ARABIS. Rockcress. Widespread, mostly Northern Hemisphere. An immense group of mustard relatives, many of them found, as their common name implies, clinging to rocky cliffs and slopes. The following are all low, tidy perennials forming mats or cushions of attractive foliage and covering themselves in season (mostly spring) with clustered 4-petalled blossoms on short stems. They are useful in the rock garden, low borders and even, for a few years, in containers. Sun, well drained soil, moderate to occasional watering. Hardiness varies.
caucasica (alpina). One of the classic rock garden perennials, this species forms cushions of fuzzy, grey green leaves normally 6" or less tall, with an eventual spread of up to 1'. The flowers are normally white. We grow the seed strain ‘Snowcap’, exceptionally heavy blooming with pure white blossoms, and the selection ‘Variegata', with bright yellow-variegated leaves. Below 0oF.
ferdinandi-coburgi ‘Variegata’. A perfectly flat mat with rosettes of narrow 1" leaves, variegated with creamy yellow. Slender 6" stems rise in spring to display clusters of small white blossoms. 0oF or less.