Aubrieta cascading giant waterfall. Aubrieta: growing multi-colored “waterfalls” from seeds. How does a plant reproduce?

Aubrieta is an evergreen, creeping plant of the cabbage family, growing in the form perennial grass. Natural habitat is the shores and rocky areas of South America and Asia Minor. The plant is very beautiful - developing, it forms a continuous thick carpet, covered during flowering with bright flowers of violet, purple, red, pink, white flowers and their shades. Few-flowered racemose inflorescences decorate the plant for quite a long time, from about mid-spring until the very beginning of summer. As a result of flowering, fruits are formed in the form of pods filled with brown seeds.

The plant is planted in autumn or spring, when the weather is warm and night frosts are excluded, around mid-May. Since this plant is quite demanding in terms of growing conditions and care, it is worth choosing the right site before planting. At the same time, they assume that Aubrieta loves a lot sunlight, loose, light soil that conducts moisture well and breathes. Separately, it should be noted that the acidity of the soil is of great importance - it should be neutral or low, within the pH range of 6 to 7, no more. If, upon checking, it turns out that this parameter is outside the optimal range, the soil will have to be amended, for example, by adding a little lime to it.

As for the nutritional properties of the soil, here the plant is not at all demanding. Aubrieta grows very well on moderately nutritious soils and even when they are completely poor, but it will be better if you add a little peat or charcoal - this will accelerate the growth of green mass and help the flower to fully reveal its decorative potential.

Landing

Aubrieta seedlings, after germination, are planted in open ground in groups, but no more than 5 plants in one place. If the seedlings were grown in peat flowerpots, the seedlings are planted directly into them, but if the flowerpots are plastic or clay, the plants will have to be carefully removed. To do this, the flowerpots are lowered into water, but only heated to ambient temperature, and wait until air bubbles appear on the surface. Now, the seedlings can be carefully removed and planted in holes at a distance of at least 5 centimeters from each other.

After planting all the seedlings, the soil is compacted, sprinkled with sand in a layer of about 5 centimeters and watered, but only through a sprayer so as not to expose the roots.

Rules of care

This plant is very demanding of lighting, the slightest lack of which has a depressing effect on it, but as for care, no special frills are required. And yet, in order for a flower to develop healthy and delight with its splendor and abundance of flowers, you need to follow some rules.

Watering

A mature aubrieta can easily do without watering - natural rain moisture is enough for it. However, during hot, dry periods it will be better to water the plant, but only a little - it is strictly not recommended to water it, especially in late autumn. But young plants require regular moderate moisture as the top layer of soil dries.

Along with watering, you can lightly feed the plant by adding a little sodium humanate to the water. It promotes the overall development of the bush and its root system. But this must be done very carefully, since there is an excess nutrients will lead to increased growth of green mass, and flowering, if any, will be very rare and insignificant.

Fertilizer and feeding

Young plants do not require fertilizer; on the contrary, this is contraindicated for them, but it is advisable to feed an adult bush twice a season, but very moderately and only with mineral compounds - no organic matter.

The first feeding is applied in the spring, before the formation of buds, and the next in the summer, after the pruning procedure.

Bush pruning and rejuvenation

Pruning is necessary not only for sanitary care - removing diseased and outdated branches and leaves, but also to activate the second flowering. The first one lasts about a month and a half, after which you need to cut off all the stems at the roots, loosen the soil, fertilize it a little and mulch it. If this is not done, the aubrieta takes on an unkempt appearance and does not bloom a second time.

Autumn pruning is not recommended - it weakens the plant before the winter cold. It is better to do this in the spring, when it gets warmer.

Over time, the aubrieta degenerates and weakens. It becomes painful, and in addition, it blooms poorly or does not bloom at all, so it is advisable to rejuvenate the plant at least once every 2–3 years by growing a new one from its cuttings. It is best to do this in the spring.

For cuttings, young shoots without flower buds are selected, cut off in small sections so that they have several growth points and planted in nurseries. Wide flowerpots or special boxes filled with a feeding substrate - peat mixed with sand, in approximately equal proportions - are suitable for this. There should be at least 10 centimeters between the cuttings, otherwise they will interfere with each other. Such seedlings, already at the beginning of summer, can be taken out into the air in a box, where they will get used to natural conditions, and at the beginning of autumn they can be transplanted into open ground.

For the first winter, it is advisable to insulate the plants by covering them with mulch, and if a frosty winter is expected, preferably also with spruce branches.

If everything is done correctly, the aubrieta will begin to bloom after wintering, abundantly and for a long time.

Growing from seeds

This method is quite effective and not complicated, but it is worth knowing that seed propagation often leads to the loss of varietal characteristics of the plant; in addition, seedlings bloom no earlier than after a year, or even two.

Procurement of seed material

To grow high-quality seeds, after the first flowering, you need to cut off the stems of the bush, leaving only a few of the healthiest shoots with fruits and, when they ripen, collect the pods, dry them and extract the seeds from them.

They can and preferably be planted this fall, but they can also be saved until spring planting in a dry, cool and dark place, e.g. cardboard box on the refrigerator shelf.

Sowing seeds

There are two ways to germinate aubrieta seeds - in nurseries and directly in open ground.

For nurseries, it is worth using peat pots or tablets, which can then be easily transferred to open ground. Seeds are laid out in groups of 3 on a damp substrate, covered with a layer of sand about 4 millimeters thick, moistened with a spray bottle and covered with film - a greenhouse is set up. This is done in early February and, until transplantation, the seedlings are kept at a temperature within 18 - 20°C. From time to time, the greenhouse is ventilated and the substrate is moistened, and with the onset of warmth, they are planted directly in the nurseries in open ground.

If you decide to sow seeds immediately in open ground, you will have to dig up the prepared area and remove weeds and fertilize with lime and charcoal. If the soil is heavy and clayey, it is advisable to prepare a drainage layer by laying expanded clay under the soil to a depth of approximately 10 - 15 centimeters, and then pour earth on it.

Sowing of seeds is carried out without deepening them into the substrate - they are covered with a layer of sand about 4 centimeters thick on top, watered from a watering can and a greenhouse is built over them, which is regularly ventilated, and removed when shoots appear. Shoots appear within one and a half to two weeks and, under optimal conditions, quickly develop and give rise to new plants.

When choosing a sowing option, it is worth considering that aubrieta reacts very painfully to transplantation. Therefore, it is best to sow it immediately in open ground, or at worst, in self-dissolving seedling pots or boxes. In addition, it is worth immediately determining how many bushes will be planted in one place, since picking aubrieta seedlings is extremely undesirable.

Rules that must be strictly followed

Full development is possible only if very important conditions for the plant are observed, which are quite simple to implement and also few in number:

• For abundant flowering, watering should be limited as much as possible - you can water only during dry, hot periods and very little;
• It is also necessary to fertilize and feed the soil carefully - twice a year and in small doses, since an excess of fertilizers, especially nitrogen, is more dangerous for shaving than its lack;
• It is necessary to regularly loosen the soil and weed out weeds. After each weeding, it will be good to mulch the ground - this will greatly slow down the growth of weeds.

Well, and most importantly, growing aubrieta can only be successful if it grows in a well-lit, sunny place. No partial shade, and especially shaded areas, otherwise you won’t get flowers, the bush itself will be weak, painful and may even die.

Problems during cultivation

If the plant is provided optimal conditions, close to those to which it is accustomed in its natural habitat, it is unlikely to bother you with its diseases. However, sometimes the obrieta still gets sick. Most often this is the result of insufficient lighting or improper humidity conditions - overflow. As a rule, the flower is bothered powdery mildew, which covers the stems and leaves of the bush with a dirty white coating that greatly spoils appearance. If the disease is not treated, over time the plant greatly slows down its growth, loses its immunity and may freeze in winter. Treatment is carried out with a solution of colloidal sulfur, strictly following the recommendations of the manufacturer of the product.

As for pests, most often these are aphids - an insect that feeds on leaves, sucking the juices from them, causing starvation of the plant. Depending on the severity of the infestation, up to four insecticide applications may be needed to get rid of aphids. After processing, be sure to wash the leaves warm water, but only after the sun sets, otherwise another problem will be added - burns.

Aubrieta is very immune to other diseases and pests and suffers from them extremely rarely.

Aubrieta (lat. Aubrieta) is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Brassica family. The name is given in honor of Claude Aubrier, a French artist who worked in the style botanical illustration. The plant can also be found under the name aubretia, popularly known as windbag.

Aubrieta is very popular horticultural crops. This unpretentious ground cover grows quickly, forming a continuous living mat. The height of the cushion is only 10-20 cm. The leaves are small, elliptical in shape, pubescent, have whole or jagged edges, attached alternately on short petioles. The plant is evergreen - with the onset of cold weather, the leaf cover remains.

When does aubrieta bloom?

What is the flowering period for aubriet? Flowering is not only lush, but also occurs in 2 stages: from late May to mid-July, the second wave occurs in September (about 35 days).

During the flowering period, the bush is complemented by a haze of inflorescences. The corollas are four-petalled, reach a diameter of 1 cm, but their number is numerous: the flowers almost completely hide the leaves. The colors are blue, violet, purple, less often – white.

The fruit is a pod with small brownish seeds.

IN natural environment Lushly blooming living mats of aubretia can be found along rocks and river banks in the south of France, the Balkans, Italy, Asia Minor, and South America.

Growing aubrieta in the garden is an interesting and uncomplicated process. A variety of species and varieties allows you to emphasize the individuality of your site.

Growing aubrieta aubretia from seeds at home

Aubrieta aubretia seeds photo

Aubrecia reproduces well by seeds. Most often, aubrieta is grown through seedlings.

