Perennial of the Brassicaceae family, present in the mountains of Central and Southern Europe, from the Alps to the Carpathians and the eastern Pyrenees. It occupies limestone rocks, cracks, and sunny scree, between 1,500 and 3,000 meters altitude.
It forms a dense, multilobed cushion, composed of numerous rosettes tightly packed together, bright and shiny green outside of flowering. The leaves are linear, rigid, ciliated on the edges with stiff, whitish hairs, with a fine, slightly prickly tip. This evergreen foliage, remarkably neat, evokes by its texture that of the aizoons, as its epithet recalls. The cushion can spread widely with age while remaining low, rarely beyond 8 to 10 cm in height.
The flowers, with four bright yellow petals, are borne in short upright clusters above the foliage. The prominent stamens give them a slightly bristly appearance that distinguishes them at a glance from other yellow drabas.
In its natural habitat, flowering extends from March to June depending on altitude. In cultivation, it is one of the first to bloom, often as early as February-March.
It tolerates limestone well and primarily requires impeccable drainage and full sun. Robust and accommodating among drabas, it is suitable for rock gardens, walls, and alpine planters. It is a reliable and accessible choice, even for those new to this genus.