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Perennial of the Brassicaceae family, Draba ossetica is native to the Caucasus, where it occupies rocks and high-altitude screes in Ossetia and surrounding regions. The variety racemosa is distinguished by an arrangement of flowers in elongated clusters rather than in tight corymbs.
It forms a low and compact cushion, composed of small rosettes of light green, slightly pubescent leaves, which remain very close to the ground. The plant hardly exceeds a few centimeters in height outside of flowering, which accentuates the striking effect of the flowering stems that emerge in spring.
The flowers are pure white, with four well-opened and rounded petals, with a particularly bright yellow stamen heart. Their relatively large size compared to the cushion is striking. In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from May to July depending on the altitude. In cultivation, it generally blooms in April-May.
It requires a very draining, mineral substrate, full sun exposure and protection against stagnant moisture in winter. Cultivation in an alpine trough, on volcanic or limestone gravel, suits it perfectly and highlights the clarity of its white flowering.