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Perennial from the Caryophyllaceae family, Arenaria alfacarensis is endemic to southern Spain, known from the limestone sierras of the province of Granada, notably around Alfacar and in the Sierra de la Alfaguara. It colonizes rock gardens, slabs, and crevices of limestone rocks in full exposure, at altitudes between approximately 1,000 and 2,000 meters.
What immediately strikes about this species is the extraordinarily tight nature of its habit. It forms flat to slightly domed cushions, dense and firm, which can spread widely over several tens of centimeters while remaining very low. Seen up close, these cushions reveal a meticulous architecture: very small oval to spatulate leaves, bordered by a whitish translucent edge, arranged in imbricated rosettes that cover the surface with a regular, almost geometric pattern, from dark green to medium green depending on the light and season.
The flowers are white, small, discreetly borne at the base of the cushion. In its natural habitat, flowering probably extends from May to June. In cultivation, it occurs at comparable dates depending on exposure.
This species requires a limestone, mineral substrate, very well-drained, in full sun; it does not tolerate stagnant winter moisture. It is suitable for cultivation in rock gardens between blocks, on slabs, or in alpine troughs, where its surface architecture, visible all year round, constitutes in itself a motif of permanent interest.