Hornungia alpina ‘Icecube’ is a darling plant for the rock garden that is not very well known, especially in North America.
Hornungia alpina forms a nice solid tufted clump with small pinnate fresh green leaves that look good all year round, even in winter. The plant is reported to bloom in early spring (March to April), but mine blooms almost continuously from mid summer into late fall. In my zone 5 garden this is the last plant to have open flowers – still going strong in late December.
Note added June 2013: this year the plant started flowering in late April.
The flowers are slightly fragrant, white and typical of the mustard family. As flowers fade, the flowering stem elongates and new flowers are formed on the same stem. No wonder the variety ‘Icecube’ is a Quality Award winner.
I originally had the plant growing at ground level beside larger neighbors where it grew well but did not shine. This year I moved it into a trough and it is the star of the show. Over a few years it might get too big for a trough without some pruning.
The plant has had several names. It’s common name is chamois cress. In Europe it is better known as Pritzelago alpina and in North America is known as Hutchinsia alpina.
Hornungia alpina
(hor-HUNG-ee-a AL-pin-a)
Life Cycle: perennial
Height: 10 cm (4 inches)
Bloom Time: early spring to late fall
Natural Range: Southern and central Europe
Habitat: Mountains
Synonyms: Noccaea alpina, Lepidium alpinum, Pritzelago alpina, Hutchinsia alpina
Cultivation of Hornungia alpina:
Light: full sun
Soil: loam or sandy soil
Water: average moisture
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 – 9
Propagation: seed, easily propagated by cuttings
