In autumn, arabis alpine is planted in frozen ground. How to grow arabis alpine from seeds

Arabis is a herbaceous perennial from the Cabbage family that grows in the wild in different climatic zones of our planet: from the harsh northern regions to the mountainous tropical slopes of Africa. In Russia, this plant was called "rezuha", associated with hard pubescence of leaves and shoots, which, if touched carelessly, can cut your hands. Arabis - popular V landscape design plant, due to the combination of unpretentiousness with high decorativeness.

Arabis is grown in gardens as an annual and perennial. The height of the plant is about 30 centimeters. Shoots creeping, easily rooting. Arabis grows rapidly and covers the soil with a dense curtain. Arabis leaves are fleshy, whole or heart-shaped, sometimes with carved edges, pubescent.

Flowers with a diameter of 1.5 centimeters, white, pink, purple or yellowish, collected in dense racemose inflorescences. During the flowering period, Arabis exudes a delicate, pleasant aroma with sweet notes. At the end of flowering, the plant forms a pod-shaped fruit filled with flat seeds.

Popular varieties and plant species with photos

Arabis began to be grown in gardens and summer cottages 200 years ago and since then has not lost popularity among amateur flower growers and landscape designers. There are more than 120 varieties in the genus Arabis, and work on the development of new varieties and species continues to this day.



The most common types are:

  1. In nature, it grows in the Far East, Scandinavia, North America, Western Europe. Plant height 30 cm. Generative shoots are ascending, vegetative - creeping, strongly branched, not dying off in winter. Flowers are white or pink. Flowering begins at the end of April and lasts until the end of May. Flowers 2 centimeters in diameter.
  2. It grows on the mountain slopes of Asia Minor and the Crimea. Plant height 30 cm. The leaves are gray-green, oblong. Flowers are collected in racemose inflorescences. Blooms in June for 25-30 days. Varieties:
  • Schneehaube- White flowers.
  • Rosabella- pink flowers.
  • Pink pearl- creamy pink flowers.
  • Hedy- purple flowers.
  • Snowflake- white variety.
  1. Arabis prolomnikovy. A ground cover species that forms a dense cushion of creeping shoots no more than 10 centimeters high. The flowers are white. Prefers to grow among stones, on dry and poor soil.
  2. The plant is native to California. The height of the shoots is about 8 centimeters, the leaves are greenish-gray. Varieties:
  • Fruhlingszauber- small, rounded leaves, pink flowers.
  • Rote Sensation- elongated leaves, bright pink flowers.
  1. mossy arabis. Fleshy leaves forming dense cushions. Flowers are white on purple spikes.
  2. Arabis running out. Distributed in eastern Europe. Plant height 15-17 centimeters. The flowers are small cream, pink or lilac. The leaves are patterned.

Growing arabis from seed

Seed material for growing arabis is widely available for sale, so any grower can decorate their summer cottage with this plant. The decision when to sow arabis seeds is up to each grower to decide. They can be sown immediately in open ground in autumn or spring. Sowing is done in mid-April. A bed with planted seeds is covered with non-woven material to retain moisture and heat.

The most rational way to grow from seed is sowing seedlings. Arabis seeds germinate at a temperature not lower than +20 degrees. Wide, shallow containers are prepared for sowing and filled with a loose substrate. Seeds need light to germinate, so they are not buried deep in the soil. The surface of the soil is slightly compacted, moistened and seeds are distributed over it. From above, the seeds are sprinkled with a layer of earth, not more than 5 mm. The container with crops is covered with a film and placed in a bright place.

The first shoots appear after 3-4 weeks. The cover is removed from the container, and then the seedlings are looked after as usual. After the formation of two true leaves, the seedlings dive into separate pots or cups.

Planting arabis in open ground

Arabis is an unpretentious plant, planting and caring for which is not difficult, but certain conditions are necessary for its cultivation.

Arabis is an unpretentious plant in care and cultivation.

Landing site selection

Arabis is photophilous, therefore, for its planting, the most open areas are chosen. Only scattered penumbra is allowed. Arabis cannot grow in shady corners of the garden.

