Obrieta picking seedlings. Aubrieta is perennial: growing from seeds and planting in open ground. Planting and propagation

Aubrieta is a pretty herbaceous perennial that can amazingly transform your summer cottage. It will cover a rockery or alpine hill with a colorful carpet, create a bright background for other flowers in the flowerbed, and decorate vertical surfaces with a cascade. Aubrieta is also good as a potted houseplant. It can be grown as a balcony crop and gets along without problems with all its flowering neighbors on the site. It is best to grow the plant from seeds.

The color of the flowers of this highly ornamental plant can be very diverse. There are varieties with flowers:

• light blue;
• soft pink;
• purple;
• blue;
• raspberry;
• violet;
• lilac;
• purple;
• white.

The aubrieta comes from Southern European and Central Asian countries. This ground cover is suitable for continuous vertical and horizontal decoration of gardens and is successfully used by landscape designers around the world.

Advice! A plant grown from seeds begins to bloom in May of next year. The flowering period lasts one and a half months. If you trim the shoots of aubrieta immediately after flowering, it may bloom again. This way, it is easy to ensure a flowering carpet throughout the summer.

Varieties of aubrieta

There are about 40 cultivated varieties of this plant. The most popular of them are five.

Earth, light, water

Aubrieta is difficult to classify as an unpretentious flower. It is demanding on three agrotechnical aspects at once:

1. Soil composition
2. Watering mode.
3. Lighting.

In addition, the plant is almost impossible to propagate by dividing the bush - it tolerates replanting very poorly and the survival rate of the divisions is low. Therefore, the seed method of sowing directly into the soil in a flower bed or alpine hill is optimal.

In order not to risk the loss of seedlings when picking and planting in the ground, when growing seedlings, aubrieta should be sown only in peat tablets. This way, the plant will not be damaged during transplantation.

When to sow

Aubrieta can be sown in the ground both in spring and autumn. In spring it is May. Autumn – October. If the seeds are sown in the spring, germination can be expected in 10-15 days. When sown in autumn, the plant germinates only the following year in the spring.

The seeds are immediately sown in a permanent place at a suitable interval. Do not thicken the crops too much - the seedlings will not be able to develop normally, and the feeding area will not be sufficient for them. But there is also no need to sow ground cover too rarely. The optimal distance between bushes, depending on the variety, is 15-20 cm.

Soil

It is very important to choose the site that is most suitable for the plant. Aubrieta looks spectacular anywhere, but it will not grow well everywhere. She needs to be provided with light nutritious soil with an alkaline reaction. Acidic soils are absolutely not suitable for the plant. Heavy clay soils are also contraindicated for the plant, but the plant likes sandy loam.

Advice! Aubrieta is a very light-loving plant. It makes no sense to sow it in the shade, since the leaves will stretch out, flowering will be sparse and the expected decorative effect will not be achieved.

Before sifting, the soil needs to be prepared.

1. Clear of stones and weeds.
2. Dig to a depth of half a shovel handle (10-15 cm).
3. Add humus and wood ash if sowing occurs in the fall.
4. Add a mineral complex and wood ash during spring sowing.
5. Add chalk or lime (the plant needs calcium for successful development).
6. Loosen the fertilized soil so that there are no lumps and the structure is uniform.
7. Moisten the area.
8. Prepare a soil mixture of peat and sand for filling the seeds.

Sowing

Aubrieta seeds are not very large, flat, and brown in color. Before sowing, especially in open ground, they must be prepared and disinfected. Preparation can be done by soaking the seeds in a growth stimulant (epin, heteroauxin) dissolved in warm water, proportions and time according to the instructions. Disinfection can be carried out using a dry method, dusting it with a fungicide, or traditionally keeping the seeds for one hour in a solution of potassium permanganate.

When sowing, the seeds are laid out on a prepared, moistened area at a given interval. The crops are sprinkled with a mixture of peat from the sands in equal proportions, and watered with “rain” from a watering can.

Advice! The aubrieta looks very beautiful in a rock garden. You can sprinkle the seeds between large stones (just place fertile soil there first). The aubriet shoots falling from the stones look fascinating.

