Species Lemmon's Rockcress
light-purple flowers and buds with green leaves on red-brown stems

Lemmon's Rockcress

Boechera lemmonii

Lemmon's Rockcress (Boechera lemmonii) is a flowering herb that can be found in dry, rocky places in the western United States, primarily in Utah and Nevada. It has thick, spiny leaves with pale yellow flowers that bloom in the spring. It's an alpine species, preferring full sun and well-drained, nutrient-poor soil. Its shallow root system makes it well adapted to arid environments. Lemmon's Rockcress is an important host plant for several species of butterflies, and its furry seed capsules are a valuable food source for small mammals. It is a hardy species and can thrive with minimal care.

Watering:

Frequent

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Cutting,Division,Layering 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

Lemmon's Rockcress should be watered every 7-10 days. When watering, provide the plant with enough moisture to reach the root zone. This species is very drought-tolerant, so avoid over-watering. When necessary to increase moisture, give the plant 1 deep watering until the soil is soaked. Make sure to water directly at the base of the plant, rather than through a hose or sprinkler.

sunlight

Lemmon's Rockcress grows best in full sun and requires at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day. It is important to provide this plant with at least 4 hours of direct sunlight in the morning and late afternoon. Avoid placing it in direct, intense afternoon sunlight or in full shade as this plant will not thrive in either condition. It is best to keep the plant out of direct mid-day sun during the hottest months of the year.

pruning

Lemmon's Rockcress should be pruned lightly in early spring, right before new growth begins. The aim of pruning is to keep the plant in a neat shape and to encourage an increase in flowering. It is best to cut away any dead, broken or diseased branches and to shape the overall look of the plant. If the plant is in an area with lots of shade, then it can be pruned back to 1 foot in height to help encourage more flowering. In general, do not prune more than a third of the plant's overall height.