Orbit flowers planting and care. Aubrieta is a beautifully flowering perennial plant. Pests and diseases

Aubrieta (aubretia, aubrieta) is an incredibly beautiful representative of the kingdom of flora. Its dense thickets look like bright purple waterfalls of flowers that densely cover delicate greenery. It would seem that such a beauty should have an obstinate character, but this is not so: it is not difficult to grow an Aubriet. In addition, the culture is perennial and does not require a grueling annual planting.

Aubrieta has long been loved by flower growers and has firmly taken root in European gardens. The history of the cultivation of obriety is more than 300 years old. Until now, you can find on sale varieties of Apriet, bred back in the 19th century.

Aubrieta is a typical ground cover, perfectly suited for life in the highlands. Low, creeping bushes on the ground are densely covered with racemose inflorescences of small four-petal flowers of pink, blue and lilac shades. The shape of the leaves can also be very different: lanceolate, spatulate or elliptical.

Aubrieta blooms from April to June, but with proper care, re-blooming can be achieved in late summer. Since the aubrieta does not shed leaves for the winter, it retains its decorative properties all year round. At the same time, the plant has an unusual feature: if in summer the foliage has a bluish color, then in winter it becomes emerald green.

According to the botanical classification, Aubrieta (Latin Aubrieta) is an evergreen perennial plant from the cabbage or cruciferous family (Latin Brassicaceae). Aubrieta came to our latitudes from southwestern Europe and Central Asia. In the 18th century, this species was discovered and described by the famous traveler and naturalist M. Adadson. The flower got its name in honor of the artist-florist K. Aubrie, and in our country this beautiful and delicate plant was undeservedly nicknamed the windbag.

Decorative types and varieties of obriety

To date, botanists have 17 species of obriety, many of which are grown as flowering perennials. In European gardens, the following can usually be found:

Aubrieta deltoid(lat.Aubrieta deltoidea). The most widespread species, known in cultural gardening since the beginning of the 18th century. In Western countries, the plant has several names - lilac bush, pink stone and rainbow stone. It is the progenitor of almost all currently existing varieties and hybrids. The leaves are diamond-shaped and bluish-green in color. The flowers are small, usually pink or purple in color.

There are often flowering varieties on sale, and variegated varieties are not uncommon:

"Tauricola", "Tauricola Variegata" (Tauricola, Tauricola Variegata) - undersized (10 cm) variety with purple flowers and foliage, painted in one or two shades.
"Nana Variegata" (Nana Variegata) is a very short (no more than 5 cm) plant with variegated foliage, decorated with delicate lilac flowers.
"Red Carpet" (Red Carpet) - the petals of a rich wine-burgundy hue.

O. "Tauricola", O. "Nana Variegata", O. "Red Carpet"

Aubrieta hybrid (cultural)(lat. Aubrieta x cultorum) - this is how the various artificially bred garden varieties of Aubriet are usually called. The species is distinguished by neat, jagged leaves. Small flowers of various shades, simple, double or semi-double, cover the bushes so densely that during the flowering period, plants of this species resemble bright lilac or pink clouds.

Among the many varieties, the following can be distinguished:

"Argenteovariegata" (Argenteovariegata) - a plant with small two-colored foliage, which is crowned with four-petal lilac-pink flowers. The variety is recognized by the Royal Horticultural Society of Great Britain.
"Cascade" (Cascade) - a series of differently colored varieties: "Red Cascade", "Blue Cascade", "Purple Cascade", "Rose Cascade". A beautiful perennial that forms dense dense thickets and is distinguished by bright flowering.
"Snow Maiden" (Snow Maiden) - white-flowered variety.

O. Argenteovariegata, O. Cascade, O. Snow Maiden

"Joy" (Joy) - undersized plant with bright lilac flowers.
"Blue Beauty" (Blue Beauty) - a beautiful semi-double variety, distinguished by lilac-blue flowers.
"Royal Mixed" (Royal Mix), "Monarch Mixed" (Monarch Mix) - multi-colored mixture.
Bressingham Red is a variety with bright red-pink flowers.

O. Blue Beauty, O. Royal Mixed, O. Bressingham Red

"Elsa Lancaster" (Elsa Lancaster) - large purple flowers.
"Carnival" (Carnival) - bright lilac flowers against a background of dense greenery.
"Kitte Purple" is a plant with deep pink flowers and silvery green leaves.

O. Elsa Lancaster, O. Carnival, O. Kitte Purple

Aubrieta is a flower appreciated by breeders. therefore, every year more and more new hybrids appear, pleasing the eye with various colors of both flowers and leaves.

Aubrieta graceful(lat.Aubrieta gracilis). The stems of the plant are very weak, spreading along the ground. The variety has lanceolate leaves and small flowers.

Aubrietta graying(lat.Aubrieta canescens). A heat-loving species, distinguished by fleecy silvery-green foliage and shoots, on the tops of which there are light lilac flowers.

Aubrieta Skarda(lat.Aubrieta scardica). Variety with soft, pubescent light green leaves and small pale flowers.

Aubrieta columnar(lat.Aubrieta columnae). Plants of this species have powerful, thick stems. Carved foliage covered with soft pile. The flowers are very large, usually red or pink.

O. graceful, O. graying, O. columnar

Aubriet in landscape design

Aubrieta is ideal for decorating flower borders that line garden paths or flower beds. Despite the fact that aubrieta gets along with any plants, it is extremely rarely used in mixborders: the bushes are too low and easily lost against the background of taller and branched neighbors.