The soil in the selected area should be loose, well permeable to moisture. Waterlogging the root system causes it to rot. If the soil is dense in the illuminated area of ​​the garden, coarse-grained sand and a small amount of small stones are added to it before planting.

The ideal place for planting arabis is slopes, hills or alpine slides. Landing in lowlands and places of accumulation of melt water is absolutely contraindicated. Arabis is not picky about the nutritional value of the soil. It is quite capable of growing on poor soils and endures the absence of moisture.

When selecting a site for arabis, it is necessary to take into account its properties. In shady places, it quickly grows and stretches, in sunny places, the bushes grow slowly, but bloom profusely.

Terms and landing technology

Before planting in open ground, Arabis seedlings are hardened

Plants are planted in a permanent place of cultivation in mid-May or early June, depending on weather conditions. For optimal growth, seedlings are placed at a distance of 40 centimeters from each other. For the rapid growth of curtains in one hole, you can plant 3-4 seedlings at once.

Seedlings from planting containers should be removed as carefully as possible. so as not to damage the roots. The pots are placed in water for a couple of minutes, and then the plant is taken out along with a clod of earth. Arabis is placed in the hole along with an earthen clod.

Young plants that have not yet adapted to the cold are susceptible to frost, therefore, in the event of a spring cold snap, arabis should be covered with non-woven covering material (Lutrasil, Spandex, Spandbond).

plant care

Arabis needs periodic pruning and shaping

Caring for arabis is quite simple:

  • Watering- moderate and even scarce. Tightly covering the soil shoots retain moisture, so frequent watering Arabis is not needed. If it rains periodically in spring and summer, watering is stopped completely.
  • loosening- after watering, the soil around the plant should be slightly loosened to allow oxygen to reach the roots.
  • top dressing- during the vegetative period, arabis needs one top dressing in the spring. A mineral complex of fertilizers for flowering plants is used.
  • pruning- Arabis grows rapidly and actively, so it is necessary to limit its growth in a timely manner, removing excess shoots. During flowering, faded buds and shoots knocking out of the pillow are cut off.

Some varieties of arabis are prone to degeneration in the third year of cultivation. The middle of the curtain begins to dry out, and the flowering shifts to the edges. Such plants need to be regularly rejuvenated by cardinal pruning.

Reproduction methods

Sowing seeds is the longest way to get flowering arabis. Most often, the plant blooms only a year after sowing. For sowing, you can use seeds purchased or collected from your own specimens of arabis.

Seeds collected from terry varieties of arabis will not give the desired results. During seed propagation of hybrids, the characteristics of the mother plant are not preserved.

  • Cuttings. Cuttings for rooting are harvested after flowering. Shoots with a heel are used, from which roots subsequently appear. Alternatively, you can use the tops of faded shoots, which also take root quickly. Cut cuttings are placed in moist soil mixed with pitch and covered with plastic or glass. The shoots first begin to lose turgor, but as soon as the roots form, the leaves become elastic. At this time, rooted cuttings can be transplanted to a permanent place of cultivation.
  • The division of the bush. The procedure can be carried out with plants at the age of 3-4 years, not earlier. The division is carried out in late summer or early autumn, after flowering. The bush is dug up, the soil is shaken off the roots, and the rhizome is cut into several parts. One plant can be divided into 15-20 parts. Places of cuts are sprinkled with wood ash and planted in prepared holes. In order for the plants to take root, after planting they are watered daily for 3-4 days.
  • Rooting cuttings. To obtain a new instance of arabis, they take an extreme shoot, tear off the top from it and, bending down, sprinkle it with soil. The layer will give roots, and it can be separated from the mother plant, dug up and planted in a prepared place.

Pests and diseases of arabis

The plant is resistant to most common diseases, but in some cases it is affected by viral mosaic. Light green or white spots appear on the leaves of an infected plant.

More arabis are quite rare

The main protection against the virus is prevention: disinfection of the tool with which pruning is carried out. The fight against insects that are carriers of the virus. If the bushes are affected by the virus, it will no longer be possible to save them, and then the arabis is uprooted and burned, the landing site is treated or spilled with a strong solution of potassium permanganate.

