(Aubrieta deltoidea ‘Purple’)
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Purple Rock Cress is a mat-forming perennial flower native to the Mediterranean region but can be found growing on hills and slopes throughout California. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 4-9” and features a low-growing mat of downy green foliage covered by four-petaled ½-1” flowers of bright pinkish purple. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer, self-sows, and is used as a cut flower!
Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Aubrieta
Species: deltoidea
Variety: Purple Rock Cress
Also Known As: Lilacbush, Rock Cress
Native to: East Aegean Is., Greece, Kriti, Sicilia, Turkey.
Introduced into: Belgium, California, Czechoslovakia, France, Great Britain, Spain, Switzerland.
Ease of Growing: Easy
Grown as: Perennial
Maturity (Blooms): Spring-Early Summer
Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Low
Soil Moisture: Medium
Beneficial Insects?: Yes. It attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and resists deer.
Containers: Yes
Height: 4-9”
Spacing: 18-24”
Sow Depth: 1/4"
USDA Zone: 4a-9b
Produces: a low-growing mat of downy green foliage, covered by four-petaled ½-1” flowers of bright pinkish purple.
Genus: Aubrieta
Species: deltoidea
Variety: Purple Rock Cress
Also Known As: Lilacbush, Rock Cress
Native to: East Aegean Is., Greece, Kriti, Sicilia, Turkey.
Introduced into: Belgium, California, Czechoslovakia, France, Great Britain, Spain, Switzerland.
Ease of Growing: Easy
Grown as: Perennial
Maturity (Blooms): Spring-Early Summer
Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Low
Soil Moisture: Medium
Beneficial Insects?: Yes. It attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and resists deer.
Containers: Yes
Height: 4-9”
Spacing: 18-24”
Sow Depth: 1/4"
USDA Zone: 4a-9b
Produces: a low-growing mat of downy green foliage, covered by four-petaled ½-1” flowers of bright pinkish purple.
In late fall or early spring, sow the seeds on the surface of the soil; do not cover them, since they need light to germinate. Keep the soil lightly moist until germination, which should take place within 10-14 days. To start the seed indoors, sow it on the surface of a flat about 6 weeks before the last spring frost; keep it lightly moist and at a temperature of 60-65 degrees F until germination. Transplant or thin the seedlings to 12-15” apart. This plant prefers full sun and very well drained soil, though it tolerates partial shade.
Seedlings should be watered regularly for the healthiest growth, though established plants prefer dry soil and only need water in the driest weather. A layer of light gravel may help keep the soil well drained. Too much moisture, humidity, or heat will damage the plant. When grown from seed, these plants will bloom in their second season. After the plants finish flowering, prune them back to half their size for tidy, compact new growth. Avoid pruning them in late fall or spring, since this can prevent blooming. Mature plants can be divided after 2-3 years of growth. Because of its hardy, low growth and cascading habit, this plant makes a good choice for rock gardens, walls, or between paving stones. Deer avoid this plant.
This flower is best displayed outdoors, since it is unsuitable as a cut flower.
Watch the developing seed heads carefully, looking for the mature dark color of the seed. Remove the heads individually when ripe, or shake the entire plant over a container to gather the seed.
There are several other rock garden or wall plants for sun that bloom about the same time as Aubrieta. Some of the more popular ones include Arabis, candytuft, perennial alyssum, pasque flower, and cushion spurge. All of these are great companions for bulbs that, like rock cress, prefer well-drained, slightly alkaline soil and full sun. The blues, purples, and reds of Aubrieta make perfect companions for pink tulips or golden daffodils.