Light
Aubrieta plants shine in full sun, but will also grow in part shade. For best results, grow plants where they will receive at least a half-day of sun. Plants that grow in too much shade will lose their compact, mounded appearance, take on a leggy look, and have sparse flowers.
Soil
Aubrietas like a lean, rocky, alkaline soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5, which mimics the soil found in their native alpine habitats in southwestern Europe. If the pH is low, increase it with the addition of lime.
Water
Aubrieta plants need a moderate amount of water, but they don’t like wet feet.
Temperature and Humidity
Aubrieta plants grow best in areas with cool summers that mirror their alpine climate. Periods of high humidity are fine; in fact, the cool, damp climate of Great Britain or Washington state is where you are most likely to find extraordinary specimens of aubrieta plants.
Fertilizer
Aubrietas grow in lean soil and need no supplemental fertilizer to make beautiful blooms. At most, occasional watering with compost tea is all the feeding aubrieta plants need.
Types of Aubrieta
Most aubrieta sold in the nursery trade are cultivars or hybrids. Popular varieties include:
Aubrieta x cultorum ‘Rokey’s Purple’ is among the most commonly seen aubrieta in gardens; it features bright violet flowers.Aubrieta x cultorum ‘Doctor Mules Variegated’ offers a completely different look; it’s important to know, however, that variegated types may revert to green, so prune away any all-green stems that form.Aubrieta gracilis alba ‘Snowdrift’ is an all-white cultivar.
Pruning
Aubrieta can get a bit scraggly after blooming. In midsummer, the foliage tends to die back and will benefit from a hard shearing. Keep it tidy by trimming plants back after flowering. Use shears, and trim no more than half the plant’s growth at any one time.
Propagating Aubrieta
Aubrieta can be divided in the early fall:
How to Grow Aubrieta from Seed
Aubrieta can be hard to find as nursery plants, therefore many gardeners grow it from seed. Note that seeds collected from your cultivar or hybrid plants won’t produce plants true to type so it is best to start with seeds from a seed company.
Potting and Repotting Aubrieta
Aubrieta complements the container garden as a trailing plant, softening container edges. Plant it as a companion to other rock garden flowers with similar growing needs, like dianthus. Pot up your aubrieta plants with a lightweight all-purpose potting soil. A potting mix meant for cacti is also appropriate for aubrieta plants. Take care not to bury the foliage when potting up aubrieta. There are a few inches of brown stem beneath the foliage, and this is the working area of the plant when repotting. Lift the foliage, and carefully mound soil around the stems and roots to secure the plant in its place.
Overwintering
Aubrieta does not require winter protection, unless it’s grown in a container in a climate with heavy freezes. In that case, the roots needs to be protected. Wrap the container in burlap and bubble wrap, or place it inside an insulating silo.
Common Plant Diseases
Plants growing in damp, shady areas may experience downy mildew. You can prevent this fungal disease by providing enough light and spacing for air circulation. Good drainage is important to prevent root rot. Use gravel, vermiculite, or another non-organic soil amendment that will help drainage without lowering soil pH.
How to Get Aubrieta to Bloom
Failure to bloom or sparse blooms are likely to due to lack of light. Aubrieta blooms at its best in full sun.