However, the culture looks great in single plantings. The creeping bushes form dense, lush clumps that resemble a sea of flowers. Like most ground cover plants, aubrieta is used mainly for decorating rockeries or rock gardens. In its natural environment, the flower is often found in mountainous areas, so it will feel great in your garden on rocky ground. In such compositions, other ground covers, for example, or Gmelin's alissum, can make an excellent company for shaving. Also, the perennial is ideal for vertical and cascading landscaping. Aubriet falling from the stone fence resembles a living waterfall.

Growing and caring

Reproduction and planting

Aubrieta is propagated by seedling and seedling, as well as by cuttings. Unlike most other perennials, Aubriet bushes almost never share. Aubrieta, especially varietal, tolerates any manipulations with roots extremely painfully, and their division may simply not survive.

Seedling

Growing seedlings is usually started in mid-February. Before sowing, the seeds are disinfected by soaking them for an hour in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Young aubriets will feel more comfortable not in seedling boxes, but in separate containers. This will not only protect the delicate roots of plants, but also allow you to avoid unnecessary picking. Seedling soil is prepared by mixing garden soil and sand in equal proportions. Also, many gardeners prefer to grow aubrieta in peat-humus pots.

The seeds are spread on the surface of the soil, sprinkled with sand or vermiculite and lightly sprinkled with water. After that, the shaved containers are closed with polyethylene and placed in a warm, well-lit place. For germination, shave requires a temperature of at least 18 ° C. Watering should be very careful, just slightly moisten the soil as it dries out. Also remember to air the plantings daily to avoid condensation.

About a week after the appearance of the first two leaves, seedlings are fed with mineral fertilizers. Top dressing should be carried out no more than once every 10-12 days. An intermediate pick is not required.

Seedlings are transferred to open ground in the second half of May, when the threat of return frosts has passed. The selected area is dug to a depth of 15 cm and weeded. The soil should be well loosened, without stones and hard lumps. In too heavy clay soils, sand is necessarily brought in. Also, if you wish, you can add eggshells or crushed chalk: the presence of calcium in the ground will have a beneficial effect on the further growth of the shaved. If the site is too low, it is worth raising the flower bed and laying drainage under it. The depth of the planting pits is determined by the length of the root system, and their width should be twice as wide as the width of the containers in which the seedlings grew. The optimal distance between two bushes is about 5-8 cm.

[!] Aubrieta is transplanted only with an earthen clod so as not to damage the roots.

In order to painlessly remove the seedlings from the pots, briefly immerse the containers with the seedlings in warm water. Thanks to this simple technique, the soil will easily move away from the walls of the pots. After planting, the soil at the roots is compacted and mulched with a thick layer of sand. Only after that watering is carried out.

Plantings need to be weeded regularly and often watered, but it is worth refraining from feeding until the seedlings settle in a new place. Already in June, the first buds will appear on the bushes.

Planting seeds in open ground

Aubrieta is sown in open ground in May or October. At the same time, autumn sowing is considered more preferable. The fact is that young plants are very fragile and can suffer from being adjacent to aggressive and strong weeds.

When sowing in open ground, in addition to being treated with manganese, it is also recommended to soak the seeds for 12-15 hours in any growth stimulator. The preparation of the site takes place in almost the same way as before planting seedlings, with the exception of one moment. For autumn sowing, humus must be added to the ground, and for spring sowing - any complex mineral fertilizer.

Before sowing, the soil is slightly moistened. Seeds are laid out in grooves located at a distance of 15-20 cm from each other. More rare plantings will look untidy, and more frequent plantings will lead to the death of plants. After sowing, the seeds are sprinkled with sand and gently watered. If you plan to decorate an alpine slide with a shaved hill, you can put the seeds directly into the crevices between the stones.

Aubrieta sown in spring will sprout in 10-20 days. Until this moment, the planting should be covered with a film. Unfortunately, the bushes will begin to bloom only next year.

Autumn plantings for the winter are also necessarily covered with dry peat, spruce branches or foliage. These crops will sprout after the snow melts and bloom in just a couple of months.

Cuttings

The easiest way to reproduce aubriets is by cuttings. Usually this procedure is carried out every year in late July - early August in case the mother plant does not survive the winter. The fact is that the older the shaved, the more capricious and weaker it becomes.

The root sprouts are carefully separated from the parent bush, which are kept in a root-forming solution for 10-15 days. After that, the cutting is transferred to a greenhouse with nutritious and well-drained soil. Shoots take root best of all in a soil mixture prepared from equal parts of sand and peat.

In late August - early September, the cuttings are transferred to a permanent place. Make sure that the distance between plantings is at least 15 cm. If winter is expected to be harsh, it is better to leave young bushes in the greenhouse until spring.

Location, soil

Aubrieta prefers sunny areas. Even a weak shade can cause the foliage to stretch out and stop flowering. Good drainage for this perennial is much more important than the nutrient content of the soil. The plant thrives on sandy and even rocky soils. But the heavy clay soil can ruin the Aubriet. It is best to plant the plant in an elevated position where it will receive sufficient sunlight and will not be flooded in the spring.

[!] Do not forget that Aubriet bushes grow in breadth very quickly, so make sure that the selected area has a sufficient area.

The perennial is tolerant of different soil acidity, but it grows especially luxuriantly in slightly alkaline soils.

Watering, feeding

If young plants need a lot of moisture, then an adult shave excess water will not benefit. This can lead not only to poor flowering, but also to decay of the roots. Therefore, the formed bushes are watered drip only when the topsoil dries out. The exception is dry periods, when irrigation is carried out at least twice a week. Some gardeners recommend adding sodium humate to the water for irrigation, which will ensure the harmonious development of the root system. Also, remember to periodically loosen and mulch the soil and get rid of weeds.

