Plant aubrieta (lat. Aubrieta), or aubration, belongs to the genus of creeping evergreen herbaceous perennial flowering plants of the Brassica family, numbering 12 species. Aubrieta is grown in rock gardens and gardens throughout Europe, and in nature it can be found in the Balkans, Italy, the south of France, Asia Minor and even in South America, where it lives on rocks and river banks. Latin name The flower was given in honor of the French artist Claude Aubrier, who worked in the genre of botanical illustration, and in our country it is called... empty talk. The blooming aubrieta is a bright continuous carpet. A characteristic feature of the plant is that it retains its beautiful foliage even in winter period.
Planting and caring for the shaving
- Landing: sowing seeds in open ground- in May or September. Sowing seeds for seedlings - at the end of February, planting seedlings in open ground - in the second half of May.
- Bloom: from mid-spring to early summer, blooms again in autumn.
- Lighting: bright sunlight.
- The soil: scanty, even rocky, but loose and permeable, containing peat or ash, with a pH of 6.0-7.0.
- Watering: moderate at the beginning and scanty as the plant develops. It is best to use the sprinkling method.
- Feeding: before flowering - with a solution of complete mineral fertilizer for flowering perennials, during the season the soil is mulched 2-3 times with a layer of organic matter 3-5 cm thick.
- Trimming: after the first flowering, the stems are cut off at the surface level of the site to stimulate the growth of new shoots.
- Reproduction: seeds and cuttings.
- Pests: aphid.
- Diseases: root rot, powdery mildew.
Read more about growing aubrieta below.
Aubriet flower - description
The aubrieta flower has an alternate leaf arrangement, the edges of its small, simple elliptical or obovate pubescent leaves are entire or serrated. Small four-petalled flowers of aubrieta, reaching 1 cm in diameter, violet, purple, red-pink, blue, and sometimes white, are collected in few-flowered racemes. Aubrieta blooms profusely and for a long time - from mid-spring to early summer. In autumn when proper care it blooms again. The fruit of the plant is a pod with flat brown seeds.
We devoted this article to a story about how to plant and care for aubrieta in open ground: how to plant aubrieta as seedlings, how to grow aubrieta on a windowsill, when and how to transplant aubrieta flowers to a flowerbed. You will learn all about the methods of propagation of aubrieta, as well as about diseases and pests that can threaten it.
Growing aubrieta from seeds
Sowing aubrieta
Aubrieta reproduces well by seed - seedlings and non-seedlings, however, growing Aubrieta by sowing seeds directly into the ground in May or September often leads to splitting of varieties. That is why we recommend you the seedling method as a more reliable one. Aubrieta from seeds blooms only in the second year. Aubrieta seeds can be purchased at any flower shop.
When to sow aubrieta seeds for seedlings? About two or two and a half months before the onset of heat - at the end of February. How to sow aubrieta? Sowing of aubrieta seeds is carried out in separate containers - peat tablets or peat-humus pots, in which you will then plant the seedlings in the ground. Seeds of 2-3 pieces are laid out on the surface of a moist substrate, covered with a layer of sand 3-5 mm thick on top, this sand cushion is moistened with a fine spray and the crops are placed under film or glass. The optimal temperature for seed germination is 18-21 ºC.
Caring for aubrieta seedlings
Growing aubrieta from seeds is a simple process. Ventilate the crops daily, moisten the soil as needed. Shoots usually appear after 3-4 weeks, and as soon as this happens, the coating can be removed. Be careful with watering: aubrieta seedlings do not like wet soil. Two weeks before planting in open ground, if it seems to you that the seedlings are developing too slowly, feed the seedlings with a solution of complex mineral fertilizers in low concentration.
Picking aubrieta
The plant does not tolerate transplantation very well, so growing aubrieta at home from seeds does not involve picking. In order to avoid intermediate transplantation of seedlings - picking - we recommended sowing seeds for seedlings in separate containers.
