Arabis caucasica

Arabis caucasica is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family known by the common names garden arabis, mountain rock cress or Caucasian rockcress.

Distribution and habitat

It is native to Crimea, Turkey, Iran, Caucasus and the Mediterranean. It grows in crevices of limestone rocks, streams and alpine meadows.

Arabis caucasica is an evergreen perennial herb growing up to by. It flowers in early spring and has white petals.

It is hardy to zones 4-9 and is not frost tender. A popular ornamental garden plant for its early flowers, cultivars include the pink 'Compinkie'. Under its putative synonym A. alpina subsp. caucasica, the cultivars 'Flore Pleno' and 'Schneehaube' have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.