Common Name: Alpine Rock Cress

General Information

Arabis alpina is a herbaceous, perennial plant producing a cluster of loose, spreading rosettes of leaves from which develop elongated racemes of flowers. The plant grows around 15cm in leaf tall, 20 - 30cm when in flower[].
The plant can be harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens, where it can be used as a ground cover.
Extensively cultivated as an ornamental plant, it sometimes escapes from cultivation and becomes locally naturalized[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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Range

Europe - Norway to Spain, eastwards through the Caucasus, central and northern Asia to the Russian Far East; Africa - Morocco, Algeria

Habitat

Screes and rocks in moist sites in mountains[, ]. Crevices of limestone rocks, along streams, calcareous alpine meadows, Salix scrub on slopes with scree; at elevations from sea level to 2,400 metres in Newfoundland[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.15 m
Pollinators	Bees, Lepidoptera, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in a sunny position, requiring a well-drained soil[]. Succeeds in fairly dry positions[]. Easily grown in ordinary well-drained soil[, ]. Prefers a sandy loam and a sunny position. Another report says that it prefers partial shade[].
Plants resent root disturbance and are best put in their final positions whilst still small[].
Cut back plants after flowering to promote denser foliage and to prevent plants from taking on a straggly appearance[].
The flowers are attractive to bees.

Edible Uses

Young leaves - cooked or raw[, ]. An agreeable cress-like flavour[].

Flowers - raw or cooked[, ]. A cress-like flavour[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

Plants can be massed together and used as a ground cover[].

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[].