Species Collins' Rockcress
a white flower with white stamens, green buds, leaves and lime stems

Collins' Rockcress

Boechera collinsii

Collins' Rockcress (Boechera collinsii) is a wildflower native to the western United States. Despite its delicate appearance, it is surprisingly hardy and grows best in harsh, rocky terrain. Its stems and leaves have a silvery hue and the plant produces small, four-petaled, yellow flowers in the springtime. It grows to approximately 12 inches in height and is a great addition to rock gardens. It is also low-maintenance and requires little care. Collins' Rockcress is a drought-tolerant species that provides beauty and color to otherwise dry and barren landscapes.

Watering:

Minimal

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Cutting,Division,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

Sun:

full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Collins' Rockcress (Boechera collinsii) is a low-growing perennial plant native to rocky and sandy, acidic soils of the western United States. It prefers full sun and should be watered regularly but only when the soil is moderately dry. During the growing season, water Collins' Rockcress once weekly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. In the winter, water much less often, only when the soil begins to feel dry several inches below the surface. If the plant is in a container, you may need to water more often, as the container can dry out more quickly.

sunlight

Collins' Rockcress (Boechera collinsii) does best in full sunlight. During spring and summer, 6-8 hours of direct sunlight are ideal for this species. During fall and winter, however, it needs 4-6 hours of direct sunlight. It can tolerate partial shade for short periods of time, but the thriving vegetation of this plant requires full sun for optimum growth.

pruning

Collins' Rockcress should be pruned in late spring or early summer, just after it has finished blooming. Prune the plant by snipping off the spent flower stalks with sharp, clean scissors to improve the plant’s appearance. Prune back the main stem to 2 to 3 inches in length. Prune any stray branches that have grown out of the plant’s shape by cutting them back to the main stem. To increase the plant’s overall fullness and bushy appearance, pinch out the smaller, new shoots. Doing this will also encourage bushy new growth. Finally, for larger plants, lightly prune the sides to remove any dead or straggly looking stems.