Draba verna
common whitlowgrass
Europe, North Africa, and western Asia
Overview
Draba verna is a tiny winter annual in the cabbage family, growing just 1-6 inches (2.5-15 cm) tall from a flat basal rosette of small, lance-shaped, slightly toothed leaves. From the rosette rise slender, leafless flowering stems, each bearing a loose cluster of minute white flowers. Each flower is about 0.1-0.2 inch (3-5 mm) across, with four petals so deeply notched that they appear as eight. Flowering occurs very early, from February to April, often while frosts still occur. The plant completes its whole life cycle within a few months: seed germinates in autumn, the rosette overwinters, and flowering and seed set finish before late spring, after which the plant withers. Tiny flat seed pods split to scatter numerous seeds. Native to Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, D. verna has naturalized across North America and other temperate regions, growing on bare, dry, sandy or gravelly ground, walls, paths, and disturbed soil. It is a very small, early-flowering annual, easily overlooked, and persists only where open ground lets its seedlings establish. It is hardy to USDA zone 3.
Native Range
Native to Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. Naturalized widely across North America and other temperate regions, growing on bare, dry, sandy and gravelly ground, paths, walls, and disturbed soil.Suggested Uses
Grown, where it is wanted at all, in gravel gardens, paving cracks, alpine troughs, and wild corners with bare soil. It seeds itself into open ground and produces very early flowers, though its small size suits close viewing rather than display.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1" - 6"
Width/Spread1" - 2"
Bloom Information
Flowers open from February to April, early among the spring annuals, sometimes during mild spells in late winter. Each tiny flower is short-lived, but a plant produces a steady succession. Seed pods ripen quickly and release seed before the plant dies in late spring.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
GreenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Draba verna grows in full sun on dry, poor, well-drained sandy or gravelly soil across a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. As a winter annual, it needs only autumn germination and spring moisture to complete its cycle, and tolerates drought and cold. It is hardy to USDA zone 3 and needs no winter protection. It self-sows freely on open ground and does not persist where taller plants or dense turf close in. It has no significant pests. No cultivation or fertilizer is needed.Pruning
No pruning is required. The plant is too small and short-lived to need cutting back, and it dies down on its own after seeding in late spring. Leaving the seed pods to ripen maintains the population.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons
✓ Toxicity
Non-toxicPlanting Guide
Planting Methods & Timing
Planting Method
direct sow
Plant Spacing
2 inches