Arabis ferdinandi-coburgi ‘Variegata’ is a low growing matt forming perennial with variegated white and green waxy leaves, also known as ‘Alpine Wall Cress’. Flowers are insignificant, small and white, it is the foliage that is the attraction of this plant.
This is a reasonably drought tolerant plant, excellent as a ground cover and does well in the rock garden.
With its glossy foliage and tidy habit this is an excellent choice for smaller gardens, it has a tidy habit and grows well in containers where it can be left to flow over the edges. ALso suited to grow en mass as an edging plant along a pathway.
Care
Best grown in full sun it will produce small white flowers in spring, but grown mainly for the foliage, can be grown in containers. Larger clumps can be divided in spring. Arabis ferdinandi-coburgi ‘Variegata’ works well as a border plant.
A well drained soil and good sun is essential. Water logged soils are not suitable.
Pruning
Some taller shoots may need to be pruned back to maintain the low growing habit.
Varieties
A number of Arabis varieties are worth considering some of the more popular varieties include :
- Arabis caucasica or ‘Wall Rock Cress’
- Arabis alpina or ‘ Alpine rock-cress’
- Arabis blepharophylla or ‘rose rock cress’