When the soil is waterlogged, the plant becomes ill with root rot. In this case, the shoots begin to wither and dry out. Arabis needs to be dug up, rotten roots removed, soil replaced in the hole. The roots must be washed with a pink solution of potassium permanganate or Fitosporin and planted in a prepared hole.

Of the insect pests, the arabis is often attacked by the cruciferous flea. A powder of wood ash can protect the plant from it. Processing is carried out in the early morning, when dew lies on the leaves, or after watering. If there are a lot of insect raids, arabis is sprayed with an insecticide.

Seed collection and care after flowering

Seeds should be stored in paper bags

To preserve the decorativeness of the Arabis curtain, wilted buds are removed during flowering. But if it is planned to collect seeds, some of the flowers are saved to form seed pods. Without waiting for the testicles to dry, the shoots on which they formed are cut off and placed in paper bags.

All faded shoots are cut to a third of the length. Such a radical pruning is a guarantee of abundant flowering of arabis next year. After pruning, the soil around the plant is mulched with humus.

Preparing for winter

Arabis can winter outdoors. After the onset of cold weather, the stems are cut flush with the soil. Without shelter, the plant can endure frosts down to minus 5-7 degrees. To protect the arabis rhizome from lower temperatures, plantings are covered with dry foliage, mowed grass, and then spruce branches.

Arabis in landscape design and in combination with other plants

The high decorative qualities of arabis allow it to be widely used in decorating garden plots. The plant fits perfectly into a variety of compositions in the garden, looks spectacular against the background of stones. On an alpine hill, Arabis is combined with rocky, undersized burchak.

Arabis is recommended to be planted together with alyssium. Low-growing species serve as a background in a rose garden, and also cover areas between stones on alpine hills, and are used to decorate borders and rocky walls. Arabis is indispensable for decorating voids between large perennials in a flower bed.

You can get acquainted with the features of planting and care in the proposed video clip. Enjoy watching!

Arabis alpine photo and cultivation

Arabis, or rezuha, is a perennial plant of the cruciferous family. Wild species of Arabis are distributed throughout the world. Cultivated most often Rezukha Caucasian (Arabis Caucasian) And Rezuha Alpine (Arabis Alpine). Sometimes botanists consider Arabis Caucasian simply as a variety of Alpine.

The less care, the more magnificent the flowering. This magic formula works great when growing rhubarb. Arabis alpine and Caucasian in nature grow on stony soils. Therefore, Arabis will gratefully accept poor sandy soils, endure drought, and do without watering. In return - abundant flowering, rich aroma and attractive foliage pattern all season.

Moreover- Rezuha Alpine and Caucasian in fact, they do not get sick with anything and are almost not damaged by pests. All care when growing Rezuha comes down to periodic pruning, since Arabis grows very quickly.

Arabis alpine and Caucasian - planting and care.

Arabis alpine cultivation and planting

Alpine hills and rockeries are a great place to plant Rezukha, but it also grows well in near-trunk circles of trees. It looks very beautiful - the islands of white arabis look like thick sour cream has been sprinkled around the trees.

Rezukha flowers are very fragrant and the whole garden will be filled with its smell.

Rezuha does not lose its attractiveness even after it has faded. Its foliage is gray-green, serrated and very quickly forms a lush carpet.

Arabis white photo

The main care for Arabis is to trim the shoots that run to the sides and actively take root. When growing Rezuha, shaped pruning can also be carried out - the arabis only becomes more magnificent from this, and the next year it blooms earlier.

Thanks to this ability of arabis - to conquer new spaces and tenaciously hold on to them - the plant found another application: the rezuha perfectly "holds" small sandy slopes, hills. Especially if they are in the shade - the flowering of Rezuha in this case will not be so beautiful, but the foliage carpet is very thick.

Choosing a place for landing Rezukha Alpine.

Arabis (Rezuha) pink planting

Arabis is a sunny plant, it still tolerates partial shade, but it blooms poorly in the shade. The planting site should not be damp - then the flowering will be more compact and rich. The soil is loose, sandy, not acidic. The key is good drainage. In the spring there should be no stagnant winter waters, otherwise the plant will die. In partial shade, Rezuha grows faster, and in the shade it forms dense greenery.

