Eschscholtz’s Hairy Rockcress (Arabis eschscholtziana, Arabis hirsuta ssp. eschscholtziana) spans the Pacific Coast from California to British Columbia. This hardy little herbaceous perennial predominantly inhabits rocky slopes, talus fields, cliffs, and coastal bluffs, where it is often found nestled among the crevices and gaps of these rocky landscapes. The silvery, uniquely textured nature of the rosette leaves give it a vibrant look among the dry summer grasses and stone of its native habitats, while the tall, rather elegant stems bear tiny white flowers that bloom from the bottom up, maturing into long siliques.
 
Despite its perhaps weedy appearance, Hairy Rockcress is a host and nectar plant for Sara’s Orangetip (Anthocharis sara) and Large Marble butterflies (Euchloe ausonides), and is locally important as a potential host plant for the endangered Island Marble subspecies (Euchloe ausonides insulanus). Hairy Rockcress typically blooms from late spring to early summer, typically starting in May and continuing through June. Bees, syrphid flies, and Cabbage White butterflies (Pieris spp.) are frequent visitors to the flowers.
 
As a rock-loving plant able to persist in challenging environments, it can be used to provide habitat on dry rocky slopes and fill in gaps in rock walls or crevices. Since the rough silvery foliage and compact rosettes are all adaptations to these environments, plants grown in damper, organic soils tend to lose these qualities but are nonetheless adaptable. Hairy Rockcress prefers well-drained, gravelly soils that mimic its natural rocky habitats. The seeds are not dormant and can be surface sown in fall or early spring, and will bloom the following year.