Hornungia (Pritzelago) alpina

The Hornungia alpina, formerly known as Pritzelago alpina or Alpine Rockcress, is, as its name suggests, a plant native to humis mountainous regions. It is a very hardy perennial ground cover, with tiny evergreen and rounded foliage, of a dark green, glossy colour. In late spring or early summer, it is adorned with small clusters of pure white flowers, ideal for decorating moist to damp rockeries, which it will carpet with a flowery moss. It thrives in poor and limestone soils, watered but well-drained, and in a sunny or semi-shaded exposure in warmer climates.

Native to the mountains of Southern and Central Europe, particularly the Alps and the Pyrenees, the Hornungia alpina is a plant belonging to the brassicaceae family (crucifers), just like the Iberis sempervirens, a dry rock plant native to the Mediterranean region. Unlike its cousin, to which it bears a physical resemblance, this creeping perennial prefers the cool environments of damp scree slopes in high mountains. Its foliage is composed of pinnate leaves, divided into small oblong and narrow leaflets, measuring barely 0.5 cm (<1in), dark green, glossy, and evergreen. They are carried by prostrate stems that form a carpet of 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4in) in height and spread at least 30 cm (12in). The mats of this Alpine Rockcress, present in all seasons, are covered in June-July with inflorescences in compact cymes borne above the foliage. They consist of tiny four-petaled flowers of pure white measuring 4 to 5 mm (<1in) in diameter.

To create beautiful flowering carpets along a waterfall, near a stone staircase, or in a moist and sunny rockery, the Hornungia alpina is perfect. It can be planted alongside Aubrieta, Arabis, Carpathian Bellflowers, Campanula rupicola, and Moss Phlox. It naturally finds its place in rockeries or mountain gardens. It can also be planted in borders, in well-drained soil. It will perform well in a pot, in a substrate thst is well-drained and kept moist.