Arabis alpine - reproduction

Rezuha is easily propagated by seeds, but only vegetative propagation is suitable for terry varieties: cuttings, layering and dividing the bush. The fastest way to propagate Arabis is by layering, which takes root easily. The stem of the plant is bent to the soil and fixed in the region of the leaf node, the top of the stem is pinched.

Rezuha is also propagated by dividing the bush. From 3-4 plants, you can get up to 20 divisions (you need to divide the bush in spring or autumn).

Rezuha, types and varieties of Arabis.

Arabis ciliate (rezuha), photo of the variety Spring Charm

Along with the widespread species, Arabis alpine (Arabis alpina) And Arabis Caucasian (Arabis caucasica), there are a number of others that deserve the attention of gardeners. Let's take a couple of them.

(Arabis blepharophylla) - with pink and dark pink flowers. Perennial plant from North America. The agricultural technique of growing this Rezukha is fundamentally no different. Unfortunately, it requires shelter for the winter.

Arabis Ferdinand of Coburg photo

Another interesting view is Arabis of Ferdinand of Coburg and its variegated-leaved variegated variety (Arabis ferdinandi-coburgii ‘Variegata’ in the photo). This perennial plant blooms very profusely, prefers growing in partial shade. Arabis of Ferdinand of Coburg is a hardy species and its natural forms grow in the mountains of Bulgaria.

Plant arabis (lat. Arabis), or rezuha belongs to the genus of herbaceous perennials of the cabbage family, or cruciferous, which has more than 100 species. In nature, the arabis flower is found in the mountains of tropical Africa and in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The origin of the Latin name arabis is not known for certain, and the rezuha arabis is called because of the stiff hairs of the pubescence, which can injure the hands. The plant has been cultivated for over two hundred years. In landscape design, Arabis is used in mixborders and flower beds, to decorate borders, ridges and alpine slides. In our article, we will tell you how to plant and care for rezuha in the open field.

How to plant arabis in the ground

For arabis, you need to choose the right place so that the plant is pleased with flowering and grows well.

Arabis develops best in open sunny areas that are well blown by the wind. You can, of course, plant a plant in a shady area, but then the bush will not be so lush, and the flowering will be scarce and short.

The soil for planting arabis on the site should be dry, loose and light. It is preliminarily dug up with organic and mineral fertilizers, cleaned of weeds. Sand is added to heavy soils during digging.

During planting, about 40 cm is left between plants. To get a dense carpet, 2-3 seedlings are planted in one hole. After planting, Arabis is well watered.

Important! If fertilizers were not applied for digging, then after a few days the seedlings can be fed.

Arabis grown from seeds will bloom only in the second year.

Arabis care in the open field

Growing arabis from seeds is not difficult, the plant is very hardy and tolerates drought well, but excessive watering is harmful. Therefore, in the rainy season, the plant is watered extremely rarely, so as not to provoke diseases.

The only disadvantage in growing can be called frequent weeding. The plant does not tolerate weeds, they can muffle the growth of shoots. Regular loosening of the soil and removal of weeds is essential for the normal growth of the bush. As soon as the young seedlings get stronger, the weeds will no longer be able to break through the dense carpet.

Watering

Arabis has a well-developed root system that can extract moisture deep in the soil. Therefore, it is drought tolerant. Excess moisture can lead to root rot. It is optimal to water adult specimens once a week, and young plants more often.

winter hardiness

The plant is resistant to frost down to -5°C. In harsher winters, it needs shelter. With the onset of autumn, when the arabis has faded, its shoots are cut off, leaving no more than 2-3 cm on the soil. Then they are insulated with spruce branches, covering material or dry leaves. You can build a small frame and cover it with agrofiber.

top dressing

Fertilizers are usually applied in the spring before flowering. For adult specimens of arabis, one feeding per season is enough. A complex mineral composition is suitable, and humus can be used from organics.

