Description of types and varieties of perennial Arabis, planting and care in open ground

Knowing the basic rules for planting and caring for perennial Arabis, you can transform any garden plot. There are many subspecies of this flower, differing in shades, structure and habitats. Arabis is a very beautiful and unique plant, most often found on mountain slopes, but it can also be successfully used in garden plots.

Description and features

Arabis belongs to perennial plants from the Cruciferous family. It is characterized by whole leaves of emerald or variegated color and light fluff. There are oval, heart-shaped and arrow-shaped options. The colors of the flowers are white, lilac, violet and pink. The dense and dense inflorescences of Arabis have a racemose shape. It belongs to the type of ground cover plants that give the impression of a luxurious grass carpet in the garden. It grows quite quickly, and its fresh shoots take root easily. The average height of the plant is 30 centimeters.

The flowering period of Arabis falls at the end of April or beginning of May and lasts 16-30 days. A second stage of flowering in September is also possible, but for this it is necessary to shorten the stems of the plant by 3-4 centimeters in June.

This plant is common in Europe, Asia and North America. In the wild, it is often found on rocks and mountain slopes. Arabis is unpretentious, and even in harsh conditions it is able to remain attractive.

Growing seedlings

One of the simplest and most reliable methods for growing perennial Arabis is to prepare seedlings from quality seeds, which are always available in garden centers or specialty stores.

Deadlines

Seeds for seedlings should be sown in April, using special containers or boxes filled with a substrate with a balanced composition.

Soil preparation

The growth and development of Arabis seedlings depends on properly prepared soil. The optimal composition is a mixture of three parts garden soil and one part river sand (it can be replaced with small pebbles).

How to plant

The seeds must be placed in the prepared substrate to a depth of 0.5 centimeters. The air temperature in the room where the containers with seedlings will be located should not exceed +20 °C. To speed up the emergence of seedlings, cover the containers with agrospan or other type of non-woven fabric.

Watering

Seedlings should be watered only when the soil requires moisture. Frequent irrigation is not required, but the condition of the soil must be monitored regularly.

Loosening

The top layer of soil with seedlings should have a loose and light structure, so it needs to be loosened daily using a small rake or a regular fork.

Picking

When the first leaf blades appear on the seedlings, it is necessary to pick. To do this, you need to distribute them into separate cups or transplant them at a distance of at least 30 centimeters from each other.

This procedure is only necessary if you plan to grow the flower separately. In the case of growing Arabis as a ground cover plant, picking is not carried out.

Hardening

Hardening off the plant should begin 10-12 days before planting in open areas. In order for Arabis to adapt well to new conditions, it must be taken outside every day, gradually increasing the duration of its stay in the fresh air.In this case, it is necessary to provide the seedlings with reliable protection from drafts.

Planting in open ground

Before disembarking, you should study the rules and recommendations.

When to plant

It is recommended to plant Arabis in open ground in late May or early June. An important condition is the presence of at least three formed leaf blades on the seedlings.

Selecting a location

Well-ventilated areas with sufficient sunlight are suitable for planting perennial Arabis. It is also possible to plant the plant in a shaded area, but in this case you should not expect abundant growth and flowering.

Soil requirements

This flower prefers nutritious soil with good draining properties and does not tolerate drought. Optimal soil temperature is +20 °C. Loose sandy, moderately moist soil, previously cleared of weeds, is ideal for Arabis. Adding a small amount of turf, sand and small pebbles helps improve the moisture and breathability of the soil.

Poor, acidic and calcified soil is not very favorable for Arabis. In it, the plant does not fade, but grows too weakly.

Planting scheme

The optimal arrangement of seedlings is 40 x 40 centimeters. This way the Arabis bushes will grow well without conflicting with each other. To get the effect of a thick carpet of flowers, you need to place 3-4 seedlings in one hole. Depending on the subspecies and weather conditions, flowering may begin at the end of summer or next year.

Care

Thanks to its unpretentiousness, caring for perennial Arabis is simple and does not require unique gardening skills.

Watering

This flower is highly resistant to drought, so it feels better with a lack of moisture than with its excess. Perennial Arabis should be watered moderately and only during prolonged dry periods, using a garden watering can. Excessive irrigation should not be allowed, as it will cause rotting of the root system. To protect against heavy rains, drainage should be made of stones, gravel and pebbles.

Loosening and weeding

It is necessary to loosen the soil after each irrigation. While the plant is young, it needs frequent weeding and weed removal. After some time, Arabis will gain enough strength to suppress weeds on its own.

Top dressing

Arabis should be fed with organic fertilizers in the spring, before the buds form. Mineral complex fertilizers must be applied at the root before the plant blooms.