The frequency of fertilizing depends on the degree of fertility of the soil on which the aubriet grows. If the soil is nutritious, fertilizers are applied no more than 1-2 times a month. And if you have decorated a rocky area with a shaved area, then it is worth feeding the bushes every two weeks. You can use complete mineral complexes for flowering plants for this purpose. But you will achieve the most lush growth and budding if you take into account the needs of the Aubriet at one stage or another of development. Young plants need nitrogen to build up the green mass, the grown bushes must be given phosphorus, and before the beginning of the growing season, feed the Ariet with fertilizers with a high potassium content.

Remember that fertilizing shaved with manure is highly discouraged.

Trimming and shaping

To improve the decorative properties, shaving requires pruning several times per season. This procedure must be carried out after the first flowering, thanks to which you can achieve re-budding in August or September. Please note that the stems are cut almost at the very base. This agrotechnical technique rejuvenates the perennial and allows it to gain new strength. Pruning is not necessary before wintering, as it can weaken the plant. But in the spring, the shaved bushes need to be carefully examined and all damaged areas removed.

Blossoming obriety, care after flowering, collecting seeds

This ground cover usually blooms in late May or early June, and the total flowering time is about 45 days.

After flowering, small oblong pods remain on the stems. Each of these fruits contains about two thousand oblong brown seeds. When the pods are dark, they will need to be cut and husked. The seeds are wrapped in paper and stored in a cool dry place. Remember that aubrieta grown from harvested seeds may not inherit the traits of the parent plant. Varietal purity is guaranteed only by vegetative propagation.

Wintering

Aubrieta tolerates winter well, but in severe frosts it can lose its foliage. To avoid this, be sure to cover the bushes with spruce branches. Also, before the onset of cold weather, it is necessary to mulch the soil at the roots with a mixture of peat and sand.

Pests and diseases

One of the most common diseases affecting Aubrieta is powdery mildew. Its main symptom is the appearance of a bluish bloom covering the leaves and flowers. You can fight the disease with a solution of colloidal sulfur, but in case of severe damage, the diseased bush will have to be destroyed.

If the watering regime is not correct, the plant may suffer from root rot or "black leg". The appearance of this disease can be signaled by a slowdown in growth and wilting of leaves. Unfortunately, in the case of a shaved woman, this disease is incurable. You will have to dig up and dispose of the affected bushes and then cultivate the soil.

Sometimes the aphid can be attacked by aphids. In this case, any insecticide or a decoction of tomato leaves will help you.

Of course, aubriet requires constant care. However, the chores associated with it will not be too burdensome, even for a novice gardener. This exquisite plant will decorate any area and will delight you with its delicate flowers for a long time.

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Aubrieta

Aubriet growth is one of the most attractive in the Cabbage family - it is frost-hardy and remains decorative for several years. One of its features is green leaves hibernating under the snow. But above all, it is famous for the abundance and duration of flowering.

Wild representatives of the genus Aubrieta are widespread on the Eurasian continent, including the east of Central Asia. The plant got its name in honor of the French florist Claude Aubrier, who specializes in botanical images. Currently, there are 20 types of obriety. By their nature, they are all close to the field rape.

Thanks to the work of breeders, the flower has found its place in gardens and flower gardens in Europe and around the world. Most often, they contain Aubrieta deltoidea (A. deltoidea) and its varieties, as well as hybrids obtained with its participation. Such plants are usually called Aubrieta cultivated (A. x cultorum). However, in the scientific environment, all Abrite hybrids are distinguished into a separate type of Aubrieta hybrid (A. x hybrida) - this is one of 20 types of Aubriet.

Using Aubrieta in landscaping the site

All wild ariets have low-growing bushes, forming clumps, covered with small greenish-silvery pubescent leaves, oblong-oval, sometimes toothed. Their flowers are four-petaled, small (up to a centimeter), but bright and numerous. They are collected in small inflorescences and at the time of flowering, they almost completely cover the leaves.

Among cultural aubriets there are both simple and terry forms of the following colors:
purple;
raspberry;
pink;
blue;
white.

In the design of the garden, the cultivation of Aubriets is advisable, first of all, as a ground cover plant, because each of its bush with an average height of 10-15 cm can grow horizontally up to half a meter. Growing back, shoots take root easily and give life to new individuals. Particularly relevant is the design of shaved alpine hills, rockeries, rocky gardens. This plant is used when decorating various architectural forms, vertical slopes and walls - it seems that the aubrieta descends along them in a continuous cascade. Aubrieta is planted along the garden paths. If the path is paved, then you can leave a window in it and plant a shave in it, or sow its seeds in the seams between the slabs. The plant looks good in flowerpots and hanging containers. Varieties with high (up to 20 cm) shoots are suitable for cutting. It is noteworthy that in winter, under the snow, the aubriet leaves remain green. They begin to delight the eye immediately after the snow melts.
Thanks to the bred new varieties and hybrids, each site owner can choose a plant according to his taste and desire.

Obriety varieties

Breeding work on the plant has been going on for about two hundred years. The deltoid type "Taurikola", obtained at the end of the 19th century, has survived to this day. It has low, up to 5-6 cm, bushes and flowers 1.0-1.5 cm in diameter, lavender color.
Now there are varieties with larger semi-double and double flowers, as well as variegated foliage ( variegated ).
Wanda is a variety with purple double flowers;
Doctor Mules - four-petal flowers with a diameter of up to 2.5 cm have a violet-blue color, bushes height 10 cm, the variety was awarded an award by the Krolew Horticultural Society of Great Britain.
Doctor Mules Variegated - differs from the previous one in variegated foliage (silvery green leaves have a whitish-cream edging)
Alba - this variety of deltoid obriety has snow-white flowers, the height of the curtains is 10 cm;
Red Carpet - a hybrid of Aubrieta deltoid and Aubrieta pinardii, low 10-centimeter bushes cover red-burgundy large 1.5-centimeter simple flowers;
Campbell - forms 10-centimeter curtains, covered with large, up to one and a half centimeters in diameter, light blue flowers;
Vaitevel Jem - large-flowered aubriet, bushes height up to 15 cm;
Double Pink is a variety with large, pale pink flowers arranged in two rows.