Bloom

Arabis blooms for a month in spring or summer, depending on the species. The Alpine variety blooms in April, and the Caucasian variety in June, but individual flowers may appear on it all season.

pruning

Arabis grows fast and needs pruning. With it, strongly overgrown branches are removed. So it will look compact and not drown out the plants planted nearby. In addition, it will improve flowering next season.

Transfer

The plant is transplanted every 4 years. The procedure can be combined with division. If arabis grows as a groundcover, it can simply be rejuvenated. To do this, use a mixture of sand, humus and loosening additives. She falls asleep on the bare sections of the carpet.

Diseases and pests

As for pests, most often the worst enemy of all cultures of the Cabbage family, the cruciferous flea, is dirty in the flower carpet. Against it, many flower growers in the old fashioned way dust plantings with wood ash. However, this inconvenient method is ineffective, modern insecticide preparations are much more effective - Biotlin, Iskra, Akarin, Karbofos, Aktara, Aktellik.

Preparing for winter

If you decide to prepare Arabis planting material for the next season, then during the flowering period, select a few of the most beautiful inflorescences and mark them in any convenient way. After the first frost, the desired brushes are cut off with part of the stem and dried in a warm, ventilated room. The pods are peeled, the finished material is packed in paper bags and stored in a cool, dark place.

Note! Pods should be collected only in clear weather, since dampness reduces the percentage of seed germination.

The frost resistance of arabis is very relative. Lowering the temperature to -5 ... -7 ° C is not terrible for plants, but they cannot survive a harsh, little snowy winter without additional shelter. Therefore, at the end of November, cut the crop shoots at a height of 2–4 cm and insulate the plantings with spruce branches, dry leaves or non-woven material.

Species and varieties

The genus Arabis has about 120 herbaceous perennials, but the most beautiful of them are grown in culture:

  • Alpine Arabis is a native inhabitant of the highlands of Western Europe and North America, it also grows in the Far East and the Urals. Tall (about 35 cm) plant with branched shoots pressed to the ground. As the bushes grow, they form dense cushion-shaped curtains, strewn from April to June with small (up to 1 cm in diameter) flowers of white or pink color. Forms popular in floriculture: Schneehaube, pink, terry. Varieties: Lapland, Pink Peaks, White Peaks, Meeting.
  • Arabis Caucasian (whitish) - according to some scientists, is a subspecies of Alpine arabis. In nature, it grows in the mountains of Central and Asia Minor, in the Caucasus, in the Crimea and on the Mediterranean coast. Medium-sized perennial plant up to 30 cm high with white-pubescent oblong leaves and rather large (about 1.5 cm in diameter) white flowers. The species is characterized by rapid growth and abundant flowering. Varieties: Flore Pleno, Snowfix, Rosabella, Variegata.
  • Arabis bruovidny is a miniature cushion-shaped plant no more than 10-12 cm high, growing in the mountains of Greece, Albania and Bulgaria with small oval densely pubescent leaves. White flowers are collected in loose corymbose inflorescences.
  • Arabis running out (protruding, towering) - grows in its natural environment in the Balkans. A pretty ground cover perennial about 10–12 cm high with small leafy rosettes and pale small flowers. Ideal for strengthening crumbling slopes.
  • Arabis ciliate - a native of the mountainous regions of California. Compact undersized (about 8 cm) plant with bluish-green leaves and dark pink flowers. Varieties: Fryulingshaber, Rose Delight, Route Sensation.
  • Arabis Ferdinand of Coburg is a 5 cm high dwarf groundcover with very beautiful bright green or pigmented leaves and small white flowers.

In addition to the above, gardeners are interested in such types of arabis as tower, undersized, Arends, prolomnikovy.

Arabis breeding.

Arabis propagates not only by seeds, but also by cuttings, layering and dividing the bush. We have already told you about the seed method, which is mainly propagated by species arabis. Rare or terry varieties of arabis are propagated by cuttings. As a cutting, you can use a leaf with a heel - part of the cambial layer, which will give roots. To get such a stalk, you need not cut the leaf, but tear it off with a brace, separating part of the stem bark with the root pulp along with the leaf. Do this after the rezuha fades. You can also use the top of the shoot as cuttings - a segment about 10 cm long, from which the lower leaves are removed. The cuttings are planted at an angle in a loose substrate, after which they cover the container with a transparent cap and place the greenhouse in a bright but not sunny place. Keep the substrate slightly damp, let the cuttings breathe daily and remove condensation from the cap. As soon as the upper leaves restore turgor, and this can happen in three weeks, you can prepare for transplanting the cuttings into open ground.