Trimming

Due to the rapid growth of stems, Arabis planted in carpet beds and mosaic garden arrangements requires systematic pruning and shaping to maintain aesthetic appeal. Cuttings can later be used to propagate the plant.

Transfer

Arabis roots are very thin and fragile, so it must be replanted very carefully to prevent damage:

1. Make several planting holes with a depth of 25 cm.
2. Moderately moisten the soil under the bush.
3. Carefully loosen the soil around the plant and remove it along with the soil clod.
4. Transfer the bush to the prepared hole, cover with soil, lightly compact and water.

Arabis easily takes root in a new place and begins to grow.

Diseases and pests

Arabis is resistant to pests and various diseases, but in rare cases it can be affected by viral mosaic.The main symptom of this disease is the appearance of small brown spots on the surface of the leaves, which subsequently increase in size until they completely merge with each other. Unfortunately, the affected plant cannot be treated. It must be dug out of the soil and destroyed. After this, treat the area with a concentrated solution of potassium manganese. For at least a year, no garden crops can be grown on it.

Among the insect pests that pose a threat to Arabis:

• cruciferous flea beetle;
• snails and slugs;
• cabbage moth caterpillars.

Wood ash for dusting is ineffective in this case. Treatment of plantings with special preparations is required - for example, Biotlin, Aktara or Karbofos.

Reproduction

There are several methods for propagating perennial Arabis. For these purposes, you can use seeds, cuttings and some other options.

Seeds

Perennial Arabis seeds are prepared in April. Planting boxes need to be filled with a substrate prepared from garden soil and sand in proportions of 3:1. Seeds should be sown at a depth of 0.5 cm. The optimal indoor air temperature is +20 °C. After sowing the seeds, the box must be covered with glass. The soil must be moistened and ventilated for at least half an hour every day.

After the development of 2-3 leaves, the seedlings need to be transplanted into separate pots and grown before planting in open soil.

You can also sow seeds directly in the garden plot. For this, the soil must be well heated. The bed should be covered with spunbond until the first shoots appear.

Layerings

To get layering, you need to bend the Arabis shoot to the ground. In the area of ​​the leaf node, fix it in the soil and pinch the top.

As soon as the leaf node puts out young roots, you can separate the cuttings and replant them in the right place.

Cuttings

Arabis can be propagated by cuttings from late April to mid-August. To harvest shoots, absolutely healthy mother plants of at least three years of age are used.

You need to do the following:

1. Cut off the top of the stem 6-8 cm long.
2. Leave 1-2 leaves on top and remove all the bottom ones.
3. Treat cuttings with a substance that stimulates root growth.
4. Plant in fertilized soil, maintaining a distance of 40 cm between seedlings and 20 cm between rows.
5. Create greenhouse conditions by covering the seedlings with plastic containers or film. In this case, it is necessary to ventilate the plantings every day and remove condensation from the covering material.

In order for the cuttings to take root faster, they need to be sprayed with water daily. In the summer heat, it is necessary to shade the beds, protecting them from intense sunlight. The root system of the plants will develop in approximately three weeks, after which they can be transplanted to a permanent location.

Dividing the bush

Plants older than four years can be propagated by dividing the bush into several parts.

To do this you need:

1. After waiting for the end of flowering, water the bush generously and loosen the soil around it using a sharpened wooden peg.
2. Remove the plant, shake off any remaining soil and carefully divide it into several parts - by hand or with a garden knife.
3. Treat the cut areas with crushed charcoal.
4. Place each part in a separate hole, sprinkle a little soil on top and water.

After flowering

At the end of the flowering period of Arabis perennial, you need to properly collect the seeds, and then prepare the plant for wintering.

Collection and storage of seeds

Even during the flowering of Arabis, you should look for the most beautiful, strong and healthy inflorescences. They are suitable for subsequent seed collection. This should be done after the first frost on a dry and sunny day. It is not recommended to collect in rainy weather, as this will negatively affect the germination of seeds.

The inflorescences should be cut off along with part of the shoot.

In a well-ventilated area, they should be dried naturally in a suspended state. After this, you need to remove the seeds, place them in a small cardboard box and store them in a dark place, protected from moisture.

Preparing for winter

Being a cold-resistant plant, Arabis can withstand temperatures of -5-7 °C without special shelter. However, with a more significant drop in temperature, it will need reliable protection.

When severe frosts occur, you need to trim the stems so that approximately 20-40 mm sections remain on the surface. After this, you should make a shelter for this area - it can be made of spruce branches, a special covering material or a layer of dry leaves.

Kinds

Among the many species used for cultivation, the following are used.

