the winter. Prune out any
damaged sections in the spring as
needed.
other maintenance
Well-draining soil is essential for
survival. Prefers infertile conditions.
Often melts out in hot, humid weather.
Spreads rapidly by underground roots.
May require frequent division in
spring or fall to keep in bounds; keep
plenty of soil around the roots to
ensure success. Often short-lived due
to its tendency toward rotting.
related plantS Cerastium tomento-
sum ‘Yo Yo’ and ‘Silver Carpet’ are more
compact than the species.
Cerastium tomentosum var. colum-
nae is also more compact.Cephalaria giganteaCerastium tomentosum ‘ Yo -Yo’