Of interest to gardeners are hybrid varieties from the Alpine Hill series, which include:
The blue cascade is a low-growing variety with a height of 10-11 cm, the bushes are dotted with small leaves, the flowering period begins in late spring and continues in the first summer weeks. When decorating vertical walls, the plant looks like a blue waterfall.
Cascade red - differs from the previous species in dark red flowers, looks gorgeous on the front line of landscaping in front of taller plants. When landscaping horizontal areas, red flowers look like a solid bright carpet.
This series also includes "Cascade Violet" and "Cascade Mix", which includes plants with blue, pink, purple flowers.
The Golden Emperor variety, which has purple flowers and leaves with a golden edge, looks attractive.
Recently, the Audrey series Aubriet F1 heterotic hybrids have been on sale. They are presented in varieties with different colors of petals - red, pink, blue, bright blue, dark blue. All plants are distinguished by abundant and friendly flowering, uniform shape of erect bushes, the height of which can reach 17 cm. Suitable not only for open ground, but also for pot cultivation.
After choosing a variety, it remains to find out how to grow an obrieta from seeds or cuttings, about planting it in the garden and caring for the plant.

Planting and growing obriety

To plant an Aubrieta on a site, it is most convenient to grow it from seeds by choosing a bag you like in the store with its image and a description of the characteristics and agricultural technology. Harvesting seed material yourself is not worth it, since seedlings obtained from seeds do not retain the characteristics of the mother plant. If the bushes are already growing on the site, you can propagate it by cuttings or daughter outlets.

It is possible to grow Arieta from seeds both by direct sowing in the garden, and by seedling.

Seedless growing method

One way of seedless growing from seed is by sowing Aubrietta outdoors in late autumn. For her, choose a site with good lighting and soil, which has a fairly light structure and an alkaline reaction. If the soil is acidic, then lime or chalk must be added to it. Sand is added to the clay soil. Peat is not used in any way. The plot is dug up, the earth is loosened and watered. Landing shade in partial shade, and even more so in the shade, is not permissible. In these cases, flowering can not wait. It is also forbidden for cultivation of shaved places with high soil moisture and spring flooding. Aubrieta reacts sharply to an excess of moisture and warms up, so the plant is planted in places with good drainage, elevations are welcomed. A painful reaction to excess moisture in the soil is the most acute problem when growing aubriets.

Seeds are scattered over the surface, without burying them in the ground, covered with a layer of sand, its thickness should be about three centimeters. It is advisable to lay spruce branches and spunbond on top (remove the shelter in the spring). As soon as the weather is warm, the seeds will sprout. Since the seedlings are thin in the first days after germination, they must be watered carefully, and it is better to protect the place itself with bumpers made of wood so as not to lose the crops.

Sowing can also be carried out in the spring, after the soil has thawed and warmed up (seeds germinate at + 16 degrees). The rest of the cultivation from seeds is the same. After about 15 - 20 days, shoots should appear from the seeds. It is important in the first year to regularly water young plants, two or three times during the summer to feed them with a full range of mineral fertilizers. Having overwintered, the young aubriets will bloom for the first time.

Growing seedlings from seeds using seedlings

In this case, sowing is carried out in late March - early April. The method is good in that it is possible to grow a flowering plant from almost every seed, since in the conditions of an apartment the seeds are not afraid of weeds of open ground, as well as winter damping or freezing.

Aubriet seedlings are grown in the same way as growing from the seeds of most flower and vegetable crops. For this, seedling boxes, bowls, any containers filled with soil for cabbage crops are suitable. The seeds are laid out on top and sprinkled with sand. Everything is moistened, covered with a film, placed in a warm place with a temperature of at least + 15 degrees. When sowing, 4 seeds are placed in each cell.

After the emergence of shoots, the box with shaved is placed in a well-lit, not too hot place - shaved does not like very high temperatures. When three real leaves appear on the plants, you can plant the seedlings in individual cups. In late May - early July, holes are made on a prepared bed and seedlings are transferred there. A distance of 15-20 cm is left between the plants. A denser planting is carried out in containers. After planting, the seedlings are well spilled with water, the soil around is mulched with coarse sand or small pebbles.

Propagation by cuttings

Cuttings are harvested in June, this can be done when pruning after flowering. Root them in a greenhouse. This process requires a soil mixture consisting of equal parts of peat and sand. In a greenhouse, you need to maintain a humidity regime. By August, roots appear on the cuttings, they can be transplanted to a permanent place, but it is safer to keep them under cover until next season. It should be noted that many varietal Abris are quite capricious, therefore, to preserve their qualities, plants should be cuttings annually. If you leave the plant without such care, after two to three years it may simply disappear.
Among all the methods of vegetative propagation, Aubriets are best suited for daughter rosettes.

Shaving care in the garden

Aubriet blooms up to one and a half months from May to June. To keep the plant decorative as long as possible, the wilted flowers are removed.

In dry summers in the absence of precipitation, a plant, especially a young one, needs additional watering. It is important not to overdo it with water.

Three times a season it is necessary to make mineral mixtures, especially in need of calcium. It is advisable to do this in the spring before flowering, in the summer - after its end, in the fall - before the onset of cold weather.

After flowering ends, you need to prune the shoots. This will prevent the plant from growing and keep it compact. After such a procedure, the shave will bloom a second time in the fall. If you do not remove the faded inflorescences, fruits are formed - pods up to 2 cm long. The ripening of seeds will require the plant's strength, which will worsen its appearance, and will not always contribute to reproduction, because we often choose a hybrid shawl for planting a garden.

