Rock cress, Kamchatka rockcress
Arabidopsis lyrata

Family: Brassicaceae

What it is like

A cabbage family herb. It can grow over 2 years or keep growing for a few years. It forms tufts. It grows 25 cm tall. The stems are slender and often branched. The leaves on the stems are alternate and scattered. They are narrow and taper at the base. There can be teeth along the edge. The leaves near the base are lobed and 4 cm long. They form rings. The flowers are small and in clusters in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches. The flowers have 4 white petals in the shape of a cross. The fruit are long slender pods with seeds.

There are about 120 Arabis species. They are temperate plants.

Where it is found

It is a cold temperate plant. It grows on ledges, cliffs and in gravel and sand.

Countries/locations it is found in

Alaska, Asia, Canada, Korea, North America, USA

How it is used for food

The ring of young leaves are picked and added to salads. They are also cooked and served as a green vegetable. It has a radish flavour.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Arabis lyrata L.; and others