• Start sowing seedlings around the end of February.
• Seedlings do not need picking or intermediate transplantation - sow immediately in individual containers.
• Peat-humus pots or peat tablets are perfect.
• Moisten the soil, place 2-3 seeds on the surface, sprinkle with sand (layer no more than 0.5 cm), and also moisten the sand cushion with a fine spray.

Aubrieta planting seeds photo seedlings

• Cover the crops with glass or film, germinate in diffused light, ensure the air temperature is within 18-21 °C. Ventilate the crops daily.
• Expect the emergence of seedlings within 3-4 weeks - when they appear, the cover can be removed.
• Water the soil with caution, avoiding waterlogging.
• If the sprouts develop poorly, a couple of weeks before transplanting into open ground, feed them with complex mineral fertilizers (keep the concentration low).

Plant aubrieta seedlings in open ground when the threat has passed. return frosts. Pre-harden the seedlings.

How to plant aubrieta seeds for seedlings, watch the video:

Planting aubrieta aubretia with seeds in open ground

Experienced gardeners sow aubration directly into open ground. This can be done in the spring (around April) or before winter (mid-late September).

Pre-prepare the area: dig up to a depth of about 15 cm, clear of weeds and stones, apply complex mineral fertilizer, wood ash. Level the bed. Distribute the seeds over the surface of the ground, sprinkle on top with a layer of sand or garden soil (3-5 cm thick), and carefully water from a watering can.

How to sow aubretia seeds in the ground

How long does it take for aubrieta to sprout? When sown in the ground in spring, seedlings will appear in 10-20 days. The plants will need to be broken through, leaving at least 5-7 cm between them.

Propagation of aubrieta by cuttings and dividing the bush

Aubrieta is propagated vegetatively: by cuttings and dividing the bush.

Cuttings of aubretia

After spring pruning, you will receive many cuttings. Select the strongest ones, plant them in a sand-peat mixture under a film cover, regularly water and ventilate them, and remove the film when it gets warm. By the end of summer, the seedlings will have a well-developed root system– transplant them to a permanent place of growth. Before the onset of cold weather, the seedlings will take root successfully. If the winters in your region are harsh, it is better to keep the rooted cuttings in a greenhouse until spring.

Dividing the bush

Dividing the bush is carried out extremely rarely, since the plant tolerates the procedure painfully. This is done in spring or autumn. Carefully dig up the bush, divide it into parts (each section should contain roots and well-developed shoots), and plant it in previously prepared holes.

Reproduction of aubretia by layering

Aubrecia can be easily propagated by layering: lodging shoots can be sprinkled with earth and by the end of the season you will get new independent bushes, which can be separated and planted in a permanent place in the fall.

Place for growing aubrieta

Aubrieta in garden design photo

Choose your landing site carefully. The plant will be able to show its decorativeness to the maximum if there is a bright solar lighting: flowering will be abundant, the color of the inflorescences will be rich.

As for the soil: the poorer it is, the better for the plant. Oily, peaty, and clayey soils are not suitable - the aubrieta may not take root. Moderately fertile, loose garden soil is ideal. The reaction is preferably neutral or slightly alkaline. To reduce acidity, add wood ash or chalk.

Grows well on rocky soil (can be planted among concrete slabs, stone steps).

Planting and caring for aubration in open ground

Aubrecia seedlings ready for planting photo

When and how to plant

As soon as the spring sun warms up and the threat of night frosts recedes, you can begin transplanting aubrieta seedlings into open ground. Focus on climatic conditions your region (the best landing time is late April-early May).

Make holes according to the size of the root system, keep a distance of at least 8-10 cm between the bushes. Choose a planting scheme depending on your goal: whether you want to create a continuous carpet or scattered islands of bright colors.

The plant is unpretentious in care, but cannot be completely ignored. Care procedures come down to several points.

Watering

Water thoroughly immediately after planting in open ground. In the future, water only during periods of prolonged drought. Saturation of the soil with moisture leads to active growth of green mass to the detriment of flowering. Young plants will need a little more moisture, but stick to moderation. It is best to use sprinkling.

After watering and precipitation, loosen the soil and remove weeds. Remove weeds.

Mulching

Feeding

Frequent feeding can be harmful. It is not recommended to apply nitrogen-containing fertilizers or feed seedlings immediately after planting in open ground. The best option is to apply mineral potassium fertilizer (you can limit yourself to adding wood ash) before the first flowering and after summer pruning.

Trimming

To maintain the decorative appearance of the bush, regularly remove faded inflorescences. After the end of the first wave of flowering, prune - the stems are cut off almost to the root. After repeated autumn flowering, pruning should not be carried out; the plant should not go “naked” for the winter. In spring, trim the bushes, remove damaged shoots and leaves.

How to care for aubrieta and propagate it, look at the video:

Wintering the aubrieta

Perennial aubrieta successfully winters in open ground in the presence of snow cover. Its own green mass will not protect the plant from extreme cold. If a snowless winter is expected sudden changes temperatures, it is better to additionally cover with available materials (fallen leaves, spruce branches).

Diseases and pests of aubration

With proper care, the plant is not exposed to diseases and pests.

Excessive watering provokes rotting of the root system. If the soil is chosen incorrectly, the appearance of the plant will be depressed and there may be no flowering.

Occasionally it is affected by powdery mildew (deformation of the leaf plates is observed, a whitish coating appears on them) - most often the affected plants are removed from the site and burned. The rest are treated with a solution of colloidal sulfur or a fungicidal preparation.

Pests: aphids, cruciferous flea beetle. Apply insecticide treatment.

Types and varieties of aubrieta with photos and names

Types and varieties of aubrieta differ in the structure of the plant and the color of the corollas.

Aubrieta deltoid or Aubrieta deltoidea

Aubrieta deltoidea variety Kitte Purple photo

People call it a lilac bush. The height of the bush is 15 cm. The leaf blades are deltoid, there are 1-2 teeth on each edge, the shade is gray-green. Loose racemose inflorescences consist of small flowers (corolla diameter about 1 cm) of a lilac or purple-blue hue. Cultivated since 1710. Variety of Bougainvillea: plant height is 20 cm, flowers are light lilac shade with an orange eye.

Cultural aubrieta or hybrid aubrieta Aubrieta x cultorum

Cultural aubrieta or hybrid aubrieta Aubrieta x cultorum Red Carpet photo

Perennial group herbaceous plants no more than 20 cm high, in temperate climates they successfully winter under snow cover. The leaves are oblong, serrated. Flowers can be simple, double, semi-double. Some varieties can be grown as potted crops, some are suitable for cutting.

Let's look at the most popular varieties of cultivated aubrieta:

Aubrieta hybrid Aubrieta x cultorum Cascade Purple photo

Cascade - leaves of a gray-green hue; red or blue inflorescences are decorated with a yellow eye.

Charming Morocco - has the largest flowers (about 1.5 cm in diameter), colors from blue to various shades of red and pink;

Aubrieta aubrieta Dr. Mules Aubrieta x cultorum ‘Dr. Mules' photo

Dr. Mules is a bush about 15 cm high with blue-violet inflorescences;

Aubrieta white Snowdrift White photo

Borshiz White is a rare variety with snow-white inflorescences.

Aubrieta Cascade Red Cascade Red photo

Côte d'Azur - aquamarine inflorescences decorate the garden throughout June-July, repeated flowering starts in September and lasts until frost;

Aubrieta ‘Axcent Violet With Eye’ photo

Giant waterfall - bushes 15 cm high with flowers of purple, pink, red, lilac. It is a mixture of varieties - violet aubrieta, pink, red, lilac... On this winter-hardy perennial up to 15 cm high, flowers open with a diameter of up to 1 cm.

Aubrieta aubrieta ‘Hamburger Stadtpark’ photo

Also pay attention to the varieties Gloriosa, Don, Carnival, Queen, Blue King, Vanda, Triumph, Royal Cascade.

Aubrieta in landscape design

Aubrieta in landscape design

In landscape design, flowering aubrieta cushion bushes most often serve as a ground cover plant.

Aubrieta and Arabis in landscape design photo

It looks spectacular on hills - plant it in rock gardens, some manage to plant aubretia in the cracks of the walls, which allows you to create a cascade of amazing beauty.

Aubrecia in landscape design photo

The combination with stones is beautiful: plant it in a rock garden, on an ordinary rocky area.

Aubrieta in landscape design photo

The variety of varieties allows you to mix different shades.

Suitable partners would be phlox, perennial dwarf irises, spurge, red soapwort, Caucasian rhizome, and alyssum.

Aubrieta in facade design photo

A flower such as Aubrieta is also called aubrieta. It is related to a genus of creeping evergreen herbaceous flowering plants that are perennials and belong to the cabbage family. This genus includes about 12 species. This flower is cultivated in rock gardens, as well as in all European countries as a garden plant. Under natural conditions, aubrieta is found in Italy, Asia Minor, the southern part of France, and also in the territory South America, where it prefers to grow on river banks and rocks. Latin name was given to the plant in honor of the Frenchman Claude Aubrier, who was an artist and worked in the genre of botanical illustration. In Russia, such a flower is called a windbag. During flowering, this plant looks like a spectacular continuous carpet. This flower has one peculiarity: its beautiful leaves do not fade even in winter.

Features of the aubrieta

Small alternate leaf blades have pubescence and an obovate or elliptical shape. Their edges are jagged or solid. Few-flowered, racemose inflorescences consist of small four-petaled flowers with a centimeter diameter and a purple, blue, violet or pink-red color. Flowering is abundant and lasts from the second half of spring until the beginning summer period. If you provide the correct and good care, then in the autumn the aubrieta may bloom again. The fruit looks like a pod containing flat brown seeds.

