Plants for Spring Bloom in the Rock Garden and Front Flower Border
Hardy perennial plants which produce profusions of bloom in early spring are invaluable in rock gardens and wall gardens, flower borders, and as the basis of spring flower beds. They can provide groundwork for taller flowering species to take root. Unfortunately, tropical summers often prove challenging for flowers to thrive. Young plants appear better equipped to tolerate adverse conditions than older ones; therefore it is wise to bring new plantings each year; some could even serve as biennials! Aubrieta (previously spelled Aubrietia) is found throughout mountainous regions along the coastlines of southern Europe and Persia and belongs to the Cruciferae family of mustard plants. Aubrieta was named after French painter Claude Aubriet, known for painting natural history subjects.
When and Where to Plant Aubrietas thrive in light, well-drained soil; heavy soil must be adjusted by mixing in leaf mold and sand before planting them as otherwise they risk dying off or becoming patchy during winter.
Plant them either in full sunlight or light shade in either fall or spring for maximum success.
Aubrietas make ideal wall plants in areas with moderate summers; planted at the top or in crevices between stones in well-drained, sandy loam soil they will spread across your wall beautifully, producing an eye-catching display in spring.
When to Sow Seeds Aubrietas can be increased through various methods. Seedlings may be raised by sowing seeds in boxes (flats) of sandy, loamy soil placed in either a cold frame or lightly heated greenhouse in March–April. Once established in their new boxes of similar soil they should be transplanted two inches apart into new boxes with similar soil until well rooted enough for transplanting in nursery beds or cold frames until large enough for their final positions. After blooming old plants may be lifted and separated into their individual pieces before being planted again once large enough. After blooming old plants may be lifted and separated into separate rooted pieces for replantinging in their final positions allowing more plants to bloom before finally blooming comes their time!
How to Take Cuttings
Cuttings should be planted as soon as they have flowered in a box with sandy soil in a frame kept closed, or cut from old plants when their blooms have faded, with leaf mold and sand mixed into their shoots to encourage root formation: this way they’ll grow roots freely; when removed and transplanted later that autumn they should bloom the following spring!
Europe boasts many beautiful named varieties of Italian A. deltoidea; in America, however, raising plants from seed is more commonly done. Seedlings vary greatly; good forms may be chosen for vegetative propagation.
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