Arabis perennial (sunbeam): photo, growing from seeds, when to plant

Perennial Arabis is a well-known ground cover plant, widely used by professional landscape designers to decorate gardens, park areas, and recreation areas. Many amateurs also use it. Planting and caring for perennial arabis is usually not difficult, so even novice gardeners can grow it.

Botanical description of Arabis

Arabis (lat. Arabis) is a low, perennial shrub of the Brassicaceae (Cruciferous) family.There are about 110 different species of this plant in the wild, and it can be found quite often in many parts of the Earth. Related species of Arabis, or, as it is also called, rezuhi, are:

• rapeseed;
• cabbage;
• mustard;
• gillyflowers.

Most species of Arabis perennial have white flowers.

The main parameters of the plant are shown in the table:

Types and varieties of Arabis

Certain species of perennial Arabis have long been used in cultural horticulture. Based on them, many varieties have been bred, differing in color, flowering time, and size. Below are descriptions and photos of some varieties of rhizomes, recommendations for planting and care.

Arabis of Ferdinand of Coburg Variegate

Arabis Ferdinandi Coburgii Variegata is a rather low, no higher than 10 cm, perennial ground cover plant. It grows quickly, forming a continuous carpet. The stems are thin, long, and easy to take root.The leaves are oval-elongated, variegated, shiny, with a green center and a lighter border, sometimes having lilac, violet or pink shades. Peduncles appear in May-June, their height is 10-15 cm.

Perennial Arabis Ferdinanda Coburg Variegata does not lose its decorative effect after flowering

The flowers are white, numerous, small, about 0.5 cm in diameter, collected in loose racemes. The main purpose is to decorate gardens in the Japanese style, rockeries and alpine slides, since Arabis Ferdinand of Coburg Variegata goes well with large stones and other profile plants.

Ciliated arabis

The perennial flower Arabis blepharophylla, a photo and description of which is presented below, forms a low-growing voluminous bush-clump no more than 0.1 m high and about 0.25 m in diameter. The shoots are dense and green. The leaves are bright, greenish-gray, with dense pubescence.

Perennial ciliated Arabis blooms profusely in May-June

The petals are painted in crimson, lilac or purple tones. The inflorescences are loose, racemose.

Rose Delight

Perennial ciliated Arabis Rose Delight grows up to 0.3 m. The stems are creeping, easily rooted. The flowers are lilac-pink. The perennial is used as an element in the design of alpine slides and rockeries.

Arabis Rose Delight is often used to strengthen slopes

Spring Charm

Spring Charm is one of the varieties of Arabis ciliata. The bushes are small, 10-15 cm tall. The color of the flowers is lilac-pinkish. Can be grown in ordinary flower beds, as well as in rock gardens.

Spring Charm flowers are small, about 1 cm in diameter

Alpine

Alpine Arabis (Arabis alpina) is considered one of the most popular types of Arabis. Forms a densely leafy dense clump up to 0.35 m high. The shoots are creeping and green. The leaves are small, oval-elongated, dense, pubescent, greenish with a silvery tint.

The flowering of the perennial Alpine Arabis begins in the 2nd half of May and lasts about 2 months.

During the budding period, the plant is abundantly covered with small, about 2 cm in diameter, white or pinkish flowers with a yellowish central part, collected in loose, voluminous clusters.

Lapland

Arabis Laplandia is one of the well-known varieties of alpine rhizomes. The perennial grows quickly, forming a continuous carpet. The flowers are about 1 cm, white.

Rezuha Lapland - an excellent ground cover variety

Snow carpet

The Alpine Arabis variety Snow Carpet has white flowers. The plant is perennial and is used as a ground cover. The height of the bushes is 30-35 cm. Flowering time is from May to the end of June.

Rezuha Snow carpet quickly grows over a large area

Terry

Rezukha Terry is one of the perennial varieties of Alpine Arabis. It is distinguished by double flowers of white or pink-purple color. The inflorescences are small, corymbose type.

