Common Name: Rock Cress

General Information

Arabidopsis lyrata is an erect, biennial to perennial plant producing one to a few stems, sometimes sparingly branched, 10 - 30cm long[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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Range

Northern and central Europe, through northern Asia to Japan; N. America - Alaska to Ontaria, south to Washington and Georgia

Habitat

Cliffs, ledges, thickets, stream and river banks, woods, limestone crevices and bluffs, sandstone hills and outcrops, serpentine rocks and barrens, shale, talus, sand dunes; at elevations up to 1,000 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Biennial/Perennial
Height	0.20 m
Pollinators	Bees, Lepidoptera
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Species in this genus are generally easily grown in ordinary well-drained soil[].
This species of rockcress is considered an important first brood nectar plant for 'Karner Blue' butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis Nabokov), an endangered species in North America.

Edible Uses

Young leaves - raw or cooked[]. Rosettes of the lobed leaves are added to tossed salads or served as a green vegetable[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - it is best to surface sow the seed as soon as it is ripe in a light position in a cold frame[]. Seed can also be sown in spring. It usually germinates in 2 - 3 weeks at 21°c[]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.
Division after flowering[]. Very easy, the divisions can be planted out straight into their permanent positions if required.
Cuttings in a shady border in summer[].