Planting aubrieta in open ground
When to plant aubrieta in open ground
Aubrieta is planted in a flowerbed when the return spring frosts have passed - in the second half of May. Approach the choice of site very responsibly: the aubrieta in the garden should receive maximum sunlight - only then will you be able to see truly abundant flowering of the aubrieta.
As for the soil, in this regard everything is very simple: the poorer the soil, the better for the plant. Aubrieta grows beautifully between stone steps and concrete slabs. The soil should be loose, permeable and contain a small amount of ash or peat. As for the level of acidity, soil with a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction is preferable - pH 6.0-7.0.
How to plant aubrieta
Aubrieta is a flexible plant, so you can plant it in accordance with your idea of what your flowerbed or rock garden should look like. The planting depth is determined by the length of the plant’s root system, the width of the holes is twice as large as the container in which the seedling grows. The distance between copies is at least 5 cm.
If you grew seedlings in a ceramic or plastic dishes, before planting, place it in water and hold it until bubbles begin to appear on the surface of the soil - then carefully remove the plant with the earthen lump and lower it into the hole. After planting the aubrieta, compact the soil, mulch it with a 5 cm thick layer of sand and water it carefully.
Caring for aubrieta in the garden
How to grow aubrieta
Growing an aubriet flower is an easy and enjoyable task. In watering mature plant only needed when there is a long drought. If you frequently water the aubrieta in normal summer weather, you can provoke an abundant growth of greenery to the detriment of flowering. Young plants need more frequent watering than mature ones, but even here moderation must be observed. The best way watering the aubrieta - sprinkling. After watering or rain, the soil in the flowerbed needs to be loosened and weeded.
During the growing season, it is recommended to mulch the soil in the flowerbed 2-3 times with a layer of sand 3-5 cm thick. In the spring, before flowering, and in the fall, the aubrieta is fed with a solution of complete mineral fertilizer for perennial flowering plants.
Caring for aubrieta involves pruning the plant after spring flowering almost to the level of the surface of the site - this measure promotes the growth of new shoots with fresh, bright foliage, which will be an excellent background for other flowers in the flowerbed or in the rock garden until the time comes for the aubrieta to bloom again .
Reproduction of aubrieta
As you can see, planting and caring for an aubriet flower is not difficult and does not require much effort. The plant can also be propagated simply by cuttings and seeds. We have already told you about the seedling method of growing aubrieta. But experienced gardeners prefer to sow aubrieta directly into the flowerbed.
Sow the seeds in well-moistened soil, dug to a depth of 15 cm, cleared of stones and weeds and seasoned with complex fertilizer, wood ash and lime (chalk). Sowing is not done too thickly; the seeds are not buried, but covered on top with a layer of sand 3-5 cm thick, which is carefully moistened with a watering can. Spring shoots appear in 10-20 days, and seeds sown in September will sprout only next spring.
Another way to propagate aubrieta is by cuttings. After pruning the plant in mid-summer, you will have plenty of plant debris to use as cuttings. Cuttings (cuttings of stems without flowers) are planted in a greenhouse in a substrate consisting of equal parts of peat and sand, and at the end of August, when they form roots, they are transplanted to a permanent place. Before winter, the seedlings have time to take root and grow stronger. If winters in your area are too harsh or unpredictable, keep the cuttings in a greenhouse until spring.
Propagation by dividing the bush is best tolerated by shaving in spring or autumn. This is a rather painful process for the plant. It is performed according to the usual scheme: the bush is dug up, divided into parts so that each section has well-developed shoots and roots, after which the parts are planted in prepared holes. However, no matter how hard you try, a plant suffering from any transplant is unlikely to recover from such a complex procedure as dividing a bush, so we strongly recommend cuttings or seed propagation of aubrieta.
Pests and diseases of aubrieta
Planting and caring for aubrieta will not be a burden to anyone, especially since this plant is extremely rarely affected by diseases and pests. Sometimes aubrieta becomes infected with powdery mildew, a fungal disease, the sign of which is a whitish coating on the leaves and flowers of the plant, which becomes brown as the disease progresses. As a result of damage by powdery mildew, the aubrieta loses its decorative effect, its growth slows down, the diseased areas turn black and die, and the winter hardiness of the plant decreases. You can get rid of the disease by treating the plant with colloidal sulfur in accordance with the instructions.