Growing aubrieta for seedlings

Many people do not want to wait a year to get flowering plants, preferring to grow aubrieta seedlings. This can be done without loss if you do not pick the plants and plant them in the ground without removing them from the cup. Peat tablets and pots will help you grow seedlings at home. In this case, you can sow the seeds starting in February. Plants are planted in the ground in April.

Aubrieta grown from seedlings will bloom in June. A week after germination, the seedlings should be fed with a mineral complex for flower seedlings, and subsequently fertilized every 10 days.

Video - How to grow aubrieta from seeds

Plant care

The flowerbed where the aubrieta flaunts must be loosened monthly, all weeds must be weeded, and the plants must be watered by sprinkling or drip irrigation.

This groundcover is very fond of fertilizers, so it needs fertilizing at all stages of growth: from the very first - two weeks after germination, to the last - before the second autumn flowering. If you do not feed, the plants will not bloom as profusely as we would like. When feeding aubrieta, a standard complex of minerals is used (nitrogen + phosphorus + potassium).

At the stage of the beginning of growth, you need to use fertilizing with a high nitrogen content, then switch to a diet with a high content of phosphorus; at the stage of the beginning of flowering, the plant needs potassium most of all.

On fertile soils, the plant should be fed at least three times every two months. If the soils are not very nutritious, fertilizing will be needed every two weeks. Also, once every two weeks you need to fertilize plants in rock gardens and alpine slides and cascade varieties intended for vertical decoration.

Advice! In addition to mineral complexes, young plants can be additionally fertilized with sodium humate twice a month (at different times, between main feedings).

Three times during the growing season, the soil under the obrieta must be mulched with fine sand. After trimming the faded shoots, it is good to mulch the ground with a mixture of sand and peat.

Frequent watering is not required. Overmoistening of the soil will lead to the forcing of leaves to the detriment of flowering. However, in hot weather it is necessary to water the flower, at least twice a week.

Pruning can be done at the end of each mass flowering. You need to cut the stems sparingly to the very base. The plant will immediately send out shoots that will bloom again.
In order for this ground cover plant to be flowering and healthy, it must be treated with colloidal sulfur against powdery mildew, which often occurs in aubrieta. It can also be treated with insecticides against pests.

An undeniable advantage

In addition to long, abundant, beautiful flowering, this plant has another important advantage - it is not afraid of even extreme cold. Aubrieta does not shed its leaves in winter, and freezes only at very low temperatures, below 30 degrees below zero. Therefore, the decorative effect is preserved all year round for many years.

Aubrieta is a luxurious plant, the care of which causes some trouble, but the result and decorative effect that this flower produces on the site is worth the effort.

Aubrieta, a low-growing perennial that covers the ground with a continuous carpet of small delicate flowers, will be an excellent decoration for a flowerbed or alpine hill. This crop is ideally suited for creating vertical compositions. We will tell you how to grow aubrieta in this article.

Aubrieta is an evergreen, creeping plant of the cabbage family, growing as a perennial herb. Natural habitat is the shores and rocky areas of South America and Asia Minor. The plant is very beautiful - as it develops, it forms a continuous thick carpet, covered during flowering with bright flowers of violet, purple, red, pink, white and their shades. Few-flowered racemose inflorescences adorn 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, it is assumed that aubrieta loves a lot of 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 a 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 on 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 an excess of 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 stored until spring planting in a dry, cool and dark place, for example, in a cardboard box on a 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 directly in open ground, you will have to dig up the prepared area, 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 as limited 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 with 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 by powdery mildew, which covers the stems and leaves of the bush with a dirty white coating that greatly spoils the 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 treatment, be sure to rinse the leaves with warm water, but only after the sun has set, otherwise another problem will arise - 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 of botanical illustration. The plant can also be found under the name aubretia, popularly known as windbag.

Aubrieta is a very popular garden crop. 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 period, the bush is complemented by a haze of inflorescences. The corollas are four-petalled, reaching 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 the natural environment, lushly blooming living mats of aubretia can be found on rocks and river banks in the south of France, the Balkans, Italy, Asia Minor, and South America.

Shaving 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

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

• Start 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.

