Arabis caucasica
- Description
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Arabis caucasica is a showy, sprawling evergreen perennial in the mustard (Brassicaceae) family. It is native to crevices of limestone rocks, along streams and in calcareous alpine meadows of Europe, Canada and parts of the northern U.S. from Maine to Wisconsin south to Tennessee. Cut back foliage after bloom to promote denser growth habit.
Propagation: Seed or rosette separation
Seasons of Interest:
Bloom: Spring, April-May
Wildlife Value: Members of the Arabis genus support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Scaphandrena) arabis. This plant is deer resistant.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems though watch for aphids and root rot, white rust and downy mildew may occur in overly moist or poorly drained soils. Plants tend to suffer in summer heat south of Zone 6.
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- Cultivars:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Arabis
- Species:
- caucasica
- Family:
- Brassicaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mediterranean, Crimea, Turkey, Iran, Causcus
- Wildlife Value:
- Members of the Arabis genus support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Scaphandrena) arabis. This plant is deer resistant.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Enhancement
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- dry, sandy, or rocky soil; drought; somewhat infertile soils
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Perennial
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- This plant has tiny, 4-petaled, 1/2" long white flowers bloom in spring. The blooms make excellent cut flowers.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- 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.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Rock Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Similar plants:
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Armeria maritima
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Papaver orientale
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Antennaria plantaginifolia
