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Aubrieta deltoidea
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

blue kisses

A slowly spreading, mat-forming, evergreen perennial to about 10cm high, with small, hairy, grey-green leaves. Pale to mid mauve-purple, four-petalled flowers are produced in short spikes from mid-spring to early summer

Other common names
rock cress
Synonyms
Aubrieta intermedia
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Size
Ultimate height
Up to 10cm
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Purple Green Grey Silver
Summer Purple Green Grey Silver
Autumn Green Grey
Winter Green Grey Silver
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

West–facing or South–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H6
Botanical details
Family
Brassicaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Matforming
Genus

Aubrieta are mat-forming evergreen perennials with small leaves and short racemes of 4-petalled flowers in shades of pink and purple in spring

Name status

Correct

Plant range
Balkans

How to grow

Cultivation

Best grown in well-drained soil in full sun but can tolerate light shade; an ideal plant for dry areas such as chalky slopes and on walls. Being hardy it is a useful container plant for spring colour

Propagation

Propagate by seed, softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Coastal
  • Gravel garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Rock garden
  • Banks and slopes
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

Cut back after flowering to maintain compactness

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, leaf and bud eelworms and flea beetles.

Diseases

May be susceptible to white blister

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