Below we will describe how to properly plant, grow and propagate such a flower. And also how to protect against harmful insects and diseases.

Growing aubrieta from seeds

This plant is quite easy to propagate by seeds, and it can be grown either through seedlings or without seedlings. But if the seeds are sown directly in open soil in September or May, this may result in the splitting of the varieties. In this regard, experts recommend growing aubrieta exclusively through seedlings. The flowering of such a plant grown from seeds can only be observed in the second year of life. Aubriet seeds are sold in all specialty stores.

Seeding

Sowing is done in the last days of February, approximately 8–10 weeks before the onset of heat. Sow the seeds of such a flower immediately into separate pots. To do this, you can use peat-humus pots or peat tablets; seedlings are planted in open ground directly in these containers. First, moisten the substrate of the pot or tablets, and then place 2 or 3 seeds on its surface. They should be sprinkled on top with a thin (0.3–0.5 cm) layer of sand. Moisten the sand with a fine spray bottle, and then place the containers under glass or film. Best temperature air for crops is 18–21 degrees.

How to care for seedlings

Caring for seedlings is very simple. So, they need to be ventilated every day, and also watered when necessary. The first seedlings can be seen after 20–30 days, after which the shelter must be removed completely. The plant must be watered very carefully, because the seedlings react extremely negatively to an overly moistened substrate. If the seedlings are weak and their development is slow, it is recommended to fertilize with complex mineral fertilizer half a month before planting in open soil, and the concentration of the solution should be weak.

Picking

Aubrieta reacts extremely negatively to transplantation; therefore, when growing through seedlings, picking is not done. That is why the seeds of this plant are recommended to be sown in separate containers (more about this is described above).

What time does disembarkation take place?

It is recommended to plant these flowers in open ground only after the threat of frost has passed, and as a rule, this time falls in the second half of May. The site for planting must be chosen carefully. When choosing a site, you should take into account that for the abundant and incredibly spectacular flowering of aubrieta, it needs the maximum possible quantity direct rays of the sun. When choosing soil, you should take into account that such flowers grow and develop better, the poorer the soil on the site. So, this plant grows well between concrete slabs and stone steps. However, it is worth remembering that the soil needs to be loose, well permeable to water, and its composition should include a small amount of peat or ash. It is also best if the soil is neutral or slightly alkaline pH 6.0–7.0.

How to plant correctly

A flower like aubrieta is considered by gardeners to be very flexible. In this regard, it can be planted exactly as you would like, and you can create a rock garden or flower bed of any shape. The depth of the planting hole depends on the length of the roots of the seedling, and its width should be 2 times the width of the pot in which the aubrieta grows. When planting, it should be taken into account that the distance between the bushes should be at least 5 centimeters. If your flower grew in a container made of ceramic or plastic, then immediately before planting the pot must be completely immersed in water. Wait until air bubbles begin to emerge from the soil. After this, carefully remove the plant along with the earthen lump and place it in the prepared hole. When the plant is planted, the soil will need to be compacted, its surface covered with mulch (a five-centimeter layer of sand), and then carefully watered.

How to take care of the garden

Watering

Caring for aubrieta is very simple and it will not take much of your time. Once the flowers are mature, they need to be watered only when there has been a sufficiently long dry period. In the same case, if you water the aubriet often and a lot in the usual summer weather, then you risk provoking rapid growth of greenery, while flowering will be relatively sparse. Young specimens need to be watered more often than older ones, but even in this case you should be quite careful. It is recommended to water using sprinkling. After the shavings have been watered or it has rained, the surface of the soil must be loosened, and all weeds must be pulled out.

Fertilizer

During the period of active plant growth, it is recommended to sprinkle the surface of the area with mulch 2 or 3 times. For this, sand is used, and the layer thickness should be from 3 to 5 centimeters. Aubrieta is fed with a solution of complete mineral fertilizer for perennial flowering plants. In this case, fertilizing is carried out in the spring before flowering begins, as well as in the fall.

Trimming

After the aubretia fades in the spring, it must be cut back almost to the level of the ground surface. IN in this case will begin active growth young stems with richly colored leaves. Against the background of the aubrieta, other flowering plants will look simply excellent. After some time it will bloom again.

How to propagate

Planting and growing aubretia is quite simple, the main thing is not to forget the basic rules of caring for it. It can be propagated very easily by cuttings and seeds. How to grow such a flower through seedlings is described above. However, gardeners who have a lot of experience sow aubrieta directly into open soil. Before sowing seeds, the soil must be prepared. To do this, it is dug up to a depth of 15 centimeters, all stones and weeds are removed, complex fertilizer, chalk (lime) and wood ash are added, and then moistened. Seeds should be placed directly on the surface of the ground, but they should not be sown too thickly. There is no need to bury them, just pour a layer of sand on top of the seeds, the thickness of which should be from 3 to 5 centimeters. Then the crops need to be watered very carefully using a watering can. If sowing was done in the spring, then the first seedlings will appear in 1.5–3 weeks, and if in September, then only when the next spring period arrives.

It is also quite easy to propagate this plant from cuttings. In the middle of the summer period, this flower is pruned, after which you will have a large number planting material. You can use cut shoots that have no flowers as cuttings. They need to be planted in a greenhouse in a soil mixture that includes sand and peat (1:1). At the end of summer, the rooting of the cuttings should be completed, and they can be planted in a permanent place in open ground. Before the onset of winter cold, young plants take root well and become strong. If in your area in winter time observed very severe frosts or at this time of year there is little snow, then the cuttings can not be planted in open ground, but left in a greenhouse until spring.

The flower can also be propagated by dividing the bush. It is best to carry out this procedure in spring or autumn. Aubrieta does not tolerate this kind of reproduction very well, which is done quite simply. To do this, you need to dig up a bush and divide it into several parts, with each division containing roots and well-developed stems. After this, the divisions are planted in separate holes. But it should be borne in mind that all your efforts may be completely in vain, and the aubrieta transplanted using this method may well die. That's why experienced gardeners They prefer to resort to seed propagation or cuttings.

Diseases and pests

Aubrieta has a relatively high resistance to various diseases and harmful insects, so it is quite easy to care for it. In some cases, the plant may become infected with powdery mildew, and a whitish coating appears on the leaf blades and flowers. This disease is a fungal disease, and as it develops, this plaque becomes brown in color. A bush infected with this disease loses its spectacular appearance, and its growth becomes slower. The affected parts of the flower turn black and die, while the bush itself becomes much less winter-hardy. To treat powdery mildew, you can use colloidal sulfur, following the instructions on the product package.

The greatest danger of all harmful insects to aubrieta is aphids. This is a sucking insect that uses plant sap as food. Aphids are spreaders of dangerous viral diseases. You can get rid of such harmful insects with the help of Karbofos, Biotlin, Fufanon or Arrivo. Depending on the degree of infection of the bushes, 1–4 treatments may be needed.

In general, such a flower, which prefers to grow between stones, rarely gets sick.

How to care for perennial shavings after flowering

Seed collection

When propagating such a flower with seeds collected independently, you need to remember that they may not retain all the varietal characteristics of the parent plant. However, if you still want to collect the seeds, then when the aubrieta fades in the spring, you need to leave 2 or 3 stems with ovaries during cutting. Wait until the seeds turn dark and carefully trim the pods. Hull them, and bring the seeds indoors and ripen them. These seeds can be sown before winter in the same way as described above.

Preparing for winter

After spring flowering, experts advise be sure to cut off all the stems of this plant. However, after the end of the second flowering there is no need to do this. The stems and flowers should be left throughout the winter, and they will need to be cut only with the onset of spring. These perennial flowers tolerate winter very well without shelter. But it should be taken into account that if the winter is too harsh and there is little snow, then the aubrieta may well die; therefore, experienced flower growers recommend covering the flowers with a layer of dry foliage or covering them with spruce branches.

Varieties and types of aubrieta with photos and names

There are 12 natural species of aubrieta, some of which are grown by gardeners. It is quite rare to find such species in gardens of middle latitudes as: white aubrieta, Croatian aubrieta, graceful aubrieta, Kolumka aubrieta. However, there are types that are more popular, and they will be discussed below.

Aubrieta deltoidea, or deltoid aubrieta

The height of this herbaceous perennial plant can reach 15 centimeters. The greenish-gray deltoid-shaped leaf blades have 1 or 2 cloves on each edge. Loose racemose inflorescences consist of small flowers (diameter about 10 millimeters), which are colored lilac or blue-purple. In May, aubrieta begins to bloom. The duration of its flowering is a little more than 4 weeks. This species has been cultivated since 1710 and is popularly called the “lilac bush.” He has a variety of Bougainvillea, the height of its bush reaches 20 centimeters, the flowers are pale lilac, with an orange center. Thanks to breeders, the cultivated aubrieta species was born, which is the most popular among gardeners, and they took the deltoid aubrieta as a basis.

Cultural aubrieta (Aubrieta x cultorum), or hybrid aubrieta

This is a group of plants that do not exceed 20 centimeters in height and are able to overwinter under snow cover. The small leaves are oblong in shape and have jagged edges. The diameter of the purple or lilac flowers reaches 1 centimeter. To date various varieties This species can have semi-double, double and simple flowers. They can be easily propagated by seed. There are varieties that can be grown in pots at home, and there are also ones suitable for cutting.