Arabis Terry begins to bloom in mid-May

Grandiflora pink

The perennial Arabis Grandiflora rose, compared to other species, has rather large flowers, their diameter is about 2 cm. The height of the bush is 0.3-0.35 m. The color of the petals is mauve.

The rose flower Grandiflora pink has elongated petals.

Prolomnikovy

Perennial arabis (Arabis androsacea) in appearance resembles a moss pad about 0.1 m high. The leaves are oval-elongated, highly elongated, with a sharp tip, collected in whorls. Flowers appear in early summer. The corolla is open, with a small funnel. The petals are white.

Arabis prolomnikov is one of the most unpretentious species

In the wild, prolomnikov grows on rocky mountain slopes, penetrating rock cracks with its roots. In ornamental gardening it is used in rock gardens and alpine slides.

Running out

Arabis procurrens is found naturally in many Balkan countries. It grows quickly, forming dense clumps. Used as a perennial ground cover plant and also for securing slopes.

The height of the running arabis bush does not exceed 0.15 m

The shoots are highly branched and green. The flowers are white, medium-sized. The species is characterized by increased frost resistance.

Bruovidny

Perennial Arabis bryoides is found in the Balkan mountain ranges in the alpine and subalpine zones. The bush is a rosette of densely leafy stems 0.1-0.15 cm high. The leaves are small, green, elongated, ciliated, with strong felt pubescence. The inflorescence is a loose shield of small, 0.5-0.7 cm in diameter, white flowers.

Arabis brood can be found in rock cracks and crevices.

Grows on poor, dry, rocky soil. Used in rock gardens and rockeries.

short

Arabis pumila has no decorative value and is almost never cultivated artificially. The plant is short, about 5-8 cm, rather inconspicuous. In places of natural growth (Alps and Apennine Mountains) it is often found in large thickets, covering large areas.

Arabis dwarf can only be seen in the wild

The stems of this plant are reddish and tough. The leaves are dark green, oval-elongated, heavily pubescent, in the lower part they form a rosette from which a peduncle grows up to 15 cm high. Flowers appear in mid-spring, they are white, simple, collected in corymbs 5-8 cm in size.

Caucasian

Caucasian Arabis (Arabis caucasica) can be found in natural conditions not only in the Caucasus, but also in the Crimea, Central Asia, as well as in the mountains of many Mediterranean countries. The plant is a perennial, a fluffy, voluminous bush 0.3-0.35 cm high. It grows on rocky soils, preferring open, sunny areas.

Many cultivated varieties have been bred based on Arabis Caucasian

The leaves of the plant are small, heart-shaped, with a smooth or jagged edge, greenish-silver, pubescent. Flowering begins in May and continues until the end of June. Based on the Caucasian Arabis, many varieties with different colors have been bred: white, lilac, crimson, purple, pink. The flowers are simple or double, numerous, with a strongly pronounced aroma, collected in small clusters.

Magic carpet

Caucasian Arabis Magic Carpet is usually sold in stores as a mix. This includes plants with different flower colors: white, pink, lilac, purple. Used for decorating rock gardens and rocky slopes.

Arabis Magic Carpet is often used as a ground cover crop.

Motley bedspread

Variegated blanket is a variety of Caucasian Arabis with variegated (two-color) leaf color. Thanks to this, the decorative effect of the plant remains even after flowering. This variegated Arabis is used to decorate flower beds, create accents, and decorate alpine slides and rockeries.

The white border on the leaves is a distinctive feature of the Variegated Veil variety

Little Treasure Deep Rose

Caucasian Arabis Little Treasure Deep Rose is used mainly in flower beds and ridges. The height of the bushes does not exceed 15 cm. The flowers are small, numerous, bright pink, appear in early summer.

Arabis Little Treasure Deep Rose looks great when decorating a rustic landscape

snow cloud

Arabis Snowcloud begins to bloom in early May. The leaves are jagged, green, and due to their strong pubescence they have a silvery tint. Blooms abundantly, petals are white.

Arabis Snow Cloud is distinguished by friendly and long-lasting flowering

Persian rug

This is a mix variety of a mixture of Caucasian Arabis seeds of various colors. The bushes are low, up to 0.3 m, with creeping shoots. The colors of the flowers vary, from white to purple.