• 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).

Carry out shavings in open ground when the threat of return frosts has passed. Pre-harden the seedlings.

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

Planting aubrieta aubretia with seeds in open ground

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

Prepare the area in advance: dig up to a depth of about 15 cm, remove weeds and stones, apply complex mineral fertilizer and 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), carefully water from a watering can.

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, 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

This is done 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

Choose your landing site carefully. The plant will be able to demonstrate its decorative potential to the maximum in the presence of bright sunlight: flowering will be abundant, the shade of the inflorescences will be saturated.

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

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 the climatic conditions of your region (the best time for planting 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 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 with sudden temperature changes is expected, 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 beetles. 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. Bougainvillea variety: plant height is 20 cm, flowers are light purple with an orange eye.

Cultural aubrieta or hybrid aubrieta Aubrieta x cultorum

A group of perennial 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:

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;

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

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

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

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.

Aubrieta in facade design photo

Aubrieta is a very popular and surprisingly decorative garden plant. This perennial looks like a low shrub, strewn with many bright flowers in summer and autumn. The use of ground cover aubrieta in the garden landscape is wide: you can use the plant for borders, single plantings, group and other garden design options.

This plant adds personality to the garden, emphasizes the beauty of the surrounding landscape, and its cultivation does not complicate the life of the gardener too much. In the article we will look at the features of growing aubrieta: we will learn how to plant the plant correctly and how it should be cared for. In addition, we will get acquainted with the most popular varieties of this ornamental shrub.

Description

The plant has another name - aubretia. This perennial is most often grown as a decorative addition to the garden landscape. The plant has the properties of a ground cover, since when it grows it forms a continuous carpet on the ground, strewn with bright flowers. For this feature, aubrieta is especially valued by gardeners, and they find worthy use for this property.

In the photo - aubrieta:

Cote d'Azur

In this case, the bushes are compact in size (14-16 cm), and the flowers are striking in their decorativeness and delicate lilac color. But what fast-growing shrubs for hedges are there, and what they look like, you can look at

Enchanting Morocco

This variety of aubrieta is distinguished by especially large flowers, which reach a diameter of one and a half centimeters. The color of the petals is different: varies from pale blue to red. The bushes of the plant reach a height of 10 cm, and are very fond of sunny meadows. But what they are and what they look like in the garden can be seen in this video.

Enchanting Morocco

Deltoid

The bush of this variety is about 15 cm high and has flowers of a purple-lilac hue. Individual flowers are collected in decorative inflorescences, resembling lilacs in appearance. People call this variety “lilac bush”.

Deltoid

Requirements for the site and soil

Aubrieta can be planted in open ground already in mid-spring. But only after the threat of night frosts had passed. In most regions of our country, this period falls in mid-April-May.

The shrub requires careful selection of a planting site: it loves the sun and loves well-lit areas. The more sunny meadow you choose for, the more lush and vibrant flowering of the aubrieta you will get.

As for the soil, aubrieta needs light, loose, medium-fertile soil. If the soil contains lime or chalk, the plant will like this circumstance. Heavy, clayey soils are not suitable for obrieta: in this case, it may not take root at all. If the soil has a pronounced acidic reaction, then to reduce the acidity level it is recommended to add lime or ash to the soil.

Video - growing flowers:

It is better to plant Aubrieta on a hill or on a plain. Lowlands are not suitable for the plant, as water usually accumulates in such places.

The seedlings are buried in the holes along the entire length of the root. The distance between the bushes is 5 cm, more is possible. Aubrieta is usually planted arbitrarily, without maintaining strict rows, since subsequently the shrub still grows greatly.

Reproduction

Aubrieta can be propagated both by seeds and cuttings. Let's look at both methods in more detail.

Cuttings

After the plant has safely overwintered, it is pruned in the spring. After this, the healthiest and strongest cuttings are selected and placed in a sand-peat mixture in a greenhouse. Here they take root, take root, grow stronger: this is how summer passes.

And already before the beginning of autumn, the cuttings from the greenhouse are transplanted into open ground. It is important to replant the plants at the very beginning of autumn, so that they have time to adapt to the street and can then safely overwinter.

