Family
Brassicaceae
Botanical Name
ARABIS x arendsii
Plant Common Name
Rockcress
Special Notice
This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.
General Description
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 in mid-spring in mildest regions, to as late as early summer in alpine or other cold areas are seen on short, branched stalks above the foliage. Blooms range from pale pink to creamy deep pink. They are mildly fragrant.
Grow hybrid rockcress in full sun in a nutrient-poor, gritty, well-draining soil. Keep soil moist when actively growing, but in winter the soil should be kept drier. It is a lovely matted groundcover for hillsides, rockeries and for the front edge of cottage gardens and mixed borders. In general a short-lived plant, but in regions with very warm and long summers it may last only a few years. Numerous cultivars have been developed, including 'Rosabella' with deep rose-pink blossoms and 'Compinkie' with fuchsia-pink flowers.
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Clay, Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Drought
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Growth Rate
Fast
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Water Requirements
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
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Habit
Clump-Forming
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Seasonal Interest
Spring
Special Characteristics
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Usage
Alpine, Edging, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
No
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Attracts
Butterflies
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Self-Sowing
Yes