The most popular varieties of cultivated aubrieta:

1. Cascade. The flowers of this perennial can be purple, pink, blue, turquoise or red, and they have a small yellow center. The greenish-gray leaf blades have the same color throughout the year.
2. Enchanting Morocco. The bush is lush and very impressive. The flowers are relatively large in size (about 15 mm in diameter). Their color can vary from pink and red to blue.
3. Cote d'Azur. This plant has very beautiful azure-colored flowers. Flowering continues for 2 summer months. In September, repeated flowering is observed, which continues until the onset of winter frosts.
4. Giant waterfall. This is a variety mixture that includes plants of various colors, namely: pink, lilac, violet, red, etc. The height of such a winter-hardy perennial plant does not exceed 15 centimeters. The flowers have a centimeter diameter.

Gardeners also enjoy cultivating such varieties of aubrieta as: Carnival, Doctor Mules, Don, Gloriosa, Wanda, Blue King, Queen, Royal Cascade, Triumphant, etc.

Aubrieta, or aubrieta, is a type of herbaceous plant that belongs to the Brassica family, and is an evergreen, creeping perennial shrub. It is found both in European countries, for example, in Italy, France, and in South American countries. Habitats are different everywhere. Aubrieta can be seen on rocks, along river banks, in gardens or rock gardens. The plant received this name thanks to the famous illustrator Claude Aubrier, who wrote his works in the botanical genre. During flowering, the aubrieta resembles a continuous green carpet. A distinctive individual feature of the plant is its ability to produce healthy and rich foliage all year round.

Description of the aubrieta flower

The small, elongated leaves have jagged ends and a rough surface. The calyx of the flower consists of four petals, which reach a diameter of about 1 cm. Their colors come in a wide variety of colors. All flowers are collected in racemose inflorescences. Orbita blooms abundantly throughout the entire season. If you regularly care for the plant, following the advice of gardeners, you can also observe re-blooming in the fall. Fruit by external signs resembles a bean pod in which small brown seeds ripen.

To start growing this amazing flower in your garden, you need to learn how to plant seedlings, and only then transfer them to open ground. Below we will look at how the plant reproduces, its diseases, methods of protection against insects and rules for caring for the flower.

Growing aubrieta from seeds

Propagation by seed for this type of plant produces fairly high seedlings. However, it is best to take advantage of growing seedlings, which can then be replanted, since sowing seeds directly into the soil can cause the variety to split. In this case, you can expect the beginning of flowering of aubrieta only in the spring. Seeds are sold in stores selling gardening products.

It is best to sow before the onset of the spring thaw. This time falls around the end of February. They are sown in small pots, which are filled with a mixture of peat and humus. From these containers, young seedlings will then be planted in open ground. Before planting, the soil is pre-moistened, then seeds are placed on its surface, which are sprinkled with a small amount of sand. It also needs to be watered on top. The planted crops are covered with a protective film. In order for the seeds to begin to germinate, it is necessary to maintain a constant temperature, which should be from 18 to 21 degrees.

Rules for caring for aubrieta seedlings

As a rule, sowing seedlings from seeds requires a lot of time, and they must be cared for with great care. You should not forget to ventilate and water every day. The first shoots begin to appear after a few weeks. As soon as the green leaves become noticeable, you can remove the protective film. Try not to overwater the seedlings, since aubrieta does not tolerate excess moisture. If you feel that the seedlings are not yet quite strong enough for transplantation and are not developing enough, then the plant can be fed. For these purposes, a mixture of mineral fertilizers diluted in low concentration is used.

Aubrieta is difficult to take root when transplanted and most often dies. In this regard, a flower grown at home on a windowsill is not suitable for picking. If there is a desire to completely eliminate intermediate transplantation of seedlings, it is necessary to sow seeds for seedlings in different pots.

Planting aubrieta in open ground

As soon as the spring frosts recede, you can begin to transplant the aubrieta from the seedling container. You should choose an area for growing a flower with all responsibility. Consider the fact that this plant loves bright sun and does not tolerate shade. To achieve intense and long-lasting flowering, it is necessary to prepare an area for planting seedlings that will be located on the sunny side of the garden or garden. Even the poorest soil is suitable for growing aubrieta. It grows well on any rocky terrain and is not picky about the choice of soil. However, the soil must absorb moisture well and contain ash or peat. A slightly alkaline or neutral soil environment is allowed.

You can plant aubrieta in a flowerbed any way you like. The plant is quite pliable and flexible. The size and length of the seedlings' roots affect the planting depth. The width of the hole must be half the width of the seedling pot. When growing a flower in plastic container The dishes must be immersed in water so as not to damage the plant when removed. After air bubbles rise to the surface of the pot, the seedling is carefully removed and placed in the hole. The area of ​​soil around it is pressed down a little and sprinkled with sand, then watered.

Caring for aubrieta in the garden

Aubrieta is a rather unpretentious flower and does not require any special care when caring. Adult specimens may not need watering for a long time, the only exception being dry and hot summers. As a rule, under normal temperature conditions, excessive watering can cause the plant to become overly green, which in turn will suppress flowering. Young shoots need to be watered a little more often until they are fully grown. Sprinkling is considered the most optimal method of watering. The soil in the flower bed must be constantly loosened and weeds removed.

During the flowering period, the soil around the plant is sprinkled with sand to retain root moisture. In early spring or autumn, aubriet needs to be fed with special mineral fertilizers, which are used by gardeners when growing perennial varieties plants.

It is necessary to carry out comprehensive pruning of all green shoots after the spring growing season ends. Thanks to such measures, young green stems and leaves will soon begin to appear. They will be a wonderful addition to the flowers growing nearby in the flower bed. Such a flower carpet will retain its beauty until the next autumn bloom.

Aubriet flowers after flowering

As stated earlier, the seed propagation method does not make it possible to preserve varietal properties of seedlings. However, if the task is to collect seeds, then during pruning it is necessary to leave several shoots with ovaries on the bush. After the pods ripen and darken, they need to be cut off. The husked seeds are dried and thoroughly ventilated. They are then used for sowing in the manner described above.

Preparing the aubrieta for winter

After spring flowering, experienced gardeners usually prune. In case of another flowering, which occurs in the fall, it is recommended to leave all leaves and shoots intact for the winter. Re-pruning is best done next season. A mature perennial plant can easily survive the winter if there is sufficient snow cover. In more severe conditions, it is necessary to cover the bush with dry leaves and spruce branches to protect it from death and freezing.

Methods for propagating aubrieta

The aubriet flower can be propagated by any convenient means, since the plant is unpretentious in this regard. The main method used is propagation by seeds or cuttings. Growing aubrieta from seedlings was described in detail by us a little earlier. Gardeners who have great experience breeding various flower crops, choose the seed propagation method. Before planting, the flowerbed area is cleared of weeds, small stones and dug up. A mixture of fertilizers is added to the prepared soil, then it is sprinkled with wood ash and chalk and moistened. The seeds are planted at some distance from each other, after which they are sprinkled with sand and watered. If planting was carried out in the spring, then the first shoots can be expected after 10-20 days. In case autumn planting seeds, young shoots will appear only next year.

Propagation by cuttings

A widespread method of propagation is by cuttings. When pruning aubrieta in the summer, as a rule, a large number of green shoots remain without flowers. A greenhouse is used for planting cuttings. Prepared soil consisting of peat and sand is poured into it in advance. Cuttings that have taken root are transplanted into a flowerbed. In areas where low winter temperatures prevail, seedlings are left in a greenhouse until spring arrives so that they can properly strengthen and take root.

Reproduction by dividing the bush

The division of the bush is carried out both in spring and autumn, but the plant is quite difficult to tolerate such an event. Often it is carried out in a certain sequence. Initially, you need to dig up an aubriet bush and divide it into equal parts, which will contain strong shoots and roots. Then they are planted in different holes. It is worth noting that this method of reproduction is not always successful. Divided parts of the plant are difficult to take root, so gardeners prefer growing aubrieta from seeds or cuttings.

Diseases and pests

Aubrieta is a resistant ornamental plant to the effects of any diseases and pests. Cases of powdery mildew infection are occasionally observed. This fungal disease causes a white coating that appears on leaves and flowers, which becomes brown over time. Due to illness, the flower loses its attractiveness. The plant gradually begins to wither and turn black. To stop the further spread of the disease, the bushes are treated with a solution of colloidal sulfur.

The greatest danger to aubrieta is the aphid, which takes away the strength of the plant and feeds on its cell sap. Aphids are carriers of various viral diseases. To destroy it, drugs such as Fufanon or Karbofos are used. If the number of pests is too large, then the treatment is repeated several times to completely get rid of the insects.

The aubriet flower, which grows in rocky areas, is practically not susceptible to pests and diseases.

Types and varieties of aubrieta

Today there are about 12 species of this flower, including cultivated varieties. In our area, species such as white aubrieta, graceful aubrieta, and Kolumka aubrieta are rarely found. Here, for example, deltoid aubrieta, which looks like a low-growing perennial green plant, has become more widespread. The leaves have jagged edges and a gray-green color. Small purple flowers are collected in racemes, reminiscent of a lilac bush. The flowering period begins in late spring and lasts about a month. This variety of aubrieta is considered the first cultivated species of flower.

Aubrieta hybrid or cultivated is a plant reaching a height of about 20 cm, which can winter well. The leaves have an elongated shape with jagged ends, and the flowers are purple in color and have a small diameter. Aubrieta cultivated is propagated by seeds. The most popular varieties are:

• Aubrieta is cascading, having flowers of various colors and gray-green leaves. A bush of this variety retains its greenery even for the winter.
• The enchanting Morocco is an elegant flower with large cups in blue, red or pink.
• Côte d'Azur is a variety of aubrieta, which is characterized by abundant and frequent flowering throughout the year.
• Giant Falls is a perennial hybrid of purple, pink or red color, grows up to 15 cm and has small flowers.

There are other equally well-known varieties of aubrieta: Carnival, Gloriosa, Vanda, Blue King, Queen, Royal Cascade, Triumphant and others.