In order to get layering of arabis, bend its shoot to the ground and attach it to the soil in the area of ​​​​the leaf node, and pinch the top. When the leaf node sprouts roots into the soil, separate the cuttings and plant.

The division of the rezuha bush is resorted to when propagating a particularly valuable or terry variety. The bush is dug up, divided into parts and seated. It is best to do this after the arabis has faded.

All flower growers dream of making their flowerbed original and beautiful, a real decoration of the backyard. Alpine arabis is perfect for this purpose - a perennial plant with silvery leaves and a white cap of flowers. It does not need special care conditions, it spreads quickly and does not require annual sowing.

plant description

Alpine Arabis (Arabis) is a member of the Cruciferous family. This is a perennial plant with a developed root system. Common on rocky soil, hills and slopes.

When touching the ground, it quickly takes out thin roots. Stems creeping, climbing, can reach a height of 25-30 cm. The leaves are densely pubescent with villi, medium-sized, tightly adjacent to the stem. They have a silvery-white or grayish color, heart-shaped, oblong shape. Basal leaves grow not so densely, have an oval shape and are collected in a rosette.

Arabis alpine gives abundant flowering in early April and continues until mid-June. The flowers are white, bright pink, up to 2 cm in diameter. In cool spring, the flowering period is up to 8 weeks. It has a sweet aroma, honey plant. By mid-July, fruits appear - brown pods containing seeds for further reproduction.

They are also propagated by cuttings and division of bushes. Does not tolerate dampness and windiness. Thanks to its rapid growth, it has earned popularity from South America to the expanses of Europe and Asia.

Variety and types

There are over 100 varieties of arabis. Alpine and Caucasian species are the most widespread. Alpine rezuha, as Arabis alpina is also called, perfectly complements compositions in flower beds. Its use on alpine slides or rockeries will give your garden originality. It has several varieties of decorative forms.

    (Var. rosea variety)

    A perennial plant that blooms in small pink racemose inflorescences that reach 12 cm. It goes well with other flower varieties, can be planted as an addition to a flower arrangement, or as an independent planting. The flowering period is 30-40 days.

    (Var. florе-pleno variety)

    It is very similar to the original form, but its inflorescences resemble levkoy - they are just as large. Gives flowers of medium diameter - up to 2 cm. It blooms from mid-May to early July.

    (Cultivar F.schneehaube)

    One of the early flowering varieties - gives the first flowers in mid-April. They are white, about 1.5 cm in diameter, collected in brushes up to 15 cm long. Plant height 15-20 cm.

How arabis alpine reproduces

Propagation occurs by seeds, division of the bush or cuttings. Bushes are divided when many roots have formed - in early spring or late August. The optimal age for division is 4 years. Such a plant can be divided into 20 daughter bushes.

Seed ripening occurs from the end of June. When sowing them, it should be borne in mind that seedlings will only be in a year. This procedure is carried out in winter or spring, blowing up small rows - no more than 20 cm deep - and sowing seeds in them.

If you choose the method of cuttings - from May to June they are transplanted directly into the ground. For better rooting of the cutting, the bottom leaf is separated so as to expose the cambial layer, which is the basis for the root system. Basically, this method is used for terry arabis varieties that do not produce seeds. Cuttings are also used for seedlings, but the plant is unpretentious and takes root well immediately in the soil.

Arabis alpine tolerates winter weather well, it is enough just to make a cover of polyethylene. Frost-resistant varieties have already been bred that do not require shelters.

Conditions for growth and flowering

Arabis alpine is planted in a sunny open place. This makes it possible to obtain more lush and compact cushions of flowers. Some varieties, especially variegated species, prefer to grow in partial shade.