Weeding, weed removal, loosening and mulching of the soil are also important for the obriety. And although the plant is considered a winter-hardy ground cover and is recommended for zones of frost resistance from the fourth to the ninth, for the winter it is still better to sprinkle it with dry leaves, and in the early spring to remove the shelter. This is especially important for hybrid varieties.

Among the "enemies" are cabbage fleas and aphid , which can gnaw her casting, shoots, flowers. If kept incorrectly, the bushes can be affected by a fungal disease - leaf spot. In all cases, standard control and prevention schemes are used.

If the gardener finds a "common language" with the shaved and organizes her proper care, then she will decorate the site for many years and delight with a scattering of her bright flowers.

Aubrieta is a very popular perennial plant in modern gardening. It is used to decorate flower beds and create a living flowering carpet. Planting, breeding and caring for it outdoors is a pleasant and interesting experience, and the variety of varieties will allow you to emphasize the individuality of your garden.

Aubrieta: varieties and varieties

The second name for obriety is aubretia. Perennial plants grown primarily for use in landscape design. The culture is referred to as a ground cover because of the peculiarity of growth: the bushes grow, covering the ground with themselves, forming a very beautiful living carpet.

The flowers of the aubretia are not large, but their numbers are impressive. The color is varied from white to purple and blue. Flowering occurs in two stages - from the end of May (about 45 days) and in September (30-35 days). In the photo you can see that the plant is not tall (10-13 cm), it forms beautiful flowering pillows from evergreen leaves.

The varieties and types of aubretia differ not only in the color of the flowering, but also in its shape, as well as in the structure of the plant itself. The choice of the Abrite variety depends only on the personal preferences of the gardener.

Cascade... Quite a popular variety of obriety. Perennial plants have beautiful blue or red flowers with a small yellow core. The leaves are gray-green, remain so all year round, decorating the garden even in winter. For this species, pruning is recommended immediately after flowering, which occurs in early or mid-summer.

Hybrid or cultured. The earliest of all types of aubretia. Blooms are pink, purple and sometimes red, towering over green foliage. Looks very nice in stones, in cracks in walls, fences. Among all varieties of hybrid obriety are distinguished:

"Fascinating Morocco" is the variety with the largest flowers (up to 1.5 cm in diameter), the color is varied - from blue to pink and red;
"Dr. Mules" is a rather tall variety (14-16 cm tall), with delicate blue-violet flowers;
Borshiz White is the only variety with large white inflorescences.

Deltoid. People call it "Lilac Bush". Under natural conditions, varieties of this species are found in South-Eastern Europe. The flowers are purple, blue or medium-sized purple (1 cm in diameter). The inflorescences are collected in a brush, which makes the plant similar to a lilac.

Planting a plant

As soon as the warm spring sun has warmed up outside the window and the night frosts have receded, you can plant Aubrieta. This is usually done in late April - early May (depending on the region). Care should be taken when choosing a landing site. Growing is recommended in a lot of sunlight. The lighter the place, the more abundantly the aubretia blooms, and the blooms acquire a more saturated shade.

The plant feels good in light, not very fertile lands. The presence of lime or chalk is encouraged. You will not shave oily soils, peat and clay soils, and on them she will be capricious, if at all take root.

The plant is buried in the ground in accordance with the length of the root. The distance between the bushes is at least 5 cm. The planting pattern is arbitrary, depending on the goal pursued by the gardener.

Important! To reduce acidity, lime or wood ash is added to the soil.

Planting a plant on a hill is encouraged - an alpine slide, a wall, flowering waves.

Shaving care

Although the plant is unpretentious, it should not be overlooked. Planting and leaving includes several basic points.

The first and only plentiful watering is done when planting aubre in the open field. Further watering is carried out in rather meager portions. Excess moisture in the soil harms the flowers of the shaved. They crumble and the plant looks dull.

Aubrieta does not tolerate moisture, but also does not treat drought very well, therefore, the soil under the plant is mulched with sand, with a layer of 2-3 cm. At the beginning of summer, the mulch is renewed, and at the end of August, mulching is carried out again.

So that the aubriet does not lose its decorative effect, the faded buds must be removed. Since the plant is perennial, the bushes must be cut off at the end of flowering. Then there will be abundant autumn flowering, after which pruning is not recommended. It is necessary to prune bushes and remove damaged leaves before the next season - in spring.

With the arrival of autumn, the flowers do not shed their green mass, but if the frost intensifies, the leaves may fall off. Some gardeners advise covering the plant with dry foliage or straw.

Advice! To prevent the soil from becoming waterlogged, take care of drainage at the place of planting of the shaved.

Fertilization and feeding

Plants do not like fertilization very much. Top dressing is required no more than two times per season. Mineral and potash fertilizers are best absorbed. You can limit yourself to adding wood ash.

Advice! You can feed only grown seedlings before flowering.

If the aubriet was fed with nitrogen-containing fertilizers, its cultivation is difficult. It is also not recommended to feed young seedlings after transplanting into open ground. The most advisable is to apply fertilizer before flowering and after pruning the bushes.

Plant propagation

Reproduction of Aubriets is carried out in several ways, each of them is good in its own way.

Diseases and pests

Aubrieta is a plant resistant to many bacteria, viruses and pests. Excessive watering can cause the greatest harm to it: rotting of the root system and death of the plant. The wrong choice of soil can also be harmful. Among insects, the plant is most often affected by aphids.

Powdery mildew is the most common disease among all varieties of Apriet. Plaque appears on the affected areas, leaf deformation is observed. Combat the problem using colloidal sulfur. Most often, the affected plants are removed and burned.

