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perennial

Variegated Wall Cress

Arabis caucasica 'Variegata'

 

Variegated Wall Cress (Arabis caucasica 'Variegata') at A Very Successful Garden Center

Variegated Wall Cress foliage

Variegated Wall Cress foliage

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  8 inches

Spread:  18 inches

Sunlight:  full sun 

Hardiness Zone:  3a

Other Names:  Rock Cress

Description:

Great textured compact plant; the eye is drawn to the combination of creamy variegated foliage and elegant white flowers; perfect for wall and rock gardens; can shear after blooming for best appearance

Ornamental Features

Variegated Wall Cress is blanketed in stunning lightly-scented white daisy flowers with lemon yellow eyes at the ends of the stems from mid to late spring. Its attractive small narrow leaves remain olive green in color with showy creamy white variegation throughout the year.

Landscape Attributes

Variegated Wall Cress is a dense herbaceous evergreen perennial with a ground-hugging habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Variegated Wall Cress is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Rock/Alpine Gardens
  • Border Edging
  • General Garden Use
  • Groundcover
  • Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Variegated Wall Cress will grow to be about 8 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 18 inches. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 8 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider covering it with a thick layer of mulch in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Variegated Wall Cress is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its spreading habit of growth, it is ideally suited for use as a 'spiller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the edges where it can spill gracefully over the pot. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Rock  Edging  Garden  Groundcover  Container 
Applications
Flowers  Foliage Color  Texture 
Ornamental Features