Among the pests, the most dangerous for aubrieta is the aphid, a sucking insect that feeds on plant cell sap and spreads viral diseases. The pest is destroyed by treating the aubrieta with Fufanon, Karbofos, Arrivo or Biotlin. There can be from one to four treatment sessions - it all depends on the number of insects that have settled on the aubriet.
In general, aubrieta growing between stones is extremely rarely affected by diseases and pests.
Perennial aubrieta after flowering
How and when to collect aubrieta seeds
For those who want to start seed propagation of aubrieta, we remind you that this method often does not preserve seedlings varietal characteristics. But if you still want to get seeds from aubrieta, then after spring flowering, when you cut the stems, leave two or three shoots with ovaries on the bush, and when the seeds darken, cut off the pods, remove the seeds and ripen them indoors or sow them before winter in the way that we described to you.
Preparing the aubrieta for winter
If after the first flowering of aubrieta, experts recommend pruning the shoots, then after the second, in the fall, on the contrary, it is advisable to leave both the shoots and leaves for the winter and prune only in the spring. Under the snow, perennial aubrieta overwinters well, but in snowless winters when sharp fluctuations temperature, the plant may die, so just in case, cover it with dry leaves or spruce branches.
Types and varieties of aubrieta
There are twelve species of aubrieta in nature, some of them are also grown in culture. Species such as white aubrieta, Croatian aubrieta, graceful aubrieta, Kolumka aubrieta are not frequent guests in our gardens, but some species are more widely popular. For example:
Or obrieta deltoid - a herbaceous perennial, reaching a height of 15 cm, with deltoid gray-green leaves with one or two teeth on each edge. Purple blue or purple flowers plants of this species, collected in loose racemose inflorescences, reach 1 cm in diameter. Flowering begins in May and lasts a little more than a month. This species has been in cultivation since 1710, and is popularly called the “lilac bush.” Its variety Bougainville with light purple flowers with an orange center reaches a height of 20 cm. Deltoid aubrieta served as the basis for breeding the most common species - cultural aubrieta.
Or aubrieta hybrid is a group of plants up to 20 cm high that overwinter under the snow. They have small jagged oblong leaves, lilac or purple flowers up to 1 cm in diameter. Modern varieties of cultivated aubrieta often have simple, double or semi-double flowers, and they reproduce well by seeds. There are varieties that can be grown in pots, some are even suitable for cutting. We present to you the most famous varieties of cultivated aubrieta:
- Cascade aubrieta- a perennial plant with flowers of blue, purple, turquoise, pink or red with a small center yellow color. The leaves are gray-green in color and do not change color all year round;
- Enchanting Morocco- a lush and attractive plant with very large flowers for this crop - about 1.5 cm in diameter. Flower color ranges from blue to red and pink;
- Cote d'Azur– flowers of this variety, painted in the tone of heavenly blue, decorate the garden for two summer months, and in September they bloom again and bloom until frost;
- Giant waterfall is a variety mixture - 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. Flowering Plants on O
After this article they usually read
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.
Brief description of the plant
Aubrieta perennial belongs to the flowering crops of the cruciferous family. This ground cover plant got its name in honor of the French artist Claude Aubriette. Aubrieta is widespread in European countries and Central Asia. Small bright inflorescences are painted in different tones of blue and purple; there are also plants with white, red or pink buds. Short shoots of aubrieta intertwine with each other, forming a dense, impenetrable mat on the ground. The foliage of this crop is small, oval, slightly pointed.
The flowering period of the plant occurs at the end of spring or at the beginning of summer and lasts for 40-50 days. In place of faded buds, fruits appear in the form of small pods with oblong brown seeds.
