Aubrieta is a wonderful ground cover or rock garden plant. It has furry, mid-green leaves and springtime flowers in shades of white, blue, purple, or pink. The plants form spreading mats, also making them good for the front of the border.

Plant facts

  • Common name: Aubrieta
  • Botanical name: Aubrieta x cultorum
  • Zones: 5 to 7
  • Size: To 6 inches tall
  • From: Areas of Europe and Asia
  • Family: Cruciferae (cabbage family)


Growing conditions

  • Sun: Full sun
  • Soil: Moist, but well-drained soil. Soils with a high clay content should be amended with organic matter before planting.
  • Moisture: Water during times of drought.


Care

  • Mulch: A layer of mulch over the soil in the summer will help the soil conserve moisture and keep soil temperatures from rising too much; yarrow appreciates this.
  • Pruning: Cut plants back after they freeze in autumn or before they grow in spring.
  • Fertilizer: In most conditions, fertilizer is unnecessary.


Propagation

  • Seed: Sow seeds in a cold frame or a sheltered spot in the garden either in autumn or very early spring.


Pests

  • Aphids: These small insects often appear in large numbers on new growth. Spray them off daily with a stream of water; they will not attack a plant after being knocked off. Use an insecticidal soap or neem-oil-based spray if infestations are severe.
  • Leaf spot: In summer or autumn, the leaves become spotted yellowish or with darker colored spots. Each spot often has concentric rings around it, forming something of a bull's-eye pattern. To deter it, prune the plant to keep good air flow and avoid wetting the foliage in afternoons and evenings.
  • Powdery mildew: This disease tends to appear in mid- to late summer and looks like someone dusted affected leaves with a grayish powdery covering. The leaves then drop off. To deter the disease, prune the plant to keep good air flow and avoid wetting the foliage in afternoons and evenings.


Garden note

  • In especially hot-summer area, these plants are short-lived.
  • Aubrieta x cultorum ‘Bressingham Pink': Mid-green, furry foliage and clusters of double pink flowers in spring. Zones 5 to 7.
  • Aubrieta x cultorum ‘Royal Velvet': Mid-green, furry foliage and clusters of large violet-purple flowers in spring. Zones 5 to 7.