Advice! Take proper care when growing and the plant will not be afraid of diseases or pests.

Aubrieta: combination with other plants

Most often, garden partners are plants that creep along the ground. It goes well with milkweed or Caucasian razuha, red soap or alyssum.

The combination is carried out according to the color scheme. Varieties that have all shades of red will complement the perennial dwarf irises, which are dominated by a blue tint in bloom, or Douglas phlox.

Aubriet in landscape design

In landscape design, Aubriet most often acts as a living flowering carpet in a border or rock garden, where it will create an inimitable background for plants flowering a little later. Aubretia looks very beautiful in flower beds decorated with natural stones (rockeries). Some gardeners manage to plant a plant in the cracks of the walls, creating cascades of indescribable beauty.

Growing Ariets from seeds: video

Types of obriety: photo

Aubrieta, or aubretia, is a perennial ground cover crop that can fill a garden plot, creating a multi-colored floral corner. Its main advantage is frost resistance and the fact that with the onset of cold weather it does not lose its decorative foliage. Aubrieta enjoys increased attention from flower growers when creating alpine slides, vertical landscaping and as a background when filling large flower beds.

The flowering period begins in May and lasts for 5-8 weeks. In this case, a large number of small simple flowers are formed, consisting of 4 petals, which are collected in inflorescence brushes. During this period, the foliage is completely hidden under the flowers, resulting in the impression of a floral carpet. Aubriet leaves in the summer acquire a characteristic bluish tint, and with the approach of cold weather - a bright green color. The plant can grow in poor soils where other crops die.

Common species and varieties

In total, there are about 12 types of obriety in nature, but many of them, such as white aubretia, cloate, graceful, Kolumka, are rarely found in flower beds. There are several varieties that are often used by flower growers in the garden.

Deltoid Aubriet

1. Aubrieta deltoid, which is often called a lilac bush. It is considered the progenitor of all modern varieties of aubrecia. It is a perennial herb with a stem height of up to 15 cm. The foliage is distinguished by the presence of characteristic teeth along the edge of the plate. Flowers reach 1 cm in diameter and have a purple or purple hue, form loose inflorescences. Flowering occurs in May and lasts no more than 4 weeks. One of the varieties of this species - Bougainvillea Aubriet - is distinguished by a bright orange center of flowers against a background of light purple petals, its height is 20 cm.

2. Aubrieta hybrid, or cultivated, is a separate group of plants wintering under the snow. Thanks to the efforts of breeders, it is distinguished by a variety of shades. Some varieties of this species have large double and semi-double flowers. When grown by seed, it retains all the specific qualities of the mother plant. The bred cascading varieties of the hybrid obriety allow them to be used for hanging planters and balcony boxes. It has a longer flowering period of 50 days.

The most common varieties of this species:

Red Cascade is a cascading variety with red-colored flowers that hang from long shoots. It is often used to decorate stone walls.
Greencourt Purple - differs in terry flowers of a lilac-purple hue.
Cote d'Azur - deep blue flowers are pronounced against the background of dark green foliage, is a re-flowering variety.
Dr. Mules is a deep purple or violet color.
Enchanting Morocco - is one of the lush varieties, distinguished by the large size of flowers with a diameter of up to 1.5 cm.

Growing from seeds

Aubrieta can be grown by sowing seeds directly into open ground, but then the first flowering will occur only next year, and by the seedling method, which will make it possible to plant already fully formed bushes by the beginning of the season. Reproduction of a flower by seeds allows you to get a large amount of planting material and create a unique decorative flower garden.

Sowing in open ground

Aubrieta prefers to grow in open, sunny areas, but light shading is also allowed, which will contribute to a longer flowering period.

Sowing seeds directly into open ground is possible only when the soil warms up enough and the threat of a return of late frosts has passed. In central Russia, this occurs in the second decade of May. In advance, it is necessary to prepare a site for planting: dig it up, remove weeds and add sand and wood ash. After that, it is necessary to level the surface so that there are no depressions and elevations.

The algorithm of actions is as follows:

1. Pre-moisten the soil and try to distribute the seeds as evenly as possible on its surface.
2. Sprinkle the seeds with a layer of sand of 0.5–1 cm.
3. From above, the soil must be moistened with a spray bottle.
4. Cover the crops with non-woven material, which will protect them from possible late frosts and prevent the soil from drying out.

Seedlings will appear 10–20 days after sowing. As soon as the bushes grow up and get stronger, if necessary, you can transplant them to another place, but without exposing the root system of the seedlings, since the plant does not tolerate transplanting well. The first bloom will come next year.

Aubrieta prefers to grow on scarce soils, but at the same time the land should be loose and free to let water through. Stagnation of moisture can cause rotting of the roots of the plant and cause its death, therefore it is not recommended to plant aubrieta in clay soils.

Seedling growing

In order for the aubriet to bloom already in the current season, it is necessary to plant the plant for seedlings at the end of February: this will make it possible to get already strengthened and formed bushes by May. But it is necessary to properly grow it at home: since the plant forms a long taproot, in the future, transplanting to a permanent place can be detrimental to young seedlings. To avoid stress, Aubrieta seeds should be planted in peat tablets or cups - this will help avoid the negative consequences of transplanting.

It is necessary to plant in a permanent place in open ground at the end of May at a distance of 5-10 cm from each other.

Care features

Further care of the culture will not cause much trouble. Aubrieta grows better on low elevations, so it can be used as a decoration for an alpine slide. Throughout the season, it is recommended to loosen the soil near the roots and regularly mulch crops with a layer of river sand 3–5 cm. In especially hot periods of summer, it is necessary to additionally water the plant by sprinkling. Aubrieta safely tolerates drought, but at the same time loses its decorative effect.

Do not fertilize with organic fertilizers, as this negatively affects flowering.

