Practical
Plants

Arabis hirsuta

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

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Arabis
Life cycle
biennial, perennial
Height
0.6 m
Fertility
Bees, Lepidoptera, Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Lepidoptera, Insects

Uses

Edible uses

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

Young leaves - cooked[5].

Plant part
Leaves

Environment

Range
Most of Europe, including Britain, N. Africa and N. Asia to Japan.
Habitat
Chalk and limestone slopes, limestone rocks and walls, dunes and dry banks[4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
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[3]. Seed can also be sown in spring. It usually germinates in 2 - 3 weeks at 21°c[3]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division after flowering[2]. 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. Succeeds in dry soils and on walls[K].

References

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

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

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

    ↩1↩2

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

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

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