Arabis ‘Snowcap’
Arabis ‘Snowcap’, commonly known as White Rock Cress, is a reliable and easy-to-grow evergreen perennial that delivers a blanket of pure white blooms in early spring. Low-growing and mat-forming, this variety is perfect for rockeries, walls, gravel gardens, and edging sunny borders. It offers both year-round structure and a crisp, fresh burst of seasonal colour—ideal for brightening up the garden after winter.
Quick Facts
Type: Evergreen perennial
Common Name: White Rock Cress
Flower Colour: Bright white
Height: 10cm (0.3ft)
Spread: 50cm (1.6ft)
Flowering Time: April to May
Hardiness: Hardy in the UK down to temperatures of -15 to -20 degrees Celcius (RHS hardiness rating H6)
Position: Full sun
Soil: Well-drained, sandy, gravelly, or poor soil; thrives in dry conditions once established
A Carpet of White in Spring
Arabis ‘Snowcap’ is especially prized for its profuse early-season flowers. In spring, it becomes covered in brilliant white blooms that almost obscure the foliage, creating a glowing carpet effect. These bright flowers bring a clean, uplifting presence to the garden at a time when many other perennials are still emerging.
Neat, Evergreen Ground Cover
This variety forms a tidy, low-growing mat of small, grey-green leaves that remain attractive throughout the year. Its evergreen nature makes it an excellent choice for edging borders, softening stonework, or adding structure to winter beds. It’s especially useful in dry, sunny areas where few other plants thrive.
Ideal for Rock Gardens and Edging
With its spreading habit and tolerance of poor soils, ‘Snowcap’ is a classic choice for rockeries, alpine beds, wall crevices, and gravel gardens. It works beautifully at the front of borders or between paving slabs, where its trailing growth habit can spill gently over edges.
Early Food Source for Pollinators
Although compact, Arabis ‘Snowcap’ plays an important role in the spring garden by providing early nectar for bees and other pollinators. Planting it contributes to a more wildlife-friendly garden, especially during the early months of the growing season.
Tough, Drought-Tolerant and Low Maintenance
Once established, ‘Snowcap’ is highly drought-tolerant and thrives with minimal care. It requires no feeding in poor soils and is resistant to pests and diseases. After flowering, a light trim helps keep its shape neat and promotes fresh, tidy foliage.
Growing Tips
Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season. Once established, only water during extended dry spells.
Feeding: Generally unnecessary in the ground; use a low-nitrogen feed in containers during spring.
Pruning: Lightly shear after flowering to maintain a compact form and encourage new growth.
Potted: Excellent in containers and alpine troughs with gritty, free-draining compost.
Propagation: Can be propagated easily by division in spring or autumn, or from seed.
Hardy and Reliable Performer
Arabis ‘Snowcap’ is fully hardy across most of the UK and performs well in both sheltered and exposed sites. It is particularly valuable in well-drained soils where winter wet is minimal, and it provides dependable ground cover year after year.
Companion Planting Ideas
‘Snowcap’ combines well with other low-growing spring-flowering plants for a dynamic and colourful display, including:
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Iberis sempervirens (Candytuft)
These companions help create a natural-looking tapestry of colour and texture in sunny, free-draining areas.
Why Choose Arabis ‘Snowcap’?
If you’re looking for a tough, attractive ground cover that brings brilliant early colour and year-round structure, Arabis ‘Snowcap’ is an ideal choice. It’s perfect for rock gardens, path edges, gravel beds, and containers—and it requires almost no maintenance to look its best.
Introduce Arabis ‘Snowcap’ to your garden for an effortless burst of spring brightness and dependable evergreen ground cover.
Buying Alpines from Jacksons Nurseries
At Jacksons Nurseries we lightly trim back our alpines after flowering to ensure that the plants remain neat and tidy whilst in the pot. The more tender the plant the less we cut back to help protect exposed stems from winter frost. Depending on the plant variety we will then prune back further in spring once the risk of the more severe frosts is over.
As a result, depending on the time of year you buy alpines, they may not look like images showing their ‘prime time’ in flower and looking at their best.
Availability: Stock availability figures are provided as a guide only. There is a delay between orders being placed and the plants being gathered by our pulling team. During this time it may be possible for a member of the public to purchase these plants from our Garden Centre, while this is rare it is a possibility and we will notify you of any problems as soon as possible. This figure may also include plants that have not yet be flagged as unsaleable.
Pre-order: Pre-order times are given as a guide only and may vary dependent on the growing season. Orders containing Pre-ordered products will be shipped as a single order when all items become available. Large orders may be part shipped, please contact us on 01782 502741 or email
orders@jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.
From late autumn onwards and dependant on variety, there may be very little visible above the soil except for a few cut back dormant leaves or stems. It is perfectly normal for dormant plants to look like this from autumn onwards, they will however burst back into life in spring.
Alpines are a group of perennials that generally grow in rocky conditions at high altitudes.
As for all plants, soil preparation is time well spent. Dig over the area to be planted ensuring that the ground is free draining. If not then you may wish to either consider planting in a different spot or raising the level of the planting area by adding additional topsoil, well rotted garden compost and/or well rotted manure. Add ‘Fish, Blood and Bone’ fertiliser or a high potash fertiliser to encourage good root growth and development.
It’s always a good idea to plant a few of the same plant together, we recommend planting in 3’s or 5’s to provide a bold effect but allowing them plenty of room to develop.
By using this simple guide and a little time, alpines can make an absolutely spectacular difference to your garden.
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