Alpine

Alpine Arabis is one of the most popular species, growing in the highlands of Western Europe and North America, the Polar Urals, the Far East, and the northern part of Scandinavia.

The flowers are white or pale pink and appear in April. They are collected in small racemose inflorescences. The leaves have different shapes - oval at the roots and heart-shaped and arrow-shaped on the stems.

Bruovidny

Brown Arabis is common in the alpine and subalpine zones of the mountainous regions of Bulgaria, Greece and Albania.The cushion-shaped bush reaches ten centimeters in height. Loose inflorescences contain only 3-6 white flowers. The small ciliated leaves of the plant have an oval shape and light felt pubescence on the surface.

Caucasian

This subspecies is widespread in the Caucasus, Crimea, the Mediterranean, as well as Asia Minor and Central Asia. The flowering period begins in June and lasts for four weeks, but individual flowers may appear on the bush until autumn. Large white flowers are collected in racemes. The small leaves are green in color with thick white pubescence. They have an oblong shape with large teeth along the edge.

Running out

The running arabis lives naturally in the Balkans. Often this plant, up to 12 centimeters high, is used to stabilize sliding slopes. The flowers are white or purple. Despite its unpretentiousness and resistance to frost, this species requires reliable shelter for the wintering period.

short

The height of a bush belonging to this variety is no more than 15 centimeters. It is most widespread in the Alps and Apennines. White flowers appear in late May or early June.

Prolomnikovy

Breach Arabis is found in Turkey, mainly on rocky slopes at an altitude of about 2300 meters above sea level. The plant reaches 5-10 centimeters in height. Its small pointed oval leaves form neat rosettes. White flowers are collected in loose corymbose inflorescences.

Cilifolia

This variety of perennial plant lives in the Californian mountains at an altitude of 500 meters above sea level.Characteristic features are ciliated dark green leaves combined with lilac or pink flowers. The width of the bush reaches 25 centimeters, and the height, as a rule, is no more than 8 cm. This is a capricious species that is not able to tolerate frost, but loves hot weather.

Ferdinand of Coburg Variegat

This plant, common in Bulgaria, attracts attention with the unusual color of its leaves - with a light green center and a spectacular edging of white, light pink or yellow.

Lush flowers have a classic white color. The diameter of the bush is about 30 cm, and its height is no more than 5 cm. This Arabis can withstand sub-zero temperatures, but only if there is good drainage.

Variegated

Variegated Arabis is another name for the previous species.

Popular varieties

Among the variety of varieties, every gardener will be able to choose the option that suits them.

Schneeshaube

Schneeshaube is a popular variety of Alpine Arabis, characterized by large (up to 20 millimeters in diameter) size of snow-white flowers. They are collected in racemose inflorescences up to 15 centimeters long. The average height of one bush is 25 centimeters.

Terry

Terry rezuha looks like leftover. It has large inflorescences in relation to the overall size of the plant.

Pink

Pink rhizome has creeping stems and reaches a height of 20-30 centimeters. Large flowers of a delicate pink hue are formed into inflorescences up to 12 centimeters in length. This variety is a decoration for alpine towns and borders.

Flore-Peno

This mountain variety is distinguished by lush double flowers of white color on long strong peduncles.

Variegata

Variegata is a variety of Caucasian Arabis.Its distinctive feature is the dense bluish-green foliage with a white rim, which looks very impressive throughout the whole season. In May, white flowers appear in the form of a lush cap.

This is an unpretentious plant that can grow on poor and rocky soils.

Rosabella

This species is distinguished by the rich pink color of its lush inflorescences.

Route Sensation

It is characterized by the elongated shape of the leaf blades, as well as the rich pink hue of the flowers.

Frühlingshaber

Representatives of this variety have rich pink flowers and small neat leaves.

Zunderman

Arabis Zundermann belongs to the dwarf varieties with a height of no more than 5 centimeters. It has small, dense, leathery leaves with an attractive shine, and white flowers. Grows in sunny areas with fertile soil.

Grandiflora

Grandiflora forms low clumps up to 20 centimeters. The flowers of this variety are pink in color and small in size; they form in classic racemose inflorescences.

Rezukha

Rezukha is the Russian name for Arabis. It is believed that it occurred due to the ability of the leaves of the plant to scratch the skin of the hands with small, hard hairs.

Partners

It is recommended to use as partners for Arabis in the garden plot:

• tulips (mostly scarlet);
• alyssum;
• rapeseed;
• irises;
• daffodils.

Use in landscape design

In landscape design, arabises are used in alpine slides, flat rockeries, borders and mixborders. The most spectacular varieties in this regard are those with white flowers and variegated, expressive leaves. This plant can be used to fill cavities between stones of retaining walls, and can also be planted along garden paths.