Arabis, or rock cress, is a large genus of mainly small plants, many of them very suitable for sunny, well-drained places in rock gardens. They have four petals, usually white but sometimes pink or other colours. They come from the northern hemisphere, and recent research has indicated that most species from America are genetically distinct, and the name Boechera is now recommended for these species.

Arabis pumila has neat rosettes that put up fairly tall stems with rounded heads of white flowers.