The soil should be loose, mixed with sand, well-drained. Excess moisture and abundant watering does not tolerate well, so waterlogging is undesirable and can lead to the death of the plant. It is recommended to water only when the soil is completely dry during the dry period. Fertilizer with humus is welcome to ensure active growth and more inflorescences.

After flowering, the stems are cut, which allows you to save the shape of the bush. A haircut guarantees even more flowering of the alpine rezuha next year.

Regular weeding is carried out - due to the rapid growth of the root system, the flower can slow down the growth of neighboring plants.

Neighborhood with crocuses and daffodils will be favorable - they perfectly complement each other. The combination with bright tulips is especially impressive. Arabis is planted directly above the bulbs. They are used to surround rose bushes, trees, shrubs - to create a background around them.

Arabis alpine: growing from seeds

Perennial arabis alpine plant unpretentious. Reproduction by seeds will not cause any problems to the gardener, and the results obtained will please the eye for more than one season. With a minimum of effort, you will get excellent planting material for your flower bed or alpine slide.

Alpine Arabis: planting and care

Sow seeds in wooden or plastic boxes in early spring or late autumn, the optimal months for this are April and October. Soil temperature should be around 20 degrees Celsius. If it's outdoor soil, let it stand at room temperature to warm up. It can be mixed with sand or small stones to keep the soil well-drained and breathable.

The seeds are not driven hard, to a depth of 0.5 cm. They are covered with polyethylene or any non-woven material from above.

Watering is provided moderately, if necessary, when the soil dries out. It is necessary to ensure that it is uniform, does not erode the soil. Water stagnation should be avoided. The first shoots should appear on the 19-24th day after sowing. At this time, watering should be limited to avoid the appearance of mold and fungus, which will lead to the death of sprouts.

Yulia Petrichenko, expert

Seedlings dive. They should be grown separately, at a distance of at least 30 cm from each other - then you can get ready-made bushes for planting. If you want to use arabis as a ground cover, the distance between shoots does not matter.

Transplanting seedlings in open ground

Arabis alpine is transplanted into open ground after the appearance of the third leaflet on the shoot. Then the seedling is more likely not to die. Watered bushes are planted without removing a lump of earth from the roots.

Planting seedlings in open ground should be carried out at the beginning of May. If there are still slight frosts at this time, cover the sprouts with a film for 1-2 weeks. The soil before planting is cleared of weeds and overgrowth. This is required only when planting seedlings, over time it will grow and crowd out useless plants. After planting, fertilizing with mineral fertilizer is carried out so that the plant blooms for a long time and profusely.


Arabis alpine care

There are no special requirements for the care of Arabis. Adhere to only a few elementary recommendations and you will be duly rewarded with the beauty of its flowering. Create optimal conditions for its growth, and your further participation in development will be minimal.

  1. Plant only in well loosened soil. Add turf, sand, small stone to ordinary garden soil. It must freely pass air to the root system of the plant.
  2. Choose an open area for planting. It should be well lit and warmed by the sun. Only some varieties tolerate penumbra, in others it can cause growth inhibition and limited flowering. Protect the plant from drafts.
  3. Alpine rezuha tolerates drought better than waterlogging. It does not require additional watering if the weather is cloudy and rainy.
  4. Cut back the plant in autumn, leaving about 3-4 cm from the ground. This will ensure more abundant flowering next year and will protect the arabis from freezing.

Alpine arabis disease control

Alpine rezuha is practically not susceptible to diseases and pests. The only factor leading to the death of the plant is the development of mold and rotting with excessive watering, if this happens, the plant is transplanted to another place.

Is there an arabis alpine in your backyard? What measures do you use to grow and plant it? Looking forward to your advice and comments!

4 minutes to read

Summer residents who dream that a lush flower blanket will wrap their plot without much trouble every spring will definitely fall in love with Arabis - planting and caring in the open field do not require special skills and knowledge. These perennial plants have not only a decorative appearance, but also a pleasant aroma, and reproduction occurs quite quickly.

Plant features

Arabis is not a delicate flower. Its perennial bushes with small inflorescences collected in a brush grow luxuriantly in the highlands, covering the rocky slopes of the countries of Europe, Asia, and North America with a floral carpet.

