Aubrieta: the 7 most beautiful varieties

Aubrieta 'Kitte White'

Hybrid aubrietas of the ‘Kitte’ series are mostly derived from Aubrieta gracilis, native to the mountainous regions of Greece and Albania. These are compact, spreading young plants, forming cushions about 15 cm high, with a maximum spread of 30 cm.

The Aubrieta ‘Kitte White’ is a well-formed compact aubrieta, creating lovely regular cushions in spring, covered with white flowers, a good size for an aubrieta (1.8 cm in diameter). These flowers attract pollinators. For the rest of the year, the evergreen leaves (semi-evergreen in severe cold) grey-green will continue to adorn the garden.

Aubrieta ‘Kitte White’

Aubrieta 'Cascade Purple'

Aubrieta ‘Cascade Purple’ is a hybrid aubrieta derived from Aubrieta deltoidea, native to south-eastern Europe and Turkey. These aubrietas do not exceed 15 cm in height but spread to about 60 cm in diameter. Aubrieta ‘Cascade Purple’ forms carpets of small, very pure light purple flowers in spring and has evergreen foliage that is slightly silvered.

Please note: in the ‘Cascade’ series of aubrietas, there is also ‘Cascade Red’ with red flowers and ‘Cascade Blue’ with blue flowers.

Aubrieta ‘Cascade Purple’

Aubrieta 'Florado Rose-Red'

The hybrid aubrietas of the ‘Florado’ series are mostly derived from Aubrieta gracilis, a plant native to the mountainous regions of Greece and Albania. They have a compact and spreading habit: 15 cm in height with a spread of 30 to 40 cm.

From April to June, Aubrieta ‘Florado Rose-Red’ blooms into a lovely carpet of dark pink flowers with purple undertones. These flowers are heavily visited by pollinating insects. The evergreen to semi-evergreen foliage depending on the climate is a rather dark green, slightly greyish.

Aubrieta gracilis ‘Rose Red’

Aubrieta 'Bressingham Red'

The aubrieta ‘Bressingham Red’ is an aubrieta with particularly large carmine flowers: nearly 3 cm in diameter. It is a compact, carpet-forming perennial, reaching no more than 15 cm in height and 50 cm in spread. In spring, the plant is covered in flowers, but for the rest of the year, the evergreen foliage, with a slightly silvered green, continues to adorn the garden.

Aubrieta ‘Bressingham Red’

Aubrieta 'Royal Blue'

The Aubrieta ‘Royal Blue’ is a hybrid variety likely derived from Aubrieta deltoidea, native to south-eastern Europe and Turkey. This groundcover has a compact, spreading habit, reaching no more than 15 cm in height, with a spread of 60 cm.

The Aubrieta ‘Royal Blue’ produces, in spring, a carpet of small flowers in a lovely mauve blue. The foliage is semi-evergreen to evergreen (depending on the climate) and the leaves are green, with a slight silver sheen.

Aubrieta ‘Royal Blue’

Aubrieta 'Argenteovariegata'

Aubrieta ‘Argenteovariegata’ is a perennial groundcover that forms cushions 15 cm high, spreading to about 40 cm. The spring flowering reveals pretty mauve to violet flowers. However, it is the semi-evergreen foliage that is most spectacular: grey-green edged with silver. This foliage is ideal for brightening or highlighting darker foliage or flowers.

Aubrieta ‘Argenteovariegata’

Aubrieta ‘Dr Mules Variegated’

Among the variegated leaf varieties of aubrietas, Aubrieta ‘Dr Mules Variegated’ features evergreen green leaves, edged with cream-white. This groundcover perennial with a spreading habit will not exceed 10 cm in height, with a spread of approximately 30 cm. From April onwards, this aubrieta will reveal a true carpet of mauve flowers.

Aubrieta ‘Dr Mules Variegated’