Aubrieta - growing a flower in the garden (video)

Aubrieta is a very popular perennial plant in modern gardening. It is used to decorate flower beds and create a living flowering carpet. Planting aubrieta, propagating and caring for it in the open ground is a pleasant and interesting activity, and the variety of varieties will allow you to emphasize the individuality of your garden.

Aubrieta: varieties and varieties

The second name for aubrieta is aubretia. Plants are perennial, grown primarily for use in landscape design. The crop is classified as a ground cover because of its growth pattern: the bushes grow, covering the ground, forming a very beautiful living carpet.

Aubrieta will help you create a unique landscape design for your site

The flowers of aubretia are not large, but their number is impressive. The color varies from white to purple and blue. Flowering occurs in two stages - from the end of May (about 45 days) and in September (30-35 days). In the photo you can see that the plant is not tall (10-13 cm), and forms beautiful flowering pillows from evergreen leaves.

The varieties and types of aubretia differ not only in the color of the flowering, but also in its shape, as well as in the structure of the plant itself. The choice of aubrieta variety depends only on the personal preferences of the gardener.

Cascade. Quite a popular variety of aubrieta. Perennial plants have beautiful flowers blue or red with a small yellow core. The leaves are gray-green and remain that way all year round, decorating the garden even in winter. For this species, pruning is recommended immediately after flowering, which occurs in early or mid-summer.

Aubrieta cascade

Hybrid or cultural. The earliest of all types of aubration. The blooms are pink, purple and sometimes red, rising above the green foliage. It looks very beautiful in stones, in cracks in walls and fences. Among all the varieties of hybrid aubriet, the following are distinguished:

Hybrid variety of Henderson's aubriet

• “Charming Morocco” is a variety with the largest flowers (up to 1.5 cm in diameter), the color is varied - from blue to pink and red;
• "Doctor Mules" is a rather tall variety (14-16 cm tall), with delicate blue-violet flowers;
• "Borshies White" is the only variety with large white inflorescences.

Deltoid. People call it “Lilac Bush”. IN natural conditions varieties of this species are found in southeastern Europe. The flowers are purple, blue or violet, medium-sized (1 cm in diameter). The inflorescences are collected in clusters, which makes the plant similar to lilac.

Aubrieta deltoid

Planting a plant

As soon as the warm spring sun has warmed up outside the window and the night frosts have receded, you can plant aubrieta. This is usually done at the end of April - beginning of May (depending on the region). You should carefully choose a landing site. Growing is recommended in plenty of sunlight. The brighter the place, the more abundantly the aubretia blooms, and the blooms acquire a more saturated hue.

The plant thrives in light, not very fertile soils. The presence of lime or chalk is welcome. Oily soils, peat and clay soils are not to the liking of Shaver, and it will be capricious on them, if it takes root at all.

Aubrieta can be planted in open ground in early spring.

The plant is buried in the ground in accordance with the length of the root. The distance between the bushes is at least 5 cm. The planting pattern is arbitrary, depending on the goal pursued by the gardener.

Important! To reduce acidity, lime or wood ash is added to the soil.

Planting the plant on a hill is encouraged - an alpine hill, a wall, flowering waves.

Shaving care

Although the plant is unpretentious, it should not be ignored. Planting and care include several main points.

The first and only abundant watering is carried out when planting aubretia in open ground. Further watering is carried out in rather meager portions. Excess moisture in the soil harms aubrieta flowers. They crumble and the plant looks dull.

Protect the plant from overwatering

Aubrieta does not tolerate moisture, but it does not tolerate drought very well, so the soil under the plant is mulched with sand, in a layer of 2-3 cm. At the beginning of summer, the mulch is renewed, and at the end of August, mulching is carried out again.

To prevent the aubrieta from losing its decorative effect, faded buds must be removed. Since the plant is perennial, the bushes must be pruned at the end of flowering. Next comes abundant autumn flowering, after which pruning is not recommended. It is necessary to prune bushes and remove damaged leaves before the next season - in spring.

Mulching the soil around the aubriet

With the arrival of autumn, the flowers do not shed their green mass, but if frost intensifies, the leaves may fall off. Some gardeners advise covering the plant with dry leaves or straw.

Advice! To prevent the soil from becoming waterlogged, take care of drainage at the site where the aubrieta is planted.

Fertilizer and feeding

Plants don't really like fertilizer. Fertilizing is required no more than twice per season. Minerals and minerals are best absorbed potash fertilizers. You can limit yourself to adding wood ash.

Advice! You can only feed grown seedlings before flowering.

If the aubrieta has been fed with nitrogen-containing fertilizers, its cultivation becomes more difficult. It is also not recommended to feed young seedlings after transplanting into open ground. It is most advisable to apply fertilizer before flowering and after pruning the bushes.

When growing aubrieta, fertilizing may not be used.

Plant propagation

Reproduction of aubrieta is carried out by several methods, each of them is good in its own way.

1. Propagation by cuttings. After spring pruning of the bushes, the strongest and strongest cuttings are placed in a greenhouse in a special mixture of sand and peat. At the end of summer, they are transplanted to a permanent place so that they have time to take root in the open ground and get stronger before the onset of cold weather.
2. Propagation by seeds. This is the simplest and most effective way. Germination of aubrieta seeds is a long process, so they are sown a month before the expected last frost. Seeds germinate at a temperature of 19° C, not in open ground, but under a film. As soon as the first shoots appear, the film is removed, and when warm weather sets in without night frosts, the seedlings are transplanted.

   Aubrieta seeds

3. You can also propagate the plant by dividing the bush, but this method is painful for shaving and is performed in rare cases.

Diseases and pests

Aubrieta is a plant resistant to many bacteria, viruses and pests. Greatest harm It can be caused by excessive watering: rotting of the root system and death of the plant. The wrong choice of soil can also cause harm. Among insects, the plant is most often affected by aphids.

At the first symptoms of bacterial infections, the plant needs to be treated with insecticides

The most common disease among all varieties of aubrieta is powdery mildew. Plaque appears on the affected areas, and leaf deformation is observed. They fight the problem with the help of colloidal sulfur. Most often, affected plants are removed and burned.

Advice! Take proper care when growing and the plant will not suffer from diseases or pests.

Aubrieta: combination with other plants

Most often, aubrieta's partners in the garden are plants that creep along the ground. Pairs perfectly with milkweed or Caucasian rhizome, red soapwort or alyssum.

The combination is carried out according to the color scheme. Varieties that have all shades of red will complement perennial dwarf irises, in which a blue tint predominates in flowering, or Douglas phlox.

Aubrieta in landscape design

Aubrieta in landscape design

In landscape design, aubrieta most often acts as a living flowering carpet in a border or rock garden, where it will create an inimitable backdrop for plants that bloom a little later. Aubrecia looks very beautiful in flower beds decorated with natural stones (rockeries). Some gardeners manage to plant a plant in the cracks of the walls, creating cascades of indescribable beauty.

Growing aubrieta from seeds: video

Types of aubrieta: photo

Carpets of flowers that are mesmerizing in their beauty and have all shades of purple are aubrieta. This is very capricious plant, numbering more than 40 species. It is popular among gardeners. To decorate your site with this plant, you need to know the peculiarities of cultivation.

What is aubrieta

Aubrieta is perennial crop. It can grow very wide and spread along the ground, forming a flower carpet. The main color of its flowers is purple, but they also come in pink, red and white. Small buds consist of 4 petals. They begin to bloom in late spring for 45-50 days. The second flowering period occurs in autumn.

The main feature of aubrieta is its ability to grow on rocky terrain. Therefore, it is an ideal option for rock gardens and stone paths. Although aubrieta is quite capricious, it can take root anywhere. It is frost-resistant, does not lose leaves in the winter and does not fade. This makes the garden look amazing in winter. However, if the winter has little snow, this plant is covered with spruce branches.

The most popular varieties of aubrieta:

• Deltoid.
• Cultural.

Aubrieta: growing from seeds

Propagation by seeds is the most convenient way to grow aubriet. This procedure is carried out in the fall and planted immediately in open ground. Many gardeners sow seeds at the end of spring, but in this case the bush will still not bloom in the summer.

Before sowing remove all weeds from the soil along with the roots and loosen it thoroughly. This is necessary so that young shoots do not mix with weeds and die. To prevent weeds from interfering with growth, aubrieta is sown on a hill or in crevices between stones.

Water the young shoots very carefully. It is best to spray the soil, otherwise tender young shoots may be damaged.

Some gardeners sow at home according to the following scheme: the seeds are dipped in vermiculite, which is part of the earth mixture, and kept in it for about 2 months. In the first 2-3 weeks, the temperature should be 18-20 degrees; for this, the seeds are covered with polyethylene. After the eighth week they are planted in the ground.

Grow aubrieta in a sunny place. Any shadow will ensure that the bush will not bloom, but will remain evergreen, with pale leaves. In such a place, the aubrieta will not grow in width, but will begin to stretch in length.

The substrate for sowing should be infertile and light. If there is excess sand in it, then the aubrieta will take it well, which cannot be said about clay soil. Be sure to feed the soil with ash or lime to reduce its acidity. Its level should be 6-7.5, a shift is possible only towards alkali. Necessarily feed the aubrieta with peat, and when it begins to bloom, complex mineral fertilizer is introduced.

Flaws:

• If aubrieta is grown from seeds, then it may lose the qualities inherent in this variety.
• A plant grown from seeds blooms only in the second year after it is planted in the ground.