Arabis alpine

The hard nature of the flower not only helps it to break through the stones, but also to endure freezing temperatures. Arabis winters well in open ground under a layer of snow.

Reference. The word Arabis means rattle, hardness. The flower received this name for the sharp hairs that some varieties have on their leaves, which can make them hurt. Therefore, these perennial flowers are also called rezuha. A more tender name, which is still called by the people this unusual plant is a sunbeam.

Arabis blooms profusely, its petals have white, pink, lilac shades. In the photo, under a thick flower cap, the greenery of low bushes is not always distinguishable. In landscape design, arabis is used for decoration:

  • alpine slides;
  • narrow flower borders;
  • wide mixborders;
  • rockeries devices;
  • flowerbed framing.

The combination of arabis in flower beds in compositions with primrose, creeping tenacious, bluebells has a harmonious look. Such neighbors get along well in the open field, and their care is similar.

Varieties and types of arabis

Arabis belongs to the cruciferous family. Cultivation of some species is carried out as honey plants. Of the more than 200 varieties, the most common ornamental hybrids in landscape design are Arabis alpine and Caucasian.

Arabis caucasian

Let's take a closer look at those varieties whose varieties are more often used in ornamental gardening:

  • Alpine Arabis is a low plant with a shoot length of about 20-30 cm. The color of the petals is white, pink. The flowering period is April-May, lasts about a month.
  • Arabis Caucasian - shoots up to 35 cm long rise above the ground to a height of about 15 cm. The petals are bright pink, white. An attractive decorative appearance of the leaves of the plant - they have an oblong shape with a wavy edge and a white border. The flowering period is June.
  • Arabis mossy - its dense thickets are like tight pillows formed by small fleshy leaves covered with gray felt. The flowers are white, towering above the bushes on marsh-violet peduncles.

Preparing for landing

Arabis loves light. Therefore, the site for its cultivation is chosen in a well-lit place or in scattered penumbra, away from trees and tall shrubs.

mossy arabis

The beds should have well-drained, loose soils that do not stagnate with water. Excessive dampness harms the root system.

Reference. In landscape design, the following feature is taken into account: the brighter the area is lit, the faster the cultivation takes place, the bushes are lower and denser, and the flowering becomes more abundant.

In its natural habitat, the composition of the soil on which arabis reproduces does not differ in nutritional value. The soil contains a high percentage of sand and even small stones. That is why it is possible to create favorable conditions for rezuha on nutrient-poor soils with the addition of sand. The optimal composition would be:

  • 1 part of sod land;
  • 1 part coarse river sand.

Landing

Planting seeds is carried out immediately in open ground in April. Reproduction by seeds occurs in a shady place. Landing is carried out to a depth of about 1 cm. A non-woven covering material is laid on top of the beds. Suitable for these purposes and plastic film.

Arabis seedlings

When the seedlings sprout, the shelter is removed. By the end of May, when the seedlings get stronger, the shoots are transplanted to the area where their perennial bushes will decorate the flower bed all the time. This procedure is performed on a cloudy day, after watering the flowers. The seedlings are transferred to a permanent place along with an earthen clod.

Important. If you purchase a plant from a nursery, it should be borne in mind that, despite the high frost resistance, planting arabis in the open field is carried out no earlier than the second decade of May. Such flowers, which were grown in greenhouse conditions, may bloom ahead of time, when the probability of morning frosts is still high.

Further care

Arabis care consists in weeding and loosening the soil, regular watering and pruning:

  1. To moisture, adult arabis is undemanding; in prolonged dry weather, watering is done once a week. In the spring, young plantings need to moisten the soil more often - after 4-5 days.
  2. In order for the cultivation of rezuha to be successful, weeds that oppress undersized varieties should be removed from the beds in time.
  3. After flowering, arabis is pruned, leaving the bushes above the ground no more than 6 cm in height, otherwise next spring they may not bloom.

Fertilization

Mineral fertilizer is applied to the soil immediately after the flowers have been planted in open ground. Adult arabis fertilize every year in the spring before flowering. Further care does not require top dressing.