Aubrieta x cultorum Royal Blue seeds - Rock cress

The 'Royal Blue' Aubrieta, in Latin Aubrieta x cultorum or Aubrieta deltoidea, forms pretty small blue-purple flowers carpets from March to May-June. This perennial plant, renowned for its abundant flowering, thrives in full sun on well-drained soil. Its evergreen silver-green leaves adorn the garden throughout the year. Perfectly suited for rockeries or the tops of walls, the 'Royal Blue' Aubrieta harmoniously combines with other colourful varieties or covers the ground with taller plants in the garden or in pots.

Hybrid aubrietas belong to the Brassicaceae family, mostly derived from Aubrieta deltoidea, native to southeastern Europe and Turkey. They are rhizomatous plants with a compact, spreading habit, forming cushions not exceeding 15 cm in height, which spread quite rapidly over an area of 60 cm. Their semi-evergreen to evergreen leaves, depending on the climate, are slightly silvery-green and ovate. These are very hardy plants, able to withstand -20°C.

The 'Royal Blue' Aubrieta is a plant that requires little maintenance once established. It develops a low, spreading tuft, suitable for any type of soil, provided it is not excessively dry. It is particularly suitable for use as a border, in rockeries or on a slope, as well as for filling spaces between paving stones or gaps in walls. In a rockery, 'Royal Blue' Aubrieta pairs well with asters, irises, Erigeron karvinskianus and lavenders. In pots, it can be planted at the base of alliums, tulips, daffodils or shrubs. It is also ideal for hanging baskets, where its trailing stems elegantly conceal the edges of the container.