Practical
Plants

Arabis alpina

Alpine Rock Cress

a perennial member of the Arabis genus in the family Brassicaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Arabis
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.15 m
Spread
0.4 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees, Lepidoptera, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Lepidoptera, Self

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young leaves - cooked or raw[2][6]. An agreeable cress-like flavour[7]. Flowers - raw or cooked[2][6]. A cress-like flavour[7].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Leaves

Environment

Range
Europe. In Britain it is only found on the Isle of Skye[5].
Habitat
Screes and rocks in moist sites in mountains[9][10].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - it is best to surface sow the seed as soon as it is ripe in a light position in a cold frame[4]. Seed can also be sown in spring. It usually germinates in 2 - 3 weeks at 21°c[4]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division after flowering[3]. Very easy, the divisions can be planted out straight into their permanent positions if required. Cuttings in a shady border in summer[1].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Easily grown in ordinary well-drained soil[1][4]. Prefers a sandy loam and a sunny position. Another report says that it prefers partial shade[4]. Plants resent root disturbance and are best put in their final positions whilst still small[4]. The flowers are attractive to bees.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00

    ↩

  4. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  5. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  6. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩1↩2

  7. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  8. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

  9. Polunin. O. Flowers of Greece and the Balkans. Oxford University Press 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-19-217626-9

    ↩

  10. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

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