We have had Cerastium in the garden for 50 years.   We originally bought one plant – Cerastium tomentosum – Snow in Summer.    It has returned reliably each spring and has spread.    Some gardeners think it is an invasive plant, but I find it to be tolerant of a wide range of conditions, a survivor and it spreads with shallow roots.    It is fairly easy control, but requires some care each year to ensure it doesn’t take over the beds it is in.     It will grow under trees, in dry rockeries, and in pockets and so it is useful as a quick and easy planting, with abundant divisions, as needed.

They are part of the Caryophyllaceae family and it is commonly called “chickweed”, but there are over 200 types, with 3 native to our area.   Snow in summer has “tomentose” (felty) lanceolate leaves.  the plant is covered in fine silver-grey hairs.   White flowers emerge in late April and last intermittently into July.     It is a spreading herbaceous perennial forming dense carpets.   We use it as an ornamental ground cover in the garden, but we also do yearly clean-up around the plants.