Aubrietia is one spring flowering perennial that everyone should consider for their garden. These versatile plants are well known for use in rockeries, they can also be used between paving and walls, or create a wonderful foil for spring bulbs The cushion forming habit makes it useful as a ground cover; it can be planted in groupings or for spot colour, in landscape beds and is perfect for underplanting shrubs.

This formula mix is made from the Cascade series and includes the most popular shades of blue, red and purple. Easy to grow from seed, it grows only 10cm (4”) high yet may grow to 60cm (24”) in width. It is hardy to -23°C (-10°F). In the England the foliage of Aubrietia is evergreen and provides year-round cover. In the spring they flower so prolifically, that the blossoms almost completely cover the foliage below.

Sowing: Sow in February to June or in September to October for flowering throughout the following summer.

Sowing Indoors: Surface sow the seeds from late winter to early summer on the top of a good free draining seed compost, in cells or pots. They need light to germinate, so just cover the seed with a small amount of vermiculite. Make sure the compost is moist and not wet and seal in a polythene bag until after germination which usually takes 14-21 days at 18-20°C (65-68°F). Keep in a coldframe or unheated greenhouse. Remove the polythene bag once the first seedlings appear.

When seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant them to 7cm (3in) pots to grow on. Once established, plant out 30cm (12”) apart into a well drained garden soil preferably containing lime, in a sunny site.

Sowing Direct: Seeds can also be sown directly in open ground. Sow a few seeds into a small prepared area. Thin out seedlings as they grow to 5cm apart.

Cultivation: Cut the plants back severely after flowering to encourage healthy foliage growth and secondary blooms. Do not prune in autumn. Remove damaged foliage in spring. Short lived if drainage is poor or weather is too hot. Divide every 1 to 3 years.

Propagation: 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. Saved seed may not breed true to type.

Plant Uses: Suitable for rockeries, walls, borders, edging paths, planters, window boxes. Underplanting of shrubs.

Nomenclature:
The genus is named after Claude Aubriet, a French flower-painter. The true spelling is ’Aubrieta’ but in English vernacular use, the name is commonly (mis-)spelled as ‘Aubretia (or Aubrietia), an easier letter order for English speakers to pronounce.
The species name “cultorum” means “of gardens” (or ‘cultivated’)
It originates from southern Europe east to central Asia and is a genus of about 12 species of flowering plants in the cabbage family Brassicaceae.