Melinda Myers

Rock Cress

Botanical Name

Arabis caucasica

Min Zone

4

Max Zone

7

Height

6 to 12 inches

Width

6 to 18 inches

Flowers

Early spring: 4 petals of white, pink, blue or purple

Light

Full sun

Soil

Medium to dry, very well-drained, sandy

Planting & Care

• Drought tolerant
• Requires well-drained soil
• Plants lose vigor and decline in the heat of Zone 7 and higher
• Cut back plants after flowering to promote fuller growth
• Divide every 2 or 3 years after flowering or in fall
• Softwood stem cuttings taken right after flowering is a reliable method of propagation

Problems

Club root, downy mildew, white rust, aphids

Varieties

• Snow Cap - prolific white flowers
• Rosabella - rose colored blooms
• Flore Pleno - late blooming, double white flowers
• Variegata - white flowers above cream striped foliage
• Red Sensation - bright red flowers
• Rose Delight - rose-purple blooms