To improve the growth and development of bushes, it is recommended to fertilize with mineral fertilizers, this stimulates the growth of buds and the lush flowering of the aubriet. For this, you can use the drug Kemira Lux. After the flowering period, it is recommended to root the shoots to stimulate the growth of new lush bushes, which will bloom again in September.

After re-flowering, pruning the shoots is not recommended, as this will weaken the plant's immunity before the upcoming winter. It is better to postpone this procedure until spring. Aubretia is a frost-resistant crop, but in regions with a more severe climate, it is recommended to cover it with dry spruce branches or foliage before frosts.

Aubrieta is an unpretentious plant that will help create a bright accent in the garden without requiring special attention. And having mastered the seedling method of growing, you can bring out different varieties and species and add variety to the flower bed by the very beginning of the season.

Aubretia or Aubrieta is an evergreen herb known for its abundant flowering. Its most important advantage is frost resistance. After the onset of cold weather, Aubrieta does not shed leaves and does not lose color of flowers. In the article, we will tell you about growing Ariets from seeds at home, we will give recommendations for caring for a beautiful plant.

In early spring, when other plants are just beginning to wake up from hibernation, Aubrieta already pleases with the greenery of already blossoming lush bushes. A little later, beautiful, small flowers bloom on the stems. Their crimson, purple, pink, violet or blue color immediately attracts the eye of everyone who sees this plant, which, like a solid floral carpet, covers a flower bed, an alpine slide, a wall of a house, a balcony - it depends on the location of the bush.

Aubrieta is a wonderful plant that is suitable for any site decor

Features of the plant and its differences

The inhabitants of Southern Europe and Central Asia were the first to start growing aubretia. But for some reason the flower was not particularly popular with them. Moreover, the obrieta was called a disparaging name - windbag, although this flower did not deserve such an attitude. But gardeners all over the world appreciated the unique features of this plant and began to use it quite actively:

In vertical gardening.
For decorating large flower beds.
When creating alpine slides. Read also the article: → "".
When decorating other elements of landscape design.

A plant up to 20 cm in height seems to spread over the surface, filling and smoothing all the irregularities. Each bush can have a diameter of up to 1 m. Small flowers with four petals are collected in clusters, behind which you cannot even see the foliage. In summer, the leaves of a lanceolate or scapular shape acquire a bluish tint, and in winter they turn bright green.

Aubrieta's flowering period begins in May and lasts from one to two months. At the beginning of autumn, the second bloom of aubretia begins and continues until the first frost. In order for the color to be as lush as in spring, you need to regularly cut off faded peduncles. The flower is unpretentious to the soil, it can grow on barren lands, where other flowers do not even take root.

Types of aubri and their features

There are many varieties of obriety. Some species are little known, others are popular. These are the following types of obriety:

Name	Description	Peculiarities	Flowers
Deltoid	The bush is 15 cm high. It begins to bloom in May. Duration of flowering 35-40 days.	It is so called because of the deltoid shape of the leaves, which have a gray-green color.	They are lilac or violet in color. Form loose inflorescences.
Graceful	It is the most beautiful variety. The height of the bushes is up to 10 cm.	The stems are weak. They usually spread over the surface. Narrow lanceolate leaves up to 1 cm long.	Small, up to 1.5 cm in diameter
Columna	Differs in the largest flowers. The bush grows to a height of 15 cm.	Leaves sparsely pubescent, elongated-spatulate	Pale purple, large, about 4-5 cm in diameter.
Cultural	The height of dense curtains is about 20 cm	Small leaves of a silvery shade, oblong-spatulate. Edges are jagged	The diameter of the flowers is up to 1 cm, the color is lilac, pink, purple. Blooms very profusely
Croatian	Has leaves of an unusual diamond or maple shape	Juicy green leaves	Blue flowers have a lilac or lilac center

Reproduction of obriety

You can multiply the obrieta:

By dividing the rhizomes.
By cuttings.
Seeds.

But of the listed options, only seed reproduction can be considered the only acceptable one, since this type of plant does not tolerate cuttings and division of a bush. Therefore, it is best for beginners not to experiment so as not to destroy the plant, which is especially offensive when there is only one bush on the site. Of course, gardeners with extensive experience in caring for a plant of this species can use both cuttings and divide the bush as they already know how to handle the plant.

Tip # 1. Using seeds for propagation is considered the safest and easiest option.

The subtleties of seed reproduction obriety

The easiest way is to propagate the shaved by seeds, planting them immediately in a permanent place. This should be done in early spring. Gardeners from the southern regions can plant seeds before winter - they will perfectly tolerate the cold period, but they will bloom in the second year. Aubriet seeds are very small and flat, so you do not need to sprinkle them with a substrate. The whole process looks like this:

Choose a place that is most suitable for this plant. It should be located on a hill (aubretia does not tolerate constantly wet soil) and well-lit by the sun. Maximum - light shadow allowed. If the plant is planted in the shade, it will never bloom.
Prepare the soil by loosening it to a depth of 13-14 cm. You can, at the same time, add eggshells or chalk. It is good if the soil is light, loose, sandy, and contains lime. Fertile, acidic or clayey soil is not the best option for these crops.
Sow seeds. It is impossible to sow seeds densely - when growing, they will interfere with neighboring seedlings. It will not be possible to transplant young plants either - they do not tolerate a pick. Moreover, if you have to remove excess shoots, you can damage the roots of other plants and they, too, are likely to die.
Cover with sand and pour gently from a watering can.
For 2-3 weeks, cover the area with seeds with foil so that they are not blown away by the wind, and the rain does not damage them.
Remove the film and take care of the emerging shoots, removing weeds, and periodically loosening the soil.