Arabis Persian carpet is used as ground cover

Rezukha Povislaya

The common rhizome (Arabis pendula) is widespread in China, Mongolia, and Central Asian countries. In Russia it is found in the European part, as well as in Siberia and the Far East. This is an annual or biennial herbaceous plant with a fairly powerful stem up to 1.2 m high. The leaves are petiolate (in the lower part), sessile above, oval-elongated, with a pointed end.

The drooping beetroot is a rare and endangered species

Racemose inflorescences appear at the ends of shoots in mid-summer. Sepals are pubescent. The petals of small flowers are white, the corolla is simple. The seeds are small, about 2 mm, and ripen in long, flat pods in August-September. The drooping moth is listed in the Red Book of Vladimir, Ivanovo, Moscow and some other regions of Russia.

Arabis pink

Arabis rosea (Arabis rosea) is a perennial that grows as a compact bush about 0.25 m high. The stems are climbing and creeping. The leaves are elongated, small, oval, and due to their strong pubescence they have a silvery tint.

Pink Arabis retains high decorative value even after flowering

The petals are pale pink in color. The flowers are large, up to 2 cm in diameter, collected in corymbs of considerable size. The species is used to decorate rocky landscapes.

Arabis in landscape design

Perennial Arabis in nature very often grows in mountainous areas, preferring areas with rocky soil, cracks in the rock, and rocky slopes. This fact determined its purpose in landscape design. The plant is great for decorating alpine slides and Japanese gardens; it looks great in rockeries.

Arabis looks great in combination with rock

The ability of rhizome to form dense clumps is used to create unique flower “pillows”. This composition will look great in a wide flowerpot, in the central part of a flowerbed or against a stone wall.

Rounded "pillows" are an excellent accent in the garden.

Perennial Arabis is an excellent ground cover plant. It can be used to create a living carpet and also to hold soil on slopes.Arabis looks especially impressive when it fills the space between large stones.

Arabis perfectly smoothes out uneven terrain

The low height of Arabis allows you to use some of its species in multi-level beds as a background for taller flowers. Some varieties of this perennial plant are used to decorate borders, as well as to create low hedges.

Arabis will perfectly frame the edges of paths or alleys

Features of reproduction

In nature, Arabis usually reproduces by self-sowing. The seeds of the plant are small and very light; they can be transported over considerable distances by wind and water. To independently breed perennial Arabis, you can use any of the following methods:

1. Propagation by seeds.
2. Cuttings.
3. By layering.
4. Dividing the bush.

Growing Arabis from seeds

You can purchase perennial Arabis seeds yourself in specialized stores or markets. It’s also easy to do this via the Internet, on websites for gardeners.

When and how to plant

Arabis seeds purchased for cultivation can be planted immediately in open ground (before winter). In this case, the planting material is stratified naturally. The seeds are evenly embedded in the soil to a depth of no more than 0.5 cm or simply distributed over the surface of the ground, and then sprinkled with a small layer of peat-sand mixture.

It is convenient to use special seedling cassettes for planting seeds.

In spring, seeds are pre-germinated in group or individual containers, containers or cups. They are filled with special soil for seedlings or a mixture of sand and peat (1:1) with the addition of small pebbles. The soil is pre-moistened, then the seeds are sown evenly, sprinkled with a thin layer of soil. The containers are covered with film and placed in a warm, shaded place.

Seedling care

It takes about 3 weeks for rhubarb seeds to germinate. After the first shoots appear, the film from the containers must be completely removed, and the containers themselves must be moved to a well-lit place. When the soil dries out, it should be moistened, but it must be remembered that excess water is detrimental to the crop.

Arabis seeds have good germination rate

After a pair of permanent leaves appear, young seedlings need to be planted in separate pots or cups. Transplanting seedlings into open ground is carried out only after the soil has warmed up well and the likelihood of return frosts has passed.

Planting perennial Arabis in the ground

For perennial rhizomes, it is very important to choose the right place and plant on time. In this case, the plant will feel good and will delight you with abundant flowering.