Thanks to abundant flowering, as well as the ability to preserve foliage even in winter, aubrieta is widely used in our country as an element of landscape design. This plant looks great in rock gardens, ridges, borders and vertical flower arrangements. Cascading obriets can serve as decoration for a loggia, balcony, or veranda.
Crop varieties
Among the many varieties of this plant, the following types are the most popular in the gardens of our country:
- Aubrieta deltoid is a low-growing perennial plant, the bush of which reaches a height of no more than 12 cm, and grows up to 60 cm in width. The shade of the flowers of Aubrieta deltoid can be different, the most common are pink and purple, less often you can find red or blue varieties. This culture is divided into several varieties:
- "Aureovariegata" has light buds of a lilac hue, and its leaves along the edges are decorated with a golden border;
- "Alix Brett" is distinguished by double inflorescences of a bright crimson hue;
- “Astolat” is an aubrieta variety with rich purple buds and variegated foliage;
- The inflorescences of the “Bressingham Pink” variety have double pink petals;
- The stems of the Doctor Mules aubriet are decorated with small purple flowers;
- The Red Carpet variety looks very impressive thanks to the bright red hue of the buds.
- Aubrieta cascade is a crop variety often used to create vertical flower arrangements. The dense interlacing of short stems bears many evergreen leaves that cover surfaces like a carpet. Cascading aubrieta blooms in late spring and early summer, producing single buds in blue or red shades. Flowers consist of 4 petals and a yellow center. This culture is used to decorate rocky slopes, building walls, fences, and borders. garden paths and flower beds. The height of the bush reaches 15 cm.
- Aubrieta hybrida has small flowers of various shades. Depending on the specific variety, you can find buds of pink, red, purple or white color. The hybrid aubrieta bush grows up to 10 cm in height, and in width it occupies up to 50-60 cm of space. The culture thrives in open, sunny areas and can tolerate both hot weather and slight frost. There are several varieties of this plant:
- aubrieta “Charming Morocco” is the most common type of hybrid culture. It has quite large flowers, painted in a variety of colors: blue, blue, red, pink, purple. The size of the buds is 1.5 cm, the bush grows 10 cm in height. The flowering period of “Charming Morocco” occurs in May and June;
- the Royal Cascade variety produces stems reaching a length of 25 cm and decorated with light pink flowers. Ideal for decorating vertical surfaces and multi-level flower beds;
- "Red Cascade" has inflorescences of a rich red hue;
- the “Lizzie” variety grows up to 15 cm in height, the shoots of the bushes are decorated with red buds, the diameter of which is approximately 1 cm;
- The Deborah variety also has red inflorescences, but the bush of this crop grows up to 20 cm;
- The “Fruit Assortment” varietal mixture looks quite impressive in garden design, which produces multi-colored buds painted in various shades of pink and red.
Methods for propagating aubrieta
Planting aubrieta with seeds
The most popular method of propagating the crop is by seeds. Buying seed material at any flower shop is not difficult, but you can also stock up the seeds yourself if you have already grown this crop before. When propagating from seeds, it is important to take into account that the plant will not produce buds in the first year after planting, but will bloom only after a season.
Aubrieta seedlings can be grown in an apartment. If you are going to transplant the sprouts into a permanent flower bed in the last weeks of May, then you can start sowing the seeds as early as February. When growing aubrieta from seeds, prepare a light fertile soil. You can buy soil for flowering plants at a specialty store. Place the soil in a wide container and sprinkle a thin layer of fine sand on top. Sow the grains into the ground, trying to keep the same distance between them. Lightly moisten the soil with a spray bottle and cover the container. plastic film and leave for 3-4 weeks for germination. When the first shoots break through the ground, remove the plastic from the container.
While the seedlings are developing and strengthening the root system, you should carefully care for them. Do not allow the soil to dry out, provide the plants with access to air and sunlight. You should also not water too much. When irrigating sprouts, it is advisable to use a spray bottle so that the stream of water does not erode the soil at the roots and damage them.