Seedling method: breeding features

But it is best to grow aubrese in a seedling way. For this, the seeds are sown in February, and already in May the resulting sprouts are transplanted into open ground. Thanks to this, young bushes will bloom in the year of sowing.

To get seedlings, you must:

Choose the right container. It is best to choose peat pills or cups so that you can then place them directly on a permanent place. The fact is that the aubretia transplant is extremely poorly tolerated, and the choice of containers will protect the fragile root system from damage and young plants will be able to survive.
Sprinkle sand over the soil.
Place the seeds, one at a time, in each cup.
Cover each container with foil for 3 weeks. As soon as the seedlings appear, the film can be removed.
During germination, the room temperature should not drop below 20 degrees. If it gets colder, the sprouts will grow poorly and weaken.
The grown plants are planted in a permanent place after the end of frost, since young shoots are still unstable to too low temperatures. Aubrieta will bloom the next year after disembarkation.
Sand mulching should be applied 2-3 times a year to prevent the soil from drying out.

Flower care

If you provide quality care, the plant will delight you with the delightful beauty of abundant flowering for a long time, thus paying for attention to it. The most important thing to remember is moderate watering. Aubrieta can be watered intensively only in dry summers. Adult plants are less demanding for watering than young ones, which tolerate a lack of moisture less painfully than an excess of it.

Tip # 2. In order to prevent an excess of moisture, it is possible to arrange drainage at the place where a flower of this type will be planted, and so that it does not dry out, the soil around the bush can be mulched.

The same applies to sunlight, once in partial shade, the plant loses flowering, so the best place for its location is a place that is always illuminated by the rays of the sun. Curbs, walls, steps and other similar places are better than others for the settlement of aubretia, especially since a lot of land is not needed for the growth of these flowers.

After each flowering, all inflorescences must be removed from the plant: this will improve the decorative effect of the bushes, and will also contribute to abundant flowering next time. You also need to remove old shoots to give the plants the desired shape and stimulate the growth of new branches.

The plant is not afraid of winter cold: its shoots will turn green against the background of a snow-covered garden almost until spring. But it needs to be prepared for this period: cut off excess shoots. In areas where there are very severe frosts in winter, it is advisable to help the flower survive them. To do this, wrap up the bushes with fallen leaves and leave it until spring. With the onset of heat, the cover is removed, the bushes need to be carefully inspected, the damaged areas should be removed and they should be formalized, giving the desired shape.

Aubretia is very rare. Most often they are affected by powdery mildew. To defeat the disease, it is necessary to use colloidal sulfur by preparing a solution from it. But it will only help if used in a timely manner. If the moment was missed and the defeat is very strong, the only way out remains - to dig up and discard the bush, since it is unlikely that it will be possible to save it.

Top dressing and fertilization

A flower of this species does not need feeding, but when used it grows strong, hardy, blooms profusely. Twice a season, you can help flowers by adding potash or mineral fertilizers to the soil - they are absorbed better than others.

But you can not use them, but use only wood ash - it has everything that you need to shave for full growth and flowering. Fertilizers can also be added to water, for example, sodium humate, it will stimulate root formation and flower growth. When using fertilizers, the following rules must be observed:

Fertilizers can be applied before flowering occurs.
Young shoots are fed after the appearance of the first pair of leaves.
Young seedlings do not need to be fed after planting in open ground.
The second time fertilizers are used for feeding after cutting the bushes.
Nitrogen fertilizers make it difficult to grow aubriets.

The types of fertilizers that are most suitable for obriety

Complex fertilizers intended for perennial flower beds can serve as top dressing. Which ones are the best to use?

Name	Description	Mode of application	Efficiency
"Annushka"	Contains a balanced amount of macro and microsubstances. Chlorine free. It dissolves in water.	Spraying leaves or root application	Increases flowering rate
"Bio Master"	Available in the form of chelates that must be dissolved in water	Designed for watering	Compensates for the lack of substances necessary for growth. Contributes to the fact that the leaves and flowers have a more intense color. The plant blooms longer, resists diseases and rot
"Flower heaven"	Produced in the form of a liquid with an optimal ratio of nutrients	Designed for root feeding	Enhances plant growth. Promotes abundant flowering. Thanks to the use of this fertilizer, the flowers acquire a bright color.
"Aquarine. Blooming paradise "	Differs in a fast-acting effect. Contains nitrogen, magnesium, potassium and other substances necessary for plants	Can be used when watering or applied to soil	Aubriets grow faster, they form flowers earlier, which have brighter colors
"Etisso"	It is produced in the form of sticks with an ideal composition. The use of the drug eliminates overdose	The sticks should be placed in the soil near the root as close to it as possible. But you just need to be very careful not to damage the root system, otherwise the bush will hurt and weaken.	Meets all the needs of flower crops

Novice growers need to avoid common mistakes when growing:

Action	What abundance leads to	What happens when there is a lack?
Watering	The plant will have few flowers	A lot of dense foliage will appear
Organic fertilizer	The flower dies	Blooms poorly
Weeds	Plants become thinner, become weak, in winter they can die	Young growth grows strong, survives winter well and blooms profusely

Heading "Questions and Answers"

Question number 1. Aubrieta has been growing on the site for three months, but it still does not bloom.

Most likely, the plant has not yet taken root. Usually, aubrieta will begin to bloom within one year after transplanting. Make sure you have all the necessary conditions for the plant to grow and wait.

Question number 2. Do you need to feed for the avers?

No. For shaving, top dressing is optional. But it is advisable, if not the most suitable conditions for flower growth, to use special fertilizers for the soil.

Question number 3. Can Aubrieta be grown as a decoration for borders?

Of course! This is one of the best ways to grow obriety. Since it takes root well and looks great as a decor for fountains, paths and borders.