Arabis alpina Grandiflora Rosea

Arabis alpina subsp caucasica Grandiflora Rosea is a variety of the alpine rock cress, producing a dense carpet of bright green foliage that is covered in charming pink flowers in the spring.

It has small, grey-green leaves and clusters of white, four-petaled flowers typical of the mustard family.

👨‍🌾GARDENING TIPS👨‍🌾: Arabis alpina Grandiflora Rosea

• • Not extremely drought tolerant (though more tolerant than Arabis alpina) and it is a prolific self-seeder

  • It tolerates poor, gritty soil, as long as it stays moist but not waterlogged.

  • It thrives in both sunny and shaded locations > too much sun will cause the leaves to die back so make sure it gets some afternoon shade

  • Looks great with Phlox mousse “Candy Stripes” (Kimono)‘, Achilléa sibirica var. camtschatica Love Parade, Allium montanum, Gypsophila cerastioides

Learn more about gardening with Alpine rock cress:

• • ENG: Growing Rock Cress – How To Grow Rock Cress And Rock Cress Care
  • FR: Arabette, Arabette des Alpes, ou Arabis Albida – Jardiner avec l’Arabis Alpine

The Tale & The Botany: Arabis alpina Grandiflora Rosea

A perennial herb belonging to the family Brassicaceae – often described as ‘the mustard family’.

It was collected and described by botanists exploring the alpine regions of Europe as early as the eighteenth century and entered horticulture soon afterward as an ornamental species valued for early spring flowering and resilience in rock gardens.

The cultivar ‘Grandiflora Rosea’ appeared later, probably in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century, during the height of interest in alpine plants among European gardeners – especially during the Victorian and Edwardian eras.

It is thought to have originated in continental Europe, possibly from selections made in alpine nurseries in Germany, France, or the United Kingdom.

The cultivar is thought to have been selected from naturally occurring color variants of A. alpina var. caucasica, which was sometimes used in breeding.

In any case, by the early twentieth century, Arabis alpina Grandiflora Rosea was regularly listed in horticultural catalogues and grown widely in rock gardens throughout Europe.

Naming confusion: 

• • Taxonomically, this cultivar is a subspecies of A. alpina, meaning it shares most characteristics with the European alpine species but has distinct traits.

  • It is not native to Europe but is native to the Caucasus and nearby regions, bridging the gap between A. alpina (Europe) and A. caucasica (Caucasus proper).

  • The morphology is slightly different: slightly larger flowers, denser mats, and often more robust in milder climates than typical alpine populations.

  • In horticulture, plants labeled as “Arabis caucasica” are often actually A. alpina subsp. caucasica, which explains the naming confusion.

Floral Morphology

Each flower bears four sepals and four petals, arranged in a cross shape — a hallmark of cruciferous plants.

The petals are usually white, occasionally tinged with pink in certain cultivars, and are spoon-shaped with a narrow claw and a broader, rounded blade.

Flowers are borne in loose racemes held above the foliage, opening progressively from the bottom upward in early spring.

They are upright to slightly spreading, never nodding, and each is about 1–1.5 cm across.

The foliage consists of basal rosettes of grey-green, slightly hairy leaves, while the stem leaves are smaller, alternate, and often clasp the stem.

Reproductive Biology

Arabis alpina reproduces both sexually by seed and vegetatively through short creeping shoots that root at the nodes.

It is a self-compatible species, meaning it can set seed without cross-pollination, but in natural and garden conditions it is commonly cross-pollinated by insects that transfer pollen between flowers.

It readily self-seeds, often forming small colonies if conditions are suitable, though seedlings may vary slightly from the parent plant, especially in cultivated varieties.

Regular deadheading after flowering helps to prolong blooming and prevents excessive self-sowing, keeping plantings neat.

While technically a perennial, Arabis alpina behaves as a short-lived perennial in many gardens, often persisting for three to four years before declining, though it renews itself readily from seed.