(Rose Rockcress)

Fragrant and dainty, the rosy purple flowers of the rose rockcress appear above the compact green foliage in late spring. A short-lived, evergreen, tuft-forming perennial that is native only (endemic) to the central and northern of California, it grows in gritty soils and is salt-tolerant.

The oval leaves have small teeth and are a satiny green, often with tiny white hairs on the margins. In late spring, short stalks carry clusters of tiny flowers that will attract butterflies. These blooms are...

(Rose Rockcress, Rote Sensation Rockcress)

This small rockcress, ‘Red Sensation,’ is a bright-flowering selection of a California native. It is a mat-forming, evergreen perennial with oval, deep green leaves arranged in ground-hugging rosettes. Bright clusters of tiny, four-petalled, magenta-fuchsia flowers are borne on short stems from late spring into summer. These are sweetly scented and long-lasting, attracting butterflies.

Grow 'Red Sensation' in full sun and gritty, well-drained soil. If the soil remains wet in winter, this plant...

(Rose Delight Rockcress, Rose Rockcress)

Fragrant and dainty, the pale rose-fuchsia flowers of ‘Rose Delight’ rockcress bloom above the compact green foliage in late spring. The parent species is a short-lived, evergreen, tuft-forming perennial that is native to central and northern California, where it grows in gritty soils and coastal regions.

The oval leaves have small teeth and are a satiny green with haired edges. In late spring, short stalks bear clusters of tiny flowers that attract butterflies. These blooms are rosy pink to pink-fuchsia...

(Rose Rockcress, Spring Charm Rose Rockcress)

What a pretty California native for sunny rock gardens. Rose rockcress is a mat-forming evergreen perennial with soft deep green leaves that form ground-hugging rosettes. Bright clusters four-petaled rosy-pink flowers are borne on short stems from late spring into summer. These are sweetly scented and long-lasting.

Protect this sun-loving plant from winter moisture as plants have a tendency to suffer from root rot when conditions are too cool and wet. Though adapted to full sun, it does not appreciate...

(Rockcress)

Usually pest-free and blooming in many shades of pink in mid to late spring, hybrid rockcress creates a delicate show in an alpine setting. This mat-forming, evergreen, short-lived perennial resulted from the cross of the vigorous wall rockcress (Arabis caucasica) with Arabis aubrietioides. The small leaves are held in loose rosettes. Each blade is an oval with small teeth and may range in color from medium green to gray-green, with or without tiny hairs. The small flowers, appearing...

(Compinkie Rockcress, Rockcress)

The long-blooming rockcress, ‘Compinkie’, produces a mat of tiny, fuchsia-pink flowers in mid to late spring. This colorful rock garden favorite is a cross between two alpines, the vigorous wall rockcress (Arabis caucasica) and Arabis aubrietioides. It is a short-lived perennials and is evergreen to semi-evergreen.

Its small, oval, light gray-green leaves are slightly hairy and held in loose rosettes along the trailing stems. The small flowers appear in mid-spring in where...

(Aristate Hollyfern)

The East Indian holly fern has magnificent fronds of green arising from a furry brown creeping rhizome. This evergreen fern is usually found in dry woodlands among rocks near the coast from India, southeastern Asia into Polynesia and New Zealand. The leaves are long, quite stiff and seem made from plastic.

Grow this fern in a shady spot in a moist but well drained soil. Cold winters may find the plant deciduous and returning its fronds in spring. Once established, this fern can handle periods...

(Aristate Hollyfern, East Indian Hollyfern, Variegated East Indian Hollyfern)

The variegated East Indian holly fern has magnificent tapering green fronds with prominent midribs glowing in a pale yellow. This evergreen fern is usually found in dry woodlands among rocks near the coast from India, southeastern Asia into Polynesia and New Zealand. The leaves are long, quite stiff as if made from plastic and arise from a creeping rhizome.

Grow this fern in a shady spot in a moist but well-drained soil. Cold winters may render the plant deciduous, with new fronds arising in...

(East Indian Holly Fern, Indian Holly Fern , Simplicior Holly Fern)

This attractive, fern produces broad triangular fronds directly from scaly creeping rhizomes (lateral stems). Indian holly fern is native to China and Japan and is found in a wide variety or habitats from dry uplands to moist stream banks.

Indian holly is clumping to spreading. The rhizomes scales are brown to tan and the leaf stalks green. The large triangular shiny leaves are evergreen in mild climates and deciduous in colder zones. They are two to three times divided with each pinna (the...

(East Indian Holly Fern, Indian Holly Fern, Simplicior Holly Fern)

This attractive evergreen fern with broad triangular fronds that are deeply divided is useful for flower arrangements. 'Variegata' has deep green leaves with yellow along the midribs and burgundy tinges during the cool season. Native to China and Japan, it is well-suited to the woodland border or shaded rockery.

Plant the variegated simpler hollyfern in rich, moist soil for a nice ground cover or mix with other shade-loving plants. This perennial fern may die to ground in cold winters and resprout...