After about a month, when the street settles warm weather and there will be no frost at night, aubrieta seedlings can be transferred to open ground. If after a month the weather outside still does not allow planting the plants in the flowerbed, the sprouts will need to be distributed into separate containers so that they are not crowded in a common container. However, you can avoid unnecessary work if you plant the seeds of the crop immediately in a permanent place of growth. It is best to do this in September, but you need to be sure that night frosts do not begin prematurely. In addition, weeds should be carefully removed from the flowerbed, otherwise the young shoots of the aubrieta will die.
Vegetative methods of propagation
Some gardeners prefer to propagate the crop using cuttings. To plant aubrieta using this method, you should inspect the bush and find shoots that are not fully ripened. Then the sprouts are cut off, cleaned of soil and sand, and torn from them lower leaves. After this, the cuttings are planted in a greenhouse, having previously prepared a soil mixture of peat and sand. It is best to transplant rooted cuttings into a flowerbed at the end of summer. Don't forget to make sure that roots form on the sprouts. When planting cuttings, keep a distance of 12-15 cm between them. Since aubrieta becomes weaker and capricious over the years, many gardeners recommend cuttings every year - this way you will constantly maintain the high decorative qualities of the flower garden.
Reproduction of a crop by dividing a bush is theoretically possible, but in practice this method is used extremely rarely. Aubrieta does not tolerate this procedure well; the damaged roots of the plant may dry out and the flower will die. This method is used only in extreme cases by those gardeners who have extensive experience working with plants.
Shaving care
When planting a plant in open ground, it is important to prepare correct composition soil. It is advisable to mix garden soil with fine sand. When sowing seeds or seedlings, place the bushes in even beds so that they do not get lost among the weeds.
Aubrieta loves to grow on open area, well lit by sunlight. In addition, the site must be spacious enough. Place flower beds on the south side of buildings, on open slopes. The plant is not too demanding on soil, but for good growth and development of aubrieta, it is advisable to saturate the soil with chalk, ash or a small amount lime The ground around the plants can also be mulched from time to time. thin layer fine sand.
Aubrieta does not need too frequent or abundant watering. With excessive moisture, the bushes grow a lot of green mass, but bloom poorly. You should also not allow the soil to dry out. On hot summer days, with a long absence of rain, the plant must be watered.
Young aubrieta bushes need to be fed with sodium humate. It is dissolved in water and the flowers are watered twice a day: morning and evening. Sodium humate stimulates the growth of roots and shoots, making the plant stronger and more resilient. The first feeding is carried out when at least 2 true leaves appear on the seedlings. Older crops are periodically fed with complex fertilizers for perennial flowering plants. They are applied to the soil 2 times per season: before the aubrieta begins to flower and after its pruning.
Pruning the crop is also an essential part of care. Each time after the end of the flowering period, the shoots of the plant are removed almost to the ground. In such a case, the aubrieta produces new stems in place of the cut stems, which after a short time are also covered with flowers. Pruning the crop allows you to maintain its decorative effect throughout the summer.
Diseases of this crop include powdery mildew. If you notice that the stems and leaves of the bushes are covered with a whitish coating, treat them with a solution of colloidal sulfur. If after treatment the signs of the disease have not disappeared, you will have to get rid of the damaged plants so that powdery mildew does not spread to healthy areas of the flowerbed. Diseased bushes should be uprooted and burned.
Aubrieta is a very popular and surprisingly decorative garden plant. This perennial is outwardly a low shrub, strewn with many bright colors. 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 decorative decoration 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 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 especially distinguished 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, clay soils Shaving is not suitable: 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 consider 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 next year It will already bloom. 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 immediately 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 carry out propagation 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, even more so, 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 can 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 the help of 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.
Aubrieta or aubretia is a popular flowering plant that is often used for decorative design garden and park areas. Aubrieta flowers are very bright, available in white, pink, purple, blue shades. They look very impressive in the garden and, when decorating the area, can be grown in the form of bushes, as well as a charming creeping or falling “living carpet”. The article discusses the rules for planting aubriet flowers and the secrets of growing the plant.
Growing aubrieta seedlings
Aubrieta reproduces by seeds, and since it differs quite high level frost resistance, it can be immediately planted in open ground. However, in regions characterized by frequent spring frosts, it is recommended to first sow seeds for seedlings and only then plant the plants in the soil on the site. This method must also be used in cases where you need to create a certain decor using an obrieta. 
Did you know?One of the unique features of aubrieta is that the plant does not shed its leaves in the winter. All year round it remains the same charming green, even in severe frosts.
The best time to sow seeds for seedlings
It is best to sow aubrieta seeds for growing seedlings a couple of months before the end of night frosts. In regions with an earlier and warmer spring, this will be the beginning of February, and in areas where night frosts last longer, this will be mid-February.
Sowing aubrieta seeds
To sow seeds, you will need to prepare separate containers and soil. Peat tablets or pots, or regular flower pots or disposable cups are best suited. Peat containers are good because they promote the development of a strong root system in sprouts, allow oxygen to pass through well, significantly reduce the risk of seedlings rotting, and reduce the risk of root damage when transplanting plants into open ground to zero. However, such pleasure is not cheap. 
Important! Root system The flowers are delicate and sensitive, and if separated, the roots may be damaged. Therefore, it is recommended to sow seeds as rarely as possible and in separate containers.
Boxes and trays are the least suitable for growing seedlings of these plants . During the development of sprouts, there is a high probability that their roots will become intertwined and damaged during transplantation. Regular flower pots are the most the best option. There must be holes at the bottom for removal. excess moisture. You should not place more than four seeds in one pot with a diameter of 15 cm.As for the soil, loose, well-drained sandy loam soil is most suitable for shaving. You can buy it in a store or make it yourself (garden soil must be mixed with peat or sand). It would also be a good idea to add a small amount of sawdust. Heavy clay soil is absolutely not suitable for such plants.
Did you know?If you add a little to the soil eggshells or lime, seedlings will grow faster.
A layer of drainage should be placed at the bottom of the containers, then the soil should be filled. The seeds are sown on the surface of the soil, then sprinkled with a thin layer of sand. Before sowing, lightly moisten the soil (this is best done by spraying). After sowing, the container is covered with a film, which is removed after the sprouts emerge.
Optimal conditions for seed germination
Aubrieta loves the sun. Therefore, containers with planted seeds should be placed in a well-lit place, but avoiding direct rays of the sun. Plants tolerate cool weather well, but the optimal temperature in the room is +18...+22 °C. 
Important!Periodically, the room where the containers with seeds are located must be ventilated, avoiding drafts, and if you continue to illuminate them with lamps in the evening, the seeds will germinate faster.
Seedling care
The most important thing in caring for seedlings is to water and loosen the soil on time. It is recommended to water with settled water room temperature in evening time. Make sure that a dry crust does not form on the surface; at the same time, the soil should not be flooded. When weeds appear, they must be removed immediately. The room with seedlings must be periodically ventilated.
Picking seedlings
Picking involves planting the sprouts in separate containers. This process is carried out to strengthen the root system and improve nutrition of the sprouts. The aubrieta picking is performed after three or four pairs of true leaves appear on the sprouts.
You need to pick the seedlings very carefully so as not to damage the delicate roots. The day before transplanting, the soil should be moistened. Using a pencil, dig up the sprout, then lightly remove it from the soil and immediately plant it in the ground.
Planting aubrieta seedlings in open ground
Aubrieta doesn't like transplants. In order for the seedlings to take root well, it is important not to damage the roots. Before planting, you should decide on a place on the site, and also prepare necessary materials:
- a hoe for forming holes;
- sand for mulching;
- container with water;
- gardening gloves.
Did you know? Aubrieta leaves are used in cooking in boiled and raw form. They are great for decorating dishes, preparing salads, and soups.
The best time to plant seedlings
The seedlings are placed in open ground immediately after the night frosts have passed. Best month May is considered, so if we look more specifically at when aubrieta is planted, then in the early warm spring the middle of May is perfect time for landing.
Choosing a landing site
The question “Where to plant aubrieta?” is very important, since it is necessary to comply with all the basic requirements for good growth and development of the plant. That is why for planting you need to choose a well-lit place, without drafts.
Important!Even with light darkness, the plants may not bloom.
Aubrieta is demanding on the soil. Heavy clay and acidic soils are not suitable for its cultivation, but sandy loam, loose, well-drained soil will ideal option. In addition, the flowers do well in rocky areas, which means they can be planted next to borders and on rocky slopes.
Planting seedlings on the site
Before planting, the soil should be slightly moistened, loosened, and weeds should be removed from the area. Then, using a hoe, holes are formed. The depth of the holes should correspond to the length of the root, and the width should be twice as large as the earthen lump that remained on the root of the seedling. The distance between seedlings should be at least 5 cm.
Did you know? Obireta can be planted between steps, along terraces and in cracks in stone walls. Falling carpets of flowers planted on top of fences and stone stands look very beautiful.
The seedlings are placed in the center of the hole and, holding with one hand, are strengthened with earth. After planting the seedlings, the soil should be sprinkled with a small layer of sand and wood ash. At the end of the process, the plants need to be watered.
Care and cultivation of aubrieta
Aubrieta is not too demanding to care for. The main thing is to ensure that the soil does not dry out, that the plants are not attacked by pests and diseases, and that regular loosening of the soil, periodic fertilizing and mulching should also be mandatory. For this, the aubrieta will thank you with abundant bright flowering.
Watering, weeding and loosening the soil
Aubrieta does not like a lot of moisture. Young seedlings are watered a little more often, and when the plant has taken root well, only in case of drought. It is recommended to add a little sodium humate to the water for irrigation, which helps strengthen the root system.
Important!Excessive watering can lead to rotting of the plant or to the fact that the leaves themselves begin to grow, but the aubriet will not bloom.
In order to prevent rotting of the aubriet, it is recommended to mulch the soil with sand or sawdust every 10 days. In addition, the area must be regularly cleared of weeds by weeding and loosening. Weeds absorb nutrients from the soil, which significantly slows down the growth of flowers. Loosening helps saturate the soil with oxygen, which is necessary for the development of roots. Plant nutrition
The plant is fed several times during the growing season. For the first time, fertilizing is carried out no earlier than a week after planting the seedlings in the ground and until the buds form. The second time - after trimming. Complex fertilizers for flowering perennial plants are well suited for feeding.
Trimming the shaving
Aubrieta blooms for about a month and a half. To enjoy the re-blooming of the plant, after it has finished blooming, it is necessary to prune (to the root). Then the soil is fertilized and mulched with river sand. After the second flowering, the aubriet does not need to be pruned so that the roots do not freeze in winter.
Did you know?Aubrieta begins to bloom only in the second year after sowing seeds or planting seedlings.
Combination of aubrieta with other plants
Aubrieta is often used in landscape design. With its help you can create charming “living carpets” and magnificent cascades. The plant is often used for alpine slides and rockeries. Aubrieta in the flowerbed goes well with low growing plants. The best neighbors yellow alyssums, iberis, phloxes, and multicolored euphorbias are considered.
Important!There should be no trees or bushes near the shaving site. They will only shade the plant.
Pests and diseases of aubrieta
The most common pest aubrieta is an aphid - beetles are very small size black, yellow, brown or red. They feed on the sap of the plant, taking away all the beneficial substances from it. The pest can be recognized by its glossy shiny leaves and pale inflorescences, and the aphid itself can be found under the leaves of the aubrieta. To combat insects, plants are sprayed with nettle infusion (to prepare it, a kilogram of fresh nettle leaves is poured into 10 liters of water and left for 24 hours). Insecticides should only be used as a last resort.
Did you know? To prevent aphids, it is recommended to sprinkle the soil with wood ash after planting seedlings or sowing seeds in the ground. This procedure should be repeated once a month.
Of the diseases, the plant is most susceptible to powdery mildew and root rot. Basically, these diseases are a consequence of excessive waterlogging. Powdery mildew appears as a brown coating on leaves and stems. The disease spreads quickly and eventually leads to the death of flowers. To combat the disease, plants are sprayed with a 0.3% solution of colloidal sulfur. Other fungicides are used only in advanced cases. If the plants are severely damaged, it is better to remove the bushes.
Root rot manifests itself as brown spots that cover all parts of the plant. If such signs are detected, watering should be stopped altogether, the soil should be sprinkled with sand and sawdust, and treat the plant with colloidal sulfur.
When to collect and how to store aubrieta seeds
Aubrieta seeds are collected after spring flowering. To do this, during the pruning process, you need to leave five to six shoots on which ovaries have formed. After the seeds darken, the stems need to be cut off and the seeds should be husked into a cardboard box or fabric bag.
After collection, the seeds need to be dried for a couple of days in a lighted, well-ventilated place. At the same time, avoid direct sunlight. Afterwards, the material is packaged in boxes or fabric bags and stored in a dark place at a temperature of +18...+20 °C, periodically opening for ventilation.
Wintering the aubrieta
Aubrieta is a surprisingly frost-resistant plant. It tolerates winter frosts well, and in order to prepare the plants for wintering, the bushes do not need to be pruned in the fall; only yellowed, damaged leaves are removed. It is also recommended to cover the plant with dry leaves for the winter to keep it warmer.
Other ways to propagate aubrieta
In addition to the seedling method, aubrieta can be propagated and grown by sowing seeds in open ground or by cuttings. Among gardeners, the best option is to sow seeds directly onto the plot.
Sowing seeds directly into open ground
Seeds can be planted in open ground in mid-May or September. Before sowing, the soil must be thoroughly cleared of weeds, moistened and loosened to a depth of 15 cm. Then it is recommended to add wood ash and a little lime to the soil. You can also add complex mineral fertilizers. Seeds are not sown thickly. In no case are they buried in the ground, but placed on the surface and sprinkled with a thin layer of river sand. Seeds need plenty of sunlight to germinate. After sowing, the soil is slightly moistened, but it is better to use the spraying method.
Important!It is highly not recommended to feed the soil with manure before sowing seeds.
Cuttings of aubrieta
When pruning the aubrieta, after the first flowering you will get a lot of leftovers. Such aubrieta stems without flowers can be used to propagate the plant by cuttings. They are planted in a well-lit, warm place, which can be a greenhouse or containers placed on the veranda. The ideal planting soil usually consists of equal parts peat and sand. At the end of summer, the seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place of growth. In October, it is recommended to cover them with dry leaves for the winter.
Growing aubrieta from seeds is the most common and reliable way its reproduction, therefore this article outlined the basic rules for sowing aubrieta seeds and presented detailed description order of plant care. Following these rules will help you decorate your garden with charming carpets and cascades of aubrieta flowers.
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Aubrieta, or aubrieta, is one of the species herbaceous plants, which belong to the Brassica family, and is an evergreen, creeping perennial shrub. She meets in European countries, for example, in Italy, France, and in the countries of South America. 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 a plant is its ability whole year produce healthy and rich foliage.
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 on your garden plot, 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.
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 green leaves become noticeable, you can remove 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.
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 sunny side vegetable 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 pretty unpretentious flower and does not require any special effort when leaving. Adult specimens may for a long time do not need watering, the only exception being dry and hot summers. As a rule, with normal temperature conditions overwatering 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 in the best possible way glaze. The soil in the flowerbed 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 in the fall the 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 growing season ends. spring period. 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.
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. An adult perennial plant can easily endure 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.
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 extensive experience in growing 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. When 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 sustainable ornamental plant to the effects of any diseases and pests. Cases of powdery mildew infection are occasionally observed. This fungal disease causes white coating, which appears on leaves and flowers and 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.
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.
- Cote 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)