Care

A young plant needs a lot of moisture, but only at the initial stage. Afterwards, rain and infrequent watering on hot days will be enough. Aubrieta is indifferent to moisture, so the soil gradually drains. Excessive moisture harms the adult plant; it begins to bloom sluggishly. But after sowing, it is necessary to mulch the soil three times, using river sand. The layer should be no more than 5 centimeters, and is placed closer to the roots, which promotes intensive growth of the bush.

Shaving care includes its trimming. After spring flowering, remove all stems to the very roots to avoid excessive growth. Instead of the removed shoots, new ones grow and begin to bloom in the fall. It’s just that the flowering will not be as abundant, and the greenery will dominate the inflorescences. In order for the bush to have an attractive appearance for a long time, it is necessary to remove dried leaves and shoots from it. No pruning is done in the fall; dead leaves are removed in the spring.

Aubrieta practically not susceptible to pest attacks. Only aphids can bother you. It causes the leaves to wrinkle and the shoots to dry out. It needs to be combated with insecticides, but only very carefully and in the most extreme cases. Instead, they carry out prevention - they begin to intensively feed the soil during sowing and then mulch. You can spray the bushes with nettle infusion.

Aubrieta can only get sick from powdery mildew, as a result of which it becomes completely covered with a white coating. It is treated with colloidal sulfur, which is dissolved in water. If the disease has spread to the entire bush, it must be destroyed so as not to infect other healthy plants.

Beautiful bushes of the aubrieta plant

Aubrieta is by far the most popular perennial plant. Gardeners grow ground cover to decorate flower beds and living flower carpets. This evergreen shrub can survive winter frosts without losing its vibrant greenery. Shaving planting and caring for photos is quite a pleasant and entertaining activity. And thanks to the variety of varieties, there is an excellent opportunity to create a unique flowering garden.

Aubrieta flower - description, photo

The variety belongs to flower culture genus cruciferous. This ground cover has gained widespread use in Central Asia and Europe. The inflorescences of the plant are small, but there are quite a lot of them. Mostly the flowers are blue and purple, but after a while varieties with snow-white, pink and scarlet flowers. The leaves are small, elongated shape, slightly tapered towards the end. The short stems, intertwined, create a dense, impenetrable canvas.

Flower formation lasts about 50 days and begins at the end of May. After flowering in the area former flowers fruits are formed that are similar in shape to green beans, with elongated chocolate-colored grains.

For its ability to preserve greenery in winter and numerous inflorescences, many landscape designers use it to decorate the territory. Bushes look great on borders, vertical compositions, rock gardens. Cascade varieties are a wonderful decoration for balconies, loggias, and verandas.

Educational! The plant received its name in honor of the French artist Claude Aubriette.

Growing aubrieta from seeds at home

To grow seedlings, you can purchase soil for blooming crops in a specialty store. Or you need to prepare light fertile soil. This type prefers the presence of chalk and lime in the soil. The plant is quite difficult to tolerate oily, peaty, clay soil. With such soil, the crop may not grow or behave quite capriciously. The degree of soil acidification is of no small importance.

Important! To reduce the acidity of the soil, it is recommended to add wood ash or lime to it.

When to sow seeds

To grow seedlings, seeds can be purchased or collected independently, provided that the crop is grown. Seedlings of this variety can be grown at home. The seeds are sown 2-2.5 months before the planned transfer to the flowerbed. The recommended time for sowing seeds for seedlings is February.

Sowing aubrieta

The seeds are medium size, brown in color. Before the sowing procedure, a disinfection procedure can be carried out. To do this, the seeds are soaked for one hour in a light solution of manganese. The grains can also be soaked in a growth stimulator diluted according to the instructions. The drugs Heteroauxin and Epin are well suited for these purposes.

To grow seedlings, prepare wide containers of medium height or individual containers, peat tablets (pots). Experienced gardeners recommend using individual containers. Since this will allow the shoots to be planted directly into the ground in the future, without injuring the root ball.

The containers are filled with soil. Seeds are sown at the same distance or 2-3 grains per cup. The crops are sprinkled with a thin layer of sand on top, about 3-5 mm. After sowing, the soil is irrigated with a spray bottle and the container is covered. plastic film. The containers are left in a warm, well-lit place for 4 weeks. Favorable temperature is considered to be 18-21 degrees.

This time is enough for the crops to germinate. After the first shoots appear, the film can be removed from the containers.

Know! The flower belongs to light-loving crops. This is why it needs natural sunlight. If there is insufficient lighting, the shoots will develop slowly and the seedlings will begin to stretch.

Seedling care

As the seedlings grow and develop, they require simple care. It is necessary to ventilate the crops daily. You should monitor the soil moisture level. It must not be allowed to dry out. It is necessary to moisten the soil as the top layer dries, avoiding stagnation of water. When moistening the soil, it is recommended to use a sprayer. This way the soil will be moistened, and the stream of water will not disturb the cover of the roots.

Picking aubrieta

The plant reacts heavily to transplantation. To avoid intermediate picking, it is recommended to sow aubrieta in individual containers. If, after all, the seedlings were sown in common boxes, then if the proper distance is maintained, the seedlings will wait warm weather before transferring to the ground. If the seedlings are very dense, the young shoots will simply have to be thinned out.

Remember! Shoots grown through seedlings produce buds only for the next season. Flowering duration is about 1.5 months. To get a repeat, you need to cut off the shoots after flowering. Thanks to this feature, you can admire the blooming blanket throughout the summer season.

Watch the video: how to grow aubrieta from seeds at home.

Planting aubrieta in open ground

Before planting seedlings in a flowerbed, it is important to choose the right location. The flower looks great in any area, but it will not grow comfortably everywhere. To obtain abundant, mesmerizing flowering, the sun's rays are necessary.

When to plant aubrieta in open ground

After 30 days, young shoots can be transferred to an open area. It is important that the climatic conditions by this time are favorable. The weather should be warm, and the likelihood of night frosts should be far behind. If it suddenly turns out that the seedlings are not strong enough or the shoots are developing poorly, you can feed them.

A couple of weeks before planting in the ground, the seedlings are fed with a solution of complex mineral fertilizer in a weak concentration. Basically, seedlings are transferred to the flowerbed at the end of May. Before planting seedlings, the soil on the site must be prepared:

• clear of weeds and stones;
• dig up or fluff well;
• add mineral fertilizers, wood ash;
• the crop requires calcium for proper growth, so lime or chalk is added to the soil;
• loosen the soil, its structure should be homogeneous;
• moisten the area well.

Important! The soil should be light, nutritious, and alkaline. Acidic soil absolutely not suitable for growing crops. Sandy loam soils are preferred.

How to plant aubrieta

Culture has a special plasticity. Thanks to this property, you can plant shoots at your own discretion, according to the desire of the future type of flower garden or rock garden. The depth of the holes is adjusted according to the length of the root system. The width of the hole should be twice as wide as the container in which the shoots grew. The distance between the holes is left at least 5 cm.

If the seedlings were grown in plastic or ceramic containers, then before planting the containers are placed in water until bubbles appear on the surface of the soil. Then the seedlings are taken out along with a lump of earth and transferred to the hole. After planting, the soil under each seedling is compacted, sprinkled with a layer of sand about 5 cm, and carefully watered under each stem.

Caring for aubrieta in the garden

Growing this variety is very pleasant and not troublesome. Watering is carried out only in dry conditions summer heat. If you water in the usual summer weather, the stems will grow a lot of lush greenery, and the inflorescences will be sparse and become very small. Most the best way irrigation - sprinkling. After rain or watering, the soil must be loosened and weeded.

Remember! Young plants require more frequent watering than adults. But in any case, it is necessary to maintain moderation in watering.

Before budding, seedlings are fed with complex mineral fertilizers for perennial flowering crops. Regular pruning of the bush after flowering ends also applies to crop care. In this way, the process of new growth of lush, beautiful greenery and the re-formation of flowers is started.

Reproduction of aubrieta

This type is capable of reproducing in three ways.

By dividing the bush

This method of propagation is best used in spring or autumn, but it is a rather painful procedure. The division of the bush is carried out according to the following scheme:

• a bush is dug up;
• is divided into parts, leaving developed roots and shoots in each;
• The separated parts are planted in prepared holes.

Seeds

How to grow seedlings at home is described in this article. Experienced gardeners do not like to waste time growing seedlings and prefer to sow seeds directly into the ground. To do this, the soil must be cleared of debris and weeds, well moistened, and fertilized with complex preparations.

Sowing is carried out lightly; the grains are sprinkled with a layer of sand on top and watered with a watering can with a sprayer. When sowing in spring, the first shoots appear after 15-20 days. Autumn grains will germinate in the spring with the onset of warm weather.

Planting cuttings

When pruning a bush, a lot of plant waste is generated. They can be planted as cuttings. Stem segments without inflorescences are planted in a greenhouse. The soil should consist of sand and peat. The roots of such seedlings form by the end of summer. In September, you can transfer the rooted shoots to a permanent place of growth. In a temperate climate, seedlings will have enough time before the first frost to gain strength. If there is a high probability of early frosts, then it is better to leave the plant in the greenhouse until spring.

Important! The method of dividing a bush is painful for any plant.

When using this method, most seedlings do not take root or are sick for a very long time. Aubrieta is no exception. Therefore, it is recommended to give preference to growing from seeds or cuttings.

Pests and diseases of aubrieta (treatment)

This species is rarely attacked by pests and various diseases. Sometimes bushes can be affected by a fungal disease - powdery mildew. This disease is accompanied by a white coating on the leaves and inflorescences. As the infection spreads, the color of the plaque turns red.

A diseased plant slows down its growth, becomes less attractive, the affected stems turn black and die, and the ability to survive at low temperatures decreases. Colloidal sulfur is used for treatment. Affected bushes are treated with the solution in accordance with the instructions.