Deadlines

Autumn planting of seeds in open ground in a permanent place is usually carried out at the end of October. This seedless method imitates the natural conditions for the propagation of perennial Arabis by self-sowing. Seed germination when using this method is low.The grown seedlings are transplanted into an open place in May, when the soil temperature rises to + 8-10 °C.

Site selection and preparation

Under natural conditions, perennial Arabis grows on rocky, sometimes even rocky, soil. It is very important to provide similar conditions when planting it; the soil should be well-drained and fairly poor. To ensure such parameters, you can add a little sand and small stones to the soil. The area should be open and have good sunlight; this will help the plant not to stretch and maintain the natural color of the leaves and buds. It is allowed to plant perennial seedlings in light partial shade.

Before planting, the area should be pre-prepared

The planting site should be dug up, adding chalk, limestone or dolomite flour to the soil, since this plant prefers moderately alkaline soils. It is also necessary to remove debris and weeds so that they do not clog young seedlings, robbing them of some of their nutrients.

Landing rules

Perennial rhizome seedlings are planted with an interval of 0.3 m between neighboring plants. The holes should be dug in advance and watered. The plants are removed from the cup along with the soil on the roots and planted vertically, after which the voids are sprinkled and compacted. The procedure ends with intensive watering of the root zone.

Features of care

Perennial Arabis is well adapted to unfavorable conditions, since many of its species grow in the mountains. However, in order to preserve and maintain the decorative appearance, certain care measures will not be superfluous.

Watering and fertilizing schedule

Excessive moisture is harmful for perennial Arabis; it cannot tolerate stagnation of water in the roots and may die. Therefore, watering is carried out only when necessary, for example, if there has been no precipitation for a long time. If the soil is loose and well-drained, then it should be moistened a little more often.

In most cases, atmospheric moisture is sufficient for rezukha.

Perennial Arabis does not require rich, fertile soil. The plant feels great on rocky soil; it does not need additional feeding. It is enough to add a small amount of humus or compost to the root zone in the spring.

Weeding and loosening

Caring for the root zone stimulates the rhizome to grow, and also increases the decorativeness of the plant as a whole. This is especially important at the initial stage, after planting the seedlings. At this time, young perennial plants are very vulnerable, and weeds can completely suppress their growth. To prevent this from happening, the root zone must be periodically loosened and cleared of weeds.

Weeds can inhibit seedlings and need to be removed regularly

Mulching has a good effect; it not only improves soil breathability, but also prevents weeds from growing. To do this, you can use peat, the bark of coniferous trees, as well as pebbles, small pebbles, and coarse sand.

Trimming

Perennial beetroot is pruned mainly for decorative purposes. The bush is maintained in the required dimensions by trimming shoots that are too long, and it is also periodically sanitized by removing dry and broken branches.

Preparing for winter

Perennial Arabis is not a cold-resistant species; its winter hardiness does not exceed 5-10 °C. Therefore, in most of Russia, it requires mandatory shelter for the winter. At the end of autumn, the bush is cut to a height of 5-8 cm from the ground, then sprinkled with fallen leaves, and later covered with snow. Over single bushes you can build a shelter made of fabric on a wooden frame in the form of a house.

Pests and diseases

Perennial Arabis is almost not susceptible to disease. Fungal infections such as root rot can result from excess moisture. In this case, you need to take care of arranging good drainage or transplanting the plant to a drier place.

The cruciferous flea beetle feeds on the leaves of rhizomes and other plants of the Brassica family.

Pests also do not favor perennial Arabis with their attention. Occasionally, insects typical of the Cruciferous family such as flea beetles, bugs, and caterpillars can be seen on the plant. They are controlled by spraying with various insecticides.

Conclusion

Planting and caring for perennial Arabis will not take much time. Many amateur gardeners do not carry out any activities with this plant at all, especially if it is planted somewhere in the far corner of the garden. Despite this, the perennial rosehua will still bloom and grow, and if you provide it with at least minimal care, it will show itself in all its glory.

Reviews of Arabis

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