How often to water Gibraltar candytuft in California
In July on the north-central coast, established Gibraltar candytuft in loam needs a deep watering about every 9 days: about 1.5 gallons each time for a plant 2 feet across, about 1.1 gallons a week. Gibraltar candytuft is a short-lived evergreen perennial in the mustard family that forms a compact clump about a foot tall, with spoon-shaped, toothed, dark green leaves. Dense, rounded heads of scented flowers bloom from spring into summer and feed bees and other pollinators. It needs full sun and neutral to alkaline soil that never waterlogs.
How often to water Gibraltar candytuft, month by month
Type your city above and the days between waterings and the gallons appear here, worked out from your city's climate table. Or read the figures by climate zone further down.
How this is worked out: established roots fill the top 1 foot of soil, and you water again when that soil has dried halfway. Loam soil holds about 1.5 inches of water per foot. Water the whole area the plant covers, and skip a watering after a good soaking rain.
How to tell it needs water
- A clump of Gibraltar candytuft with dry soil an inch or two down in summer is ready for water
- Leaves wilting in afternoon heat can point to a dry root zone
- A clump declining after a few years is normal for this short-lived plant
- Stems collapsing in soggy soil point to waterlogging
How to water it
- Water when the top inch or two dries, then let it drain
- Plant in full sun in moist but well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil
- Avoid any spot that stays waterlogged
- Trim lightly after flowering to keep it compact
- Take cuttings in late spring or summer to replace older plants
Through the seasons
Water new plants regularly until roots establish. Established clumps want moderate water through spring and summer bloom, and soil that never stays wet. Because it is short-lived, keep a few rooted cuttings to replace older plants, and trim lightly after flowering to keep it compact. WUCOLS rates Gibraltar candytuft moderate water on the north-central coast. WUCOLS has not evaluated it for the Central Valley, the south coast, South Inland, the high desert or the low desert.
In pots
Gibraltar candytuft is a good pot plant for a sunny patio, gravel garden or trough, where its scented flowers are close at hand. Use a gritty, well-drained mix. Water whenever the upper inch dries, letting the excess drain away. In summer, small pots can need water every day or two. Never leave the pot in water. Trim it after bloom. In winter, keep the mix just barely moist.
- A year
- no figure
- Reference
- Sacramento climate table
- Counts
- Plant need, before sprinkler losses
WUCOLS lists Gibraltar Candytuft as not evaluated for the Central Valley zone, so no monthly figure is computed here.
Monthly water need by climate zone
Gibraltar Candytuft: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone
| Month | N. Coast | C. Valley | S. Coast | S. Inland | Hi Desert | Lo Desert |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0.37 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Feb | 0.53 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Mar | 0.87 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Apr | 1.18 | – | – | – | – | – |
| May | 1.46 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Jun | 1.61 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Jul | 1.61 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Aug | 1.49 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Sep | 1.24 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Oct | 0.87 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Nov | 0.47 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Dec | 0.31 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Year | 12 | – | – | – | – | – |
How this is worked out: the WUCOLS water rating for each zone times that zone’s climate for the month. A dash means WUCOLS does not rate the plant there. The figures are what the plant uses, before sprinkler losses.
Plants with the same water needs 16
Rated not evaluated in the Central Valley, like Gibraltar candytuft. Plants that drink alike can share one valve and one schedule.
Lilyleaf LadybellsAdenophora liliifolianot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
ArnicaArnica montananot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Frilly BergeniaBergenia ciliatanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Cabbage on a StickBrighamia insignisnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Basket PlantCallisia fragransnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Forest SedgeCarex sylvaticanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Umbrella DracaenaDianella ensifolianot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Rusty FoxgloveDigitalis ferrugineanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Big-Flowered FoxgloveDigitalis grandifloranot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Woolly FoxgloveDigitalis lanatanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Sunset FoxgloveDigitalis obscuranot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Male FernDryopteris filix-masnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Alpine Sea HollyEryngium alpinumnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Purple SpurgeEuphorbia dulcisnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Queen of the MeadowFilipendula ulmarianot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
DropwortFilipendula vulgaris (Filipendula hexapetala)not rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingTurn this into minutes on your water days
Every city page has a calculator that takes Gibraltar candytuft, your sprinkler type and the month, and gives the minutes per water day for that supplier's schedule. Or put it in a zone of the personal watering plan and get all twelve months printed.
Questions people ask
How much water does Gibraltar candytuft need per day?
In July on the north-central coast, established Gibraltar candytuft needs about 0.2 gallons a day for a plant 2 feet across and about 0.7 gallons a day for a plant 4 feet across. Give it in deep waterings spread days apart rather than a little every day, so the whole root zone gets wet.
Does watering for Gibraltar candytuft change across California?
Yes. WUCOLS rates Gibraltar candytuft separately for each of the six California climate zones: moderate water in the North-Central Coastal zone, not evaluated in the Central Valley zone, not evaluated in the South Coastal zone, not evaluated in the South Inland zone, not evaluated in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, not evaluated in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.
Is Gibraltar candytuft evergreen?
Yes, it is a short-lived evergreen perennial. It keeps its dark green leaves year round. Replace plants as they age.
When does Gibraltar candytuft bloom?
It blooms from spring into summer with dense, rounded flower heads. They are scented. Trim after flowering.
Does Gibraltar candytuft attract pollinators?
Yes, it provides nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinating insects. It suits wildlife and gravel gardens. Keep it in sun.
What soil does Gibraltar candytuft need?
It wants moist but well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil. It will not tolerate waterlogging. Add grit to heavy soil.
What pests bother Gibraltar candytuft?
Slugs, snails and sometimes caterpillars can appear. Club root is a possible disease. Good drainage helps.
More plant watering guides
Sources
- WUCOLS IV plant water use classification for Iberis gibraltarica, the University of California survey California agencies use for landscape plan reviewRead August 23, 2026 on wucols.ucdavis.edu
- Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, adopted text and appendices, effective 2025-01-02 · monthly reference evapotranspiration per city, Appendix CRead August 23, 2026 on water.ca.gov/-/media/DWR-Website/Web-Pages/Programs/Water-Use-And-Efficiency/MWELO-Rulemaking/Final-MWELO-Text-and-Appendices_20250103.pdf
- UC Statewide IPM Program, irrigation scheduling using evapotranspirationRead September 30, 2026 on ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/ENVIRON/evap.html
- Shaw and Pittenger, Landscape Irrigation System Evaluation and Management, UC Cooperative Extension, 2009Read September 30, 2026 on ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2013-02/160836.pdf
- Pittenger, Water Management in Gardens and Landscapes, UC Riverside, 2017Read September 30, 2026 on ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2017-03/258022.pdf