Among the pests known to gardeners, the most dangerous for crops is aphids. This insect feeds on the nutritious juices of the plant, and at the same time carries various viral diseases. To destroy the pest, Arrivo, Fufanon, Biotlin, Karbofos are used. Depending on the extent of the damage, up to four treatment sessions can be performed.

For your information! Considering that the ground cover is often grown between stones, it is rarely at risk of being affected by diseases and pests.

Aubrieta perennial planting and care

The crop can be sown directly in open ground to a permanent growth site. When sowing, it is important to maintain a certain interval between seedlings. If you sow too often, the plants will crowd each other, which will lead to bad slow growth, lack of nutrients, impaired development. Too sparse plantings are also not necessary. An acceptable distance is considered to be 10-20 cm. Also, when sowing, the characteristics of a particular variety should be taken into account.

You can place the grains between the stones. Only nutrient soil should be poured there first. Aubrieta stems strewn with flowers falling from the stones will become the pride of the owners and the envy of the neighbors.

The growth site needs regular loosening, weed removal, and drip or rain watering.

The ground cover responds well to fertilizing. Fertilizing can be done at any stage of crop growth - be it two weeks after germination or the second autumn flowering. Without fertilizers, bushes may not produce the desired number of inflorescences. For feeding, a complex consisting of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is used.

Know! Aubrieta always responds to all the attention and care with good growth, beautiful lush greenery, and numerous lush buds.

Perennial aubrieta after flowering

At the end of budding, the bushes can be trimmed to the soil level or the bush can be left in its original form, enjoying the green carpet or arch. If the bush is not pruned, it will continue to grow and become large area on the site. Also, without pruning, a sufficient number of seeds will be formed, which, after ripening, will be scattered on the ground and there will be more bushes the next season.

How and when to collect aubrieta seeds

If there is a desire to collect the seeds yourself, it is necessary to leave several shoots with an ovary after the formation of buds is completed when trimming the stems. After the seeds have darkened, the pods are cut off, the grains are husked, and stored at room temperature until sowing. You can also sow seeds in winter.

Remember! When collecting seeds from an adult plant, you can lose the varietal characteristics of hybrid plant varieties.

Preparing the aubrieta for winter

After the first flowering, it is recommended to prune the shoots from the bush. But after the second, which ends closer to autumn, all the shoots remain for the winter. They are pruned only with the onset of the spring thaw. Under a layer of snow, the crop easily survives the winter, however, during a dry winter with sudden temperature changes, it can die. To be on the safe side in winter, the bushes are covered with a layer of dry leaves.

Types and varieties of aubrieta

Among the variety of species of this crop, the most popular for the territory of Russia are the following varieties:

1. Deltoid. It is a low-growing perennial plant. The size of the bush can reach 12 cm in height, 60 cm in width. Violet and pink tints of inflorescences are more common, red and blue are slightly less common.
2. Cascade. It is this variety that is used when creating vertical floral arrangements. The dense plexus of stems is covered with a lot of unfading greenery, creating a carpet effect. It begins to bloom in late spring, forming single flowers of red or blue color. The buds have a yellow center and 4 petals. The bush can reach 15 cm in height. This type is used to decorate fences, borders of flower beds, garden paths, and building walls.
3. Hybrid. A bright owner of small buds of various shades. According to a certain variety, there are white, pink, purple, red buds. The bush of this variety reaches 10 cm in height, 50 cm in width. The hybrid variety tolerates summer heat and the first cold weather well and prefers open sunny areas.

The deltoid aubrieta variety is divided into several subspecies:

• "Alix Brett" - has double inflorescences of a rich crimson color;
• "Red Carper" spectacular variety with rich red buds;
• "Astolat" - a species with bright purple inflorescences and rich green foliage;
• "Doctor Mules" - famous for its many small purple flowers.
• The hybrid aubriet variety is divided into several types:
• “Red Cascade” - has inflorescences of a rich red color;
• “Fruit Assortment” is a spectacular varietal mixture, perfect for landscape designs. Pleases the eye with colorful inflorescences of pink and red shades;
• “Charming Morocco” is the most common type of hybrid variety. Famous for its large inflorescences of various color range. Flowering occurs in May–June. The buds reach a size of 1.5 cm, the bush rises 10 cm in height;
• “Deborah” is another owner of a red tint of flowers. Reaches 20 cm in height;
• "Royal Cascade" - ideal option for designing horizontal compositions and multi-level flower beds. The stems reach 25 cm in length, flaunting delicate pink inflorescences;
• "Lizy" is another owner of red inflorescences. The diameter of the flower is about 1 cm, the height of the bush can reach 15 cm.

Interesting! Breeders continue to develop hybrid varieties of the crop, giving them even more brightness and showiness.

Aubrieta in landscape design

In landscape design, the variety is used as a living flowering carpet, decorating borders and rock gardens. Subsequently, the flower blanket creates a fabulous backdrop for the flower varieties that begin to bloom in more late date. Aubrieta looks especially impressive in flower beds decorated with natural stone. Particularly resourceful flower growers manage to plant in the crevices of walls, thus forming waterfalls of indescribable beauty.

Combination with other plants

The most common neighbors are varieties of plants that creep along the ground level. Looks great with milkweed, red soapwort, Caucasian rhizome, and alyssum. Usually combined according to color shades. Varieties of red pink shade will harmonize perfectly with dwarf irises that are blooming blue shades. Douglas phlox works well.

Due to its low capriciousness, the ground cover is popular among connoisseurs of the beautiful creations of nature. Shaving planting and care does not require special efforts and skills. And the gorgeous fabulous flowering compensates for possible nuances in breeding.

Aubrieta (aubrecia, aubrieta) is an incredibly beautiful representative of the flora kingdom. Its dense thickets look like bright purple waterfalls of flowers densely covering the delicate greenery. It would seem that such a beauty should have an obstinate character, but this is not so: growing aubrieta is not at all difficult. In addition, the crop is perennial and does not require grueling annual planting.

Aubrieta has long been loved by flower growers and has firmly taken root in European gardens. The history of cultivation of aubrieta is more than 300 years. You can still find varieties of aubrieta on sale that were bred back in the 19th century.

Aubrieta is a typical ground cover, perfectly adapted for life in mountainous areas. Low bushes creeping along the ground are densely covered with racemose inflorescences of small four-petal flowers in pink, blue and lilac shades. The shape of the leaves can also be very different: lanceolate, spatulate or elliptical.

Flowering of aubrieta continues from April to June, but when proper care You can achieve re-blooming at the end of summer. Since aubrieta does not shed its leaves for the winter, it retains its decorative properties all year round. At the same time, the plant has an unusual feature: if in summer the foliage has a bluish color, then in winter it becomes emerald green.

According to the botanical classification, aubrieta (lat. Aubrieta) is an evergreen perennial plant from the cabbage or cruciferous family (lat. Brassicaceae). Aubrieta came to our latitudes from southwestern Europe and Central Asia. In the 18th century, this species was discovered and described by the famous traveler and naturalist M. Adadson. The flower received its name in honor of the florist artist K. Aubrie, and in our country this beautiful and delicate plant was undeservedly called a windbag.

Decorative types and varieties of aubrieta

Today, botanists count 17 species of aubrieta, many of which are grown as beautiful flowering perennials. In European gardens you can usually find the following:

Aubrieta deltoid(lat. Aubrieta deltoidea). The most common species, known in cultural gardening since the beginning of the 18th century. In Western countries, the plant has several names - lilac bush, pink stone and rainbow stone. It is the progenitor of almost all currently existing varieties and hybrids. The leaves are diamond-shaped and bluish-green in color. The flowers are small, usually pink or purple.

Beautifully flowering varieties are often found on sale, and variegated varieties are also not uncommon:

• "Tauricola", "Tauricola Variegata" (Tauricola, Tauricola Variegata) - a low-growing (10 cm) variety with purple flowers and foliage, colored in one or two shades.
• "Nana Variegata" (Nana Variegata) is a very low-growing (no more than 5 cm) plant with variegated foliage, decorated with soft lilac flowers.
• "Red Carpet" - petals of a rich wine-burgundy hue.

O. "Tauricola", O. "Nana Variegata", O. "Red Carpet"

Aubrieta hybrid (cultivated)(lat. Aubrieta x cultorum) - this is how various artificially bred garden varieties of aubrieta are usually called. The species is distinguished by neat, serrated leaves. Small flowers of various shades, simple, double or semi-double, cover the bushes so densely that during the flowering period, plants of this species resemble bright lilac or pink clouds.

Among the many varieties, the following can be distinguished:

• "Argenteovariegata" (Argenteovariegata) is a plant with small bicolor foliage, which is crowned with four-petalled lilac-pink flowers. The variety has been awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society of Great Britain.
• “Cascade” (Cascade) - a series of differently colored varieties: “Red Cascade”, “Blue Cascade”, “Purple Cascade”, “Rose Cascade”. A beautiful perennial that forms dense thickets and is distinguished by bright flowering.
• "Snow Maiden" (Snow Maiden) is a white-flowered variety.

O. "Argenteovariegata", O. "Cascade", O. "Snow Maiden"

• "Joy" is a low-growing plant with bright lilac flowers.
• "Blue Beauty" is a beautiful semi-double variety with lilac-blue flowers.
• “Royal Mixed” (Royal Mix), “Monarch Mixed” (Monarch Mix) - a multi-colored mixture.
• "Bressingham Red" (Bressingham Red) - a variety with bright red-pink flowers.

O. "Blue Beauty", O. "Royal Mixed", O. "Bressingham Red"

• "Elsa Lancaster" (Elsa Lancaster) - large purple flowers.
• "Carnival" - bright lilac flowers against a background of dense greenery.
• 'Kitte Purple' is a plant with deep pink flowers and silver-green leaves.

