Arabis hirsuta, known as hairy rock-cress, is a flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae. In previous North American works, this species has been broadly defined to include plants native to Europe, Asia, and the northern half of North America,[1] but is now more often restricted to a narrower subgroup restricted to Europe.[2] [3] [4]
Arabis hirsuta grows to heights of up to around 75cm (30inches)[5] and is usually unbranched, with a long spike of flowers. Lower leaves form a rosette, the stalkless upper-leaves clasp the stem. The white petals are twice as long as the sepals, flowers June–August. The fruits are cylindrical and pressed close to the stem and the slightly winged seeds are reddish brown. It features hairs, which are stiff and forking. The species grows on chalk slopes, dunes, hedgebanks, walls and rocks.[6]
The conservation status of Arabis hirsuta, in the UK, is marked as "least concern" as of 2021.[7]