candytuft

[ kan-dee-tuhft ]
/ ˈkæn diˌtʌft /

noun

a plant of the genus Iberis, of the mustard family, especially I. umbellata, an ornamental plant with tufted pink, violet, purple, or red flowers, originally from the island of Crete.

Origin of candytuft

1570–80; Candy (variant of Candia) + tuft

Example sentences from the Web for candytuft

British Dictionary definitions for candytuft

candytuft
/ (ˈkændɪˌtʌft) /

noun

either of two species of Iberis grown as annual garden plants for their umbels ("tufts") of white, red, or purplish flowers See iberis

Word Origin for candytuft

C17: from Candy, obsolete variant of Candia (Crete) + tuft