Borodinia spp.

rockcress

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

Overview

Borodinia spp. is a genus of biennial to short-lived perennial herbs in the mustard family (Brassicaceae), native to North America and segregated from the rock cresses formerly placed in Arabis spp. and Boechera spp.. Plants form a basal rosette of stalked leaves in the first year and send up slender, mostly unbranched flowering stems 12-40 inches (30-100 cm) tall in the second. The stem leaves are smaller, alternate, and often clasp the stem. In spring the stems carry narrow racemes of small four-petalled flowers in white to pale pink, followed by long, flattened seed pods that stand erect or arch outward along the stem. Borodinia spp. grows on rocky slopes, bluffs, open woods, and stream banks, often on calcareous or thin soils. The plants are inconspicuous outside the brief flowering period and are mainly of botanical and native-flora interest rather than garden display. Most species are short-lived, persisting through self-seeding rather than long-lived crowns.

Native Range

Native to North America, especially the eastern and central United States and adjacent Canada, on limestone bluffs, rocky slopes, open woodland, and stream banks.

Suggested Uses

Grown in rock gardens, native plant collections, and naturalistic plantings on lean, well-drained soils. The plants suit restoration of rocky bluff and woodland-edge habitats within their native range.

How to Identify

Recognized by a first-year basal rosette of stalked leaves and a second-year slender stem with smaller clasping leaves. Narrow racemes of small white to pale pink four-petalled flowers open in spring, followed by long, flattened seed pods held erect or arching from the stem. The mustard-family flowers and long pods distinguish it from superficially similar rosette plants.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 3'4"

Width/Spread6" - 1'

Colors

Flower Colors

white

pink

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Spring

Small white to pale pink flowers open in spring, roughly April to June. The flowering period is brief, after which long seed pods develop. Plants then set seed and many die or decline.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

White to pale pink

Foliage Description

Green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.5 - 8.0(Alkaline)

357912

Soil Types

rocky loam chalk

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Borodinia spp. grows in full sun to part shade on rocky, well-drained, often limestone-rich soils. Plants tolerate thin, dry ground and are intolerant of wet, heavy soils and dense competition. They are raised from seed and self-sow where the ground is open. Because most species are short-lived, allowing seed to ripen and drop maintains a population. Little feeding or watering is needed on lean sites.

Pruning

No pruning is needed. Spent flowering stems are removed after seed has dropped if self-seeding is not wanted. Basal rosettes are left undisturbed to flower the following year.

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Unknown

Perennial