very long-blooming arabis

[Diane Whitehead]

Every once in a while I take notice of a plant that I have had forever
and usually totally ignore.  This year it was because I was checking
frequently on a lot of new plants in an area dug out last year for new pipes
necessitated by a nearby subdivision.  Most of the plants that had been
established for 35 years disappeared in the maw of a giant yellow digger,
but a few were spared.

Arabis ferdinandi-coburgii variegata is one that survived.  A search on this forum
comes up with no comments on this stalwart plant, so it isn't ignored only by me.

It is growing between an Irish yew hedge and a pine tree and never gets
watered other than by our winter rain.  It began flowering early in January
and continued all through May.  The flower stems kept elongating with new flowers
appearing on the new part of the stems.  There were still a few flowers in June.

I can't remember whether it usually does this.  Last summer I watered the area
because of all the seedlings I planted in mid-July, the middle of our dry summer.
Did this cause the arabis to flower more prolifically?  I will check next winter and
spring, since the area is back to no-watering.

[Lesley Cox]

I don't think mine flowers for so long as that, mainly in the mid to late spring I think. But it is a very good plant and under-valued I think as are many "ordinary" things. I have two variegated forms, green and white `Variegata' and green and yellow `Old Gold.'

[Luc Gilgemyn]

I had one that florished for ten years or so, but it turned more green every year until there was not "variegata" left.. 

[Lesley Cox]

Mine do that too Luc, the white form more than the yellow. I just nip out the plain bits and any gap is soon grown over. Many variegated plants do this, Silene uniflora `Druett's Variegated' is especially bad, but easily fixed.

[Diane Whitehead]

I've just checked and any foliage I can see is plain dark green.  That's OK as the
plant is not noticeable unless it is flowering - the pine and yews keep it well
hidden, and it takes a bit of bushwhacking to get to it.