O. "Elsa Lancaster", O. "Carnival", O. "Kitte Purple"

Aubrieta is a flower valued by breeders. Therefore, every year more and more new hybrids appear, pleasing the eye with a variety of colors of both flowers and leaves.

Aubrieta graceful(lat. Aubrieta gracilis). The stems of the plant are very weak, creeping along the ground. The variety has lanceolate leaves and small flowers.

Aubrieta graying(lat. Aubrieta canescens). A heat-loving species, distinguished by fleecy silver-green foliage and shoots, on the tops of which there are light lilac flowers.

Aubrieta skarda(lat. Aubrieta scardica). A variety with soft, pubescent light green leaves and small pale flowers.

Aubrieta columnar(lat. Aubrieta columnae). Plants of this species have powerful, thick stems. The carved foliage is covered with soft pile. The flowers are very large, usually red or pink.

O. graceful, O. graying, O. columnar

Aubrieta in landscape design

Aubrieta is ideal for decorating flower borders bordering garden paths or flower beds. Despite the fact that aubrieta gets along with any plants, it is extremely rarely used in mixborders: the bushes are too low and are easily lost against the background of taller and branchier neighbors.

However, the culture looks great in single plantings. Creeping bushes form dense, lush clumps reminiscent of a sea of ​​flowers. Like most ground cover plants, aubrieta is used mainly for decorating rockeries or rock gardens. IN natural environment The flower is often found in mountainous areas, so it will feel great in your garden on rocky soil. In such compositions, other ground covers, for example, or Gmelin's alyssum, can make an excellent company for aubrieta. The perennial is also ideal for vertical and cascading gardening. The aubriet falling from the stone fence resembles a living waterfall.

Growing and care

Reproduction and planting

Aubrieta is propagated by seedlings and non-seedlings, as well as by cuttings. Unlike most other perennials, aubrieta bushes are almost never divided. Aubrieta, especially varietal ones, are extremely painful to tolerate any manipulation of the roots, and they may simply not survive their division.

Seedling

They usually start growing seedlings in mid-February. Before sowing, the seeds are disinfected by soaking them for an hour in weak solution potassium permanganate. A young aubrieta will feel more comfortable not in seedling boxes, but in separate containers. This will not only protect the delicate roots of the plants, but will also allow you to avoid unnecessary picking. The soil for seedlings is prepared by mixing garden soil and sand in equal proportions. Also, many gardeners prefer to grow aubrieta in peat-humus pots.

The seeds are laid on the surface of the soil, sprinkled with sand or vermiculite and lightly sprinkled with water. After this, the containers with aubrieta are covered with polyethylene and placed in a warm, well-lit place. For germination, aubrieta requires a temperature of at least 18°C. Watering should be very careful, just lightly moisten the soil as it dries out. Also, do not forget to ventilate the plantings daily to avoid condensation.

About a week after the first two leaves appear, the seedlings begin to be fed with mineral fertilizers. Feeding should be carried out no more than once every 10-12 days. Intermediate trimming of the shaving is not required.

The seedlings are transferred to open ground in the second half of May, when the threat of return frosts has passed. The selected area is dug up to a depth of 15 cm and weeded. The soil should be well loosened, without stones and hard lumps. Too heavy clay soils be sure to add sand. You can also add eggshells or crushed chalk if you wish: the presence of calcium in the soil will have a beneficial effect on the further growth of the aubrieta. If the area is located too low, it is worth raising the flowerbed and laying drainage under it. The depth of the planting holes is determined by the length of the root system, and their width should be twice as large as the width of the containers in which the seedlings grew. The optimal distance between two bushes is about 5-8 cm.

[!] Aubrieta is replanted only with a clod of earth, so as not to damage the roots.

In order to painlessly remove seedlings from pots, briefly immerse containers with seedlings in warm water. Thanks to this simple technique, the soil will easily move away from the walls of the pots. After planting, the soil at the roots is compacted and mulched with a thick layer of sand. Only after this is watering carried out.

Plantings need to be weeded regularly and watered frequently, but you should refrain from fertilizing until the seedlings have settled into their new location. Already in June, the first buds will appear on the bushes.

Planting seeds in open ground

Aubrieta is sown in open ground in May or October. In this case, autumn sowing is considered more preferable. The fact is that young plants are very fragile and can suffer from proximity to aggressive and strong weeds.

When sowing in open ground, in addition to treating with manganese, it is also recommended to soak the seeds for 12-15 hours in any growth stimulant. Preparing the site is almost the same as before planting seedlings, with the exception of one point. When sowing in autumn, humus must be added to the ground, and when sowing in spring, any complex mineral fertilizer must be added.

Before sowing, the soil is slightly moistened. The seeds are placed in grooves located at a distance of 15-20 cm from each other. More sparse plantings will look untidy, and more frequent plantings will lead to the death of the plants. After sowing, the seeds are sprinkled with sand and gently watered. If you plan to decorate an alpine hill with aubrieta, the seeds can be poured directly into the crevices between the stones.

Aubrieta, sown in spring, will sprout in 10-20 days. Until this point, the plantings should be covered with film. Unfortunately, the bushes will begin to bloom only next year.

Autumn plantings must also be covered with dry peat, spruce branches or foliage for the winter. These crops will sprout after the snow melts and bloom in just a couple of months.

Cuttings

The easiest way to propagate aubrieta is by cuttings. Typically, this procedure is carried out every year at the end of July - beginning of August in case the mother plant does not survive the winter. The fact is that the older the shaving, the more capricious and weaker it becomes.

The root shoots are carefully separated from the parent bush and kept in a root-forming solution for 10-15 days. After this, the cuttings are transferred to a greenhouse with nutritious and well-drained soil. Shoots take root best in a soil mixture prepared from equal parts of sand and peat.

At the end of August - beginning of September, the cuttings are transferred to a permanent place. Make sure that the distance between plantings is at least 15 cm. If the winter is expected to be harsh, it is better to leave the young bushes in the greenhouse until spring.

Location, soil

Aubrieta prefers sunny areas. Even slight shade can cause foliage to stretch and flowering to stop. Good drainage is much more important for this perennial than the nutrient content of the soil. The plant thrives on sandy and even rocky soils. But the hard one clayey soil may destroy the shaving. It is best to plant the plant at higher elevations where it will receive sufficient sunlight and will not be flooded in the spring.

[!] Do not forget that aubriet bushes grow in width very quickly, so make sure that the selected area has sufficient area.

The perennial is tolerant of varying soil acidity, but grows especially luxuriantly in slightly alkaline soils.

Watering, fertilizing

If young plants need a lot of moisture, then an adult plant will not benefit from excess water. This can lead not only to poor flowering, but also to rotting of the roots. Therefore, formed bushes are watered drip only when the top layer of soil dries out. The exception is during dry periods, when watering is done at least twice a week. Some gardeners recommend adding sodium humate to water for irrigation, which will ensure the harmonious development of the root system. In addition, do not forget to periodically loosen and mulch the soil with sand, and also get rid of weeds.

The frequency of fertilizing depends on the degree of fertility of the soil on which the aubrieta grows. If the soil is nutritious, fertilizers are applied no more than 1-2 times a month. And if you have decorated a rocky area with shaving, then you should feed the bushes every two weeks. You can use complete mineral complexes for flowering plants for these purposes. But you will achieve the most magnificent growth and budding if you take into account the needs of the aubrieta at one or another stage of development. Young plants need nitrogen to grow green mass, grown bushes must be given phosphorus, and before the start of the growing season, feed the aubriet with fertilizers with a high potassium content.

Remember that fertilizing aubrieta with manure is highly discouraged.

Trimming and shaping

To improve decorative properties Shab requires pruning several times a season. This procedure must be carried out after the first flowering, thanks to this you can achieve repeated budding in August or September. Please note that the stems are cut almost at the very base. This agrotechnical technique rejuvenates the perennial and allows it to gain new strength. There is no need to prune before wintering, as it can weaken the plant. But in the spring, the aubriet bushes need to be carefully inspected and all damaged areas removed.

Flowering of aubrieta, care after flowering, collecting seeds

This ground cover usually blooms in late May or early June, and the total flowering time is about 45 days.

After flowering, small oblong pods remain on the stems. Each of these fruits contains about two thousand oblong brown seeds. When the pods darken, they will need to be cut and husked. The seeds are wrapped in paper and stored in a cool, dry place. Remember that aubrieta grown from collected seeds may not inherit the characteristics of the parent plant. Varietal purity is guaranteed only by vegetative propagation.

Wintering

Aubrieta tolerates winter well, but in severe frosts it can lose its foliage. To avoid this, be sure to cover the bushes with spruce branches. Also, before the onset of cold weather, it is necessary to mulch the soil at the roots with a mixture of peat and sand.

Pests and diseases

One of the most common diseases affecting aubrieta is powdery mildew. Its main symptom is the appearance of a bluish coating covering the leaves and flowers. You can fight the disease with a solution of colloidal sulfur, but if the infection is severe, the diseased bush will have to be destroyed.

If the watering regime is incorrect, the plant may suffer from root rot or “black leg”. The appearance of this disease can be signaled by slowing growth and wilting of leaves. Unfortunately, in the case of shaving, this disease is incurable. You will have to dig up and dispose of affected bushes and then till the soil.

Sometimes aubrieta can be attacked by aphids. In this case, any insecticide or a decoction of tomato leaves will help you.

Of course, shaving requires constant care. However, the troubles associated with it will not be too burdensome even for a novice gardener. This exquisite plant will decorate any area and will delight you with its delicate flowers for a long time.