Species Lyre-Leaved Rockcress
white flowers with yellow-green center, green leaves and stems

Lyre-Leaved Rockcress

Arabidopsis lyrata

Lyre-Leaved Rockcress (Arabidopsis lyrata) is a small, annual flowering plant native to North America. Growing in clumps, its light green, glossy leaves resemble the shape of a lyre. Its flowers range in color from white to reddish-purple, and bloom from spring to autumn. The fruit is a small, dark green pod. Lyre-Leaved Rockcress prefers cold and temperate climates and is a popular choice for rock gardens, due to its low-maintenance and drought-resistant nature. As an ideal groundcover, its foliage provides a splash of bright colors while its tall flowers provide attractive contrast.

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Cutting,Division,Layering Propagation,Grafting Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

Sun:

full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Lyre-Leaved Rockcress (Arabidopsis lyrata) should be watered about once every 1-2 weeks, allowing the top 1-2 inches of soil to dry out in between waterings. Too much water can lead to root rot, so make sure the soil does not stay overly moist for long periods of time. During periods of dormancy or drought, waterings can be reduced or stopped completely. During the growing season, supplement rainfall with additional waterings if the leaves start to wither or droop due to lack of water.

sunlight

Lyre-Leaved Rockcress (Arabidopsis lyrata) prefers full sun and at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. It prefers a position in full sun during spring and summer, going into shade during the hottest part of the day. In the winter months, however, it should still receive a few hours of direct sunlight each day. Although some shade is beneficial, too much shade could lead to poor growth and flowering.

pruning

Lyre-Leaved Rockcress should be lightly pruned in early spring when new growth begins. Pruning should be done conservatively to prevent shock and encourage the growth of dense foliage. Start by removing dead, dying, or damaged stems or leaves, using sharp, sterile pruning shears. Next, remove any errant stems that may cross-over other stems or grow in the wrong direction. Finally, cut back any of the main stems that are growing too densely to promote good air circulation in the plant. Pruning should be done gently and conservatively, and no more than a third of the plant’s foliage should be cut at 1 time.