Draba sakuraii

Draba sakuraii, Sakura's draba is a rare alpine plant in cultivation, native to the mountains of Honshu Island, Japan. It is a small, robust and hardy rock perennial that is not afraid of snow. It grows in a dense cushion, evergreen in winter, and forms rosettes resembling those of a saxifrage. Its delicate white flowering is one of the first to brighten up the rock garden after winter.

This Draba sakuraii is a herbaceous plant in the Brassicaceae family, like rapeseed and mustard. Its growth is quite slow, it will not exceed 5-10cm (2-4in) in height, spreading over about twenty centimetres on the ground. This particular cushion-like habit is characteristic of mountain plants, this arrangement protects them from wind, cold and drought. Between March and April, depending on the climate, its small white flowers with 4 petals appear, gathered in clusters at the end of short leafy stems. They emerge from small basal rosettes composed of small rough leaves, a slightly greyish green, measuring 2cm (1in) long, ovate, elongated, with bristled edges. The vegetation persists in winter.

Draba sakuraii will naturally find its place in rock gardens, in a very bright location, in a perfectly drained soil, but retaining some freshness in summer. It fears heavy winter rains, but not snow, which protects it from cold and excessive humidity. It can also be installed between the stones of a wall. To accompany it, consider for example reticulated irises, Saxifrages, wall bellflower, rock cresses, alpine balsam... small montane plants that won't suffocate it.