Seeds

Aubrieta can be propagated both by seedlings and without seedlings. The first one is more time-consuming and troublesome, but brings good results. The second method is simple and does not take much effort, but an impressive positive result is not guaranteed.

In open ground

In this case, aubrieta seeds are sown in spring or late winter. It is important to plant about a month before the end of frost. Before placing the seeds in the ground, the bed must be dug to a depth of 15 cm, cleared of debris and stones, and weeds removed.

After the seeds are placed in the soil, the bed is covered with film to create a microclimate more favorable for germination. After the shoots appear, the film must be removed. Shoots usually appear 3-4 weeks after placing the seeds in the ground.

Seeds can also be planted before winter: in this case, the plant will be more hardened and will bloom the next year. The downside is that not all seeds will survive.

Seedlings

Using this method to propagate aubrieta is more profitable and predictable, although more troublesome. Seeds are sown for seedlings in February, and by May the already strong, strong seedlings are transferred to open ground.

It is not advisable to pick seedlings - the plant does not tolerate such manipulations. That is why it is also recommended to plant seeds directly in peat pots, so as not to affect the delicate roots of the plant when transplanting into open ground.

In this case, it is undesirable to propagate by dividing the bush: this method is used only as a last resort. Dividing an adult plant is painful, so it is better to choose more gentle propagation methods.

Care

It must be said that in general the plant is unpretentious and does not cause much trouble for the gardener. Let's look at the main points of caring for a shaving.

The plant must be watered very sparingly. Abundant watering is carried out only once immediately after planting in open ground for faster rooting. But in the future, watering is done in small portions, and quite rarely. The plant really does not like waterlogged soil and, especially, stagnation of moisture in the soil. If you ignore this recommendation and overdo it with watering, the flowers of the aubrieta may fall off, which will greatly worsen its decorative qualities. After reading this, you can find out which household water pumps for irrigation are the best.

The video shows growing and caring for flowers:

As a rule, rainwater is enough for aubrieta, and in damp climates no watering is required at all. Keep in mind that after rain or watering, the bed with the plant must be loosened to ensure good air exchange in the soil.

The plant also does not like severe drought, so it is recommended to mulch the soil in the garden bed: a layer of mulch will retain moisture at the roots and also prevent weeds from growing.

It is important to remove dried inflorescences in a timely manner so that the appearance of the plant remains attractive. And at the end of the first flowering period, the bushes need to be pruned: this measure will enhance the abundance and splendor of the next decorative period. After the second flowering, the bushes no longer need to be pruned.

Aubrieta is an evergreen plant, retaining the bright color of its leaves even in winter. However, if the climate is frosty, it is recommended to cover the bushes with dry leaves or grass for the winter, so in severe frosts the aubrieta may shed its leaves.

The plant does not need frequent feeding: it is recommended to apply fertilizer twice during the warm season, and no more. Aubrieta prefers mineral formulations high in potassium. From organic matter, you can fertilize the plant with wood ash. You can apply fertilizing only before flowering, and not during it. Fertilizers with a high nitrogen content are not recommended in this case.

Pests and diseases

Aubrieta is generally resistant to diseases, as well as to damage from harmful insects. What can really harm it is excessive watering. Incorrectly chosen soil also sometimes causes wilting and disease. Of the insects, she has to fear the most from aphids. The insect is dangerous because it sucks plant juices and carries some diseases. The appropriate insecticides will help destroy aphids: Fufanon, Biotlin, Karbofos and others.

Sometimes the plant gets powdery mildew. The disease manifests itself as a grayish coating on the leaves, which then leads to wilting. This scourge should be combated with colloidal sulfur, which is sprayed on the foliage.

In the video - flower pests:

Application in landscape gardening

Aubrieta is usually used as a ground cover due to the thick, bright carpet it forms. Pairs well with the following herbs:

• milkweed;
• alyssum;
• rhizome;
• Soapy.

Many gardeners and landscape designers select aubrieta varieties based on the color of the petals. In this way, you can create entire picturesque canvases in the garden: bright and decorative. The plant is great for border decoration, looks good in rock gardens, and as a background for taller flowers.