• Photo of Arabis caucasica (Arabis caucasicas)

Plant Profile: Arabis caucasica

Taxonomy: Arabis caucasica

Names

Garden Rock Cross, Rock Cross, Wall Rock Cross

  • Photo of Arabis caucasica (Arabis caucasicas)

Phonetic Spelling:AR-uh-biss kaw-KAS-ee-kuh

Genus:Arabis

Species:caucasica

Family:Brassicaceae

This striking and expansive evergreen perennial thrives in the crevices of limestone rocks, along waterways, and in calcareous alpine meadows across Europe, Canada, and parts of the northern United States, stretching from Maine to Wisconsin and as far south as Tennessee. To encourage a bushier growth pattern, trim back the foliage after flowering.

**Propagation:** This plant can be propagated through seeds or by separating rosettes.

**Seasons of Interest:**
- **Bloom:** Spring, specifically from April to May.

**Wildlife Value:** Plants in the Arabis genus are beneficial to certain specialized bees, including Andrena (Scaphandrena) arabis. Additionally, this species is resistant to deer.

**Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Issues:** While there are no significant insect or disease threats, it is advisable to monitor for aphids, root rot, white rust, and downy mildew, which may arise in excessively wet or poorly drained soils. Furthermore, plants may struggle during the summer heat in regions south of Zone 6.

Arabis caucasica Feature Summary

Arabis caucasica Image Gallery

Tags

#white
#evergreen
#showy flowers
#full sun tolerant
#drought tolerant
#perennial
#white flowers
#wildlife plant
#showy
#cut flowers
#spring flowers
#stream banks
#specialized bees
#infertile soil
#deer resistant
#alpine
#groundcover
#rock gardens
#spring interest
#pollinator plant
#sandy soils tolerant
#rocky soils tolerant
#garden walls
#dry soils tolerant
#bee friendly
#meadows

Similar Plants

Arabis caucasica Feature Summary

Attributes
Mediterranean, Crimea, Turkey, Iran, Causcus
Members of the Arabis genus support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Scaphandrena) arabis. This plant is deer resistant.
dry, sandy, or rocky soil; drought; somewhat infertile soils
Perennial
Wildlife Food Source
Flowers
This plant has tiny, 4-petaled, 1/2" long white flowers bloom in spring. The blooms make excellent cut flowers.
4-5 petals/rays
< 1 inch
Leaves
This plant has loose spreading rosettes of 2-inch long toothed, obovate, gray-green basal leaves. The foliage is very attractive cascading over walls or in a rock garden and makes an effective groundcover.
Green
Gray/Silver
1-3 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Ground Cover
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Good Drainage
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Rock Garden
Drought
Deer
Dry Soil
Pollinators
Bees
Specialized Bees

Arabis caucasica Attributes

Arabis caucasica: Country Or Region Of Origin

Mediterranean, Crimea, Turkey, Iran, Causcus

Arabis caucasica: Wildlife Value

Members of the Arabis genus support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Scaphandrena) arabis. This plant is deer resistant.

Arabis caucasica: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

dry, sandy, or rocky soil; drought; somewhat infertile soils

Arabis caucasica: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Arabis caucasica: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Arabis caucasica: Play Value

Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer

Arabis caucasica Flowers

Arabis caucasica: Flower Description

This plant has tiny, 4-petaled, 1/2" long white flowers bloom in spring. The blooms make excellent cut flowers.

Arabis caucasica: Flower Color

filter_vintage
White

Arabis caucasica: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Arabis caucasica: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Arabis caucasica: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Arabis caucasica: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Arabis caucasica Leaves

Arabis caucasica: Leaf Description

This plant has loose spreading rosettes of 2-inch long toothed, obovate, gray-green basal leaves. The foliage is very attractive cascading over walls or in a rock garden and makes an effective groundcover.

Arabis caucasica: Leaf Color

spa
Gray/Silver
spa
Green

Arabis caucasica: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Arabis caucasica: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Arabis caucasica: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Arabis caucasica: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Arabis caucasica Whole Plant Traits

Arabis caucasica: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Arabis caucasica: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Arabis caucasica Cultural Conditions

Arabis caucasica: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Arabis caucasica: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Arabis caucasica: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Arabis caucasica Stem

Arabis caucasica: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Arabis caucasica Landscape

Arabis caucasica: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Arabis caucasica: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Arabis caucasica: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Arabis caucasica: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees