How to Grow Aubrieta
Aubrieta deltoidea
Aubrieta is a classic spring-flowering rock garden plant that cascades over walls and rockeries in a carpet of purple. Plant in autumn or spring in full sun and well-drained, preferably alkaline soil, spacing about 25 cm apart. The single most important task is the hard cutback after flowering — shear the whole plant back by half to two-thirds immediately after the flowers fade. This keeps it compact and prevents the woody, bare centre that kills neglected plants. Aubrieta is evergreen, extremely hardy, and virtually maintenance-free once the annual trim is done.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Rarely needed. A light feed after the hard cutback in early summer helps produce fresh growth. Avoid rich feeding which makes plants leggy and loose.
Watch For
- White blister (Albugo candida)
- Aphids on new growth
- Downy mildew in wet springs
Companions
Arabis, Alyssum, Iberis, Dianthus
Track your Aubrieta care schedule — pruning, feeding, and seasonal tasks
Start planning freeCare Requirements
☀️ Light
Full sun essential
Aubrieta needs full sun for the densest growth and best flowering. In shade it becomes leggy and sparse with far fewer flowers.
💧 Watering
Drought-tolerant once established
Very drought-tolerant once established, especially when growing in walls or rockeries. Only water during extreme prolonged drought. Overwatering causes rot and loose, floppy growth.
🌱 Fertilizing
Light feed after cutback only
A light balanced feed after the post-flowering cutback helps produce fresh compact growth. Avoid rich feeding at other times which makes plants leggy and loose.
✂️ Pruning
Hard cutback after flowering is essential
Shear the whole plant back by half to two-thirds immediately after flowering in late spring. This is the single most important maintenance task — it keeps plants compact and prevents woody die-back from the centre.
🍂 Mulching
Grit mulch if needed, no organic mulch
If mulching, use grit or gravel only. Organic mulch holds moisture against the evergreen foliage and can cause rot. Plants in walls and rockeries need no mulch at all.
Growing Tips
The post-flowering cutback is essential
Shear the whole plant back by half to two-thirds immediately after flowering. This is the single most important thing you can do for aubrieta — without it, plants become woody and bare in the centre within two to three years.
Perfect for walls and rockeries
Aubrieta thrives in the crevices of dry stone walls and between rocks where drainage is excellent. It cascades beautifully and the alkaline mortar suits it perfectly.
Loves lime
Aubrieta is one of the few plants that actively prefers alkaline soil. If your soil is acidic, add garden lime or grow it in a wall or raised bed with added limestone chippings.
Easy from cuttings
Take softwood cuttings of non-flowering shoots in early summer after the cutback. They root easily in gritty compost and provide free replacement plants.
Pests & Diseases
Pest Aphids
Identification: Clusters of green or black aphids on fresh shoots; sticky honeydew
- Blast off with a strong jet of water
- Encourage ladybirds, lacewings, and hoverflies
- Spray with a pyrethrin-based insecticide if infestations are severe
Pest Flea Beetles
Identification: Tiny round holes scattered across leaves; small dark beetles that jump when disturbed
- Keep plants well-watered to help them outgrow damage
- Tolerate minor damage as it is cosmetic
- Rarely necessary for established plants
Pest Slugs and Snails
Identification: Ragged edges on new leaves; slime trails on foliage
- Use copper tape or grit barriers
- Apply biological nematode control if damage is severe
- Apply ferric phosphate slug pellets if needed
Disease White Blister Albugo candida
Symptoms: White, shiny, blister-like pustules on the undersides of leaves; distorted growth
Treatment: Remove and destroy affected leaves; improve air circulation
Prevention: Good spacing; avoid overhead watering; remove affected material promptly
Disease Downy Mildew
Symptoms: Yellow patches on upper leaf surfaces with grey-purple fuzzy growth underneath
Treatment: Remove affected leaves; improve air circulation
Prevention: Good spacing; water at the base; avoid overhead irrigation
Disease Club Root Plasmodiophora brassicae
Symptoms: Stunted growth; wilting in warm weather despite moist soil; swollen, distorted roots
Treatment: No cure; remove and destroy affected plants; do not replant brassica-family plants in the same spot
Prevention: Lime the soil to raise pH above 7.2; ensure good drainage; buy certified disease-free plants
Log Aubrieta in your garden — track growth, care, and harvests year after year
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