Growing Guide
 
plant thumbnail

Aubrieta

Herbaceous Perennial Flower

Also known as False Rockcress
Aubrieta deltoidea
Brassicaceae Family

This low-growing, mat-forming perannial is great for rock gardens and the front of borders. It produces vivid purple-red flowers in late spring and early summer.

arrow
arrow
arrow
Site Characteristics
Sunlight:
  • full sun
Tolerates part shade.

Soil conditions:

  • requires well-drained soil
Prefers very well drained (rocky or sandy) sites rich in lime.

Hardiness zones:

  • 4 to 8

Special locations:

  • rock gardens
Plant Traits

Lifecycle: perennial

Ease-of-care: easy

Height: 0.5 to 0.75 feet

Spread: 1 to 2 feet

Bloom time:

  • mid-spring
  • late spring
  • early summer

Flower color:

  • red
  • violet
  • pink

Foliage color: gray-green

Foliage texture: medium

Shape:

  • low and trailing
  • spreading mass

Mat-forming.

Shape in flower: same as above

Special Considerations
Special characteristics:
  • non-aggressive
  • non-invasive
  • not native to North America - Mediterranean, Asia Minor
  • evergreen
Growing Information
How to plant:

Propagate by seed, cuttings, division or separation - Cuttings are usually more successful than division.

Take softwood or semi-ripe cuttings from early- to mid-summer. Remove the lower leaves and root in sand.

Purchased seed is easy to germinate, but saved seed may not breed true to type.

Maintenance and care:
Cut the plants back severely after flowering to prevent seeding and encourage healthy foliage growth and secondary blooms.

Do not prune in fall. Remove damaged foliage in spring.

Short lived if drainage is poor or weather is hot. Divide every 1 to 3 years.

More growing information: How to Grow Perennials

Varieties
‘Aurea Variegata’ has green leaves with yellow markings and purple-blue blooms.

‘Barker’s Double’ has showy double blue-purple blooms.

‘Bob Sanders’ grows 10 inches tall plants with large double flowers in shades of reddish purple.

‘Campbellii’ has double pinkish-purple blooms.

‘Carnival’ flowers prolifically producing purple blooms.

‘Dr. Mules’ grows 6 inches tall with dark violet flowers.

‘J. S. Baker’ has striking blue-purple flowers with white “eyes.”

‘Parkinsii’ has rosy purple flowers with white “eyes.”

‘Purple Cascade’ grows 4 inches tall with purple flowers.

‘Red Carpet’ grows 4 inches tall with deep red flowers.

‘Variegata’ grows 4 inches tall with gold and green leaves and purple-blue flowers.

‘Whitewall Gem’ grows 8 inches tall reddish-purple flowers.