Fine Plants for Spring Bloom in the Rock Garden and at the Front of the Flower Border
Hardy , recurrent , more or less evergreen , low - growing plants which endure a cornucopia of bloom in early give . They are priceless in the rock garden and bulwark garden , as edging to bloom borders , and as groundwork for taller plants in spring flower beds . Unfortunately , they are apt to be rather unawares - lived where raging summer dominate . Young plants seem well capable to withstand adverse condition than elder ones ; hence it is a estimable architectural plan to enhance some novel plant life each year . They may , in fact , be successfully treated as biennials . They are widely distributed in hilly regions along the seacoast of southern Europe and Persia and belong to the Mustard family , Cruciferae . Aubrieta ( previously spelled Aubrietia ) is named after Claude Aubriet , a Gallic painter of rude history subjects .
When to Plant — Suitable Soil
TheAubrietas like rather light , well - drain soil ; with child soil must be made suitable by adding folio mould and sand ; otherwise , theplants are liable to die off or become patchy in winter .
They call for a gay or only gently shaded lieu and may be planted in fall or spring .
Ideal Wall Plants
Where summer are not to a fault spicy , Aubrietas are ideal plant for draping a garden rampart ; if plant on top of the wall or in crevices between the stones in well - drained , sandy , loamy soil , they disperse and furnish a delicious show of heyday in spring .
When to Sow Seeds
Aubrietas can be increase in several ways . seedling are raised by sow seeds in box ( flats ) of sandy , loamy soil , grade in a cold systema skeletale or more or less het greenhouse in March — April . The seedlings are transplant 2 in . apart in other boxes of similar soil and when well rooted are planted in nursery bed or in moth-eaten frame until large enough for their last positions . After blooming , old plants may be lifted and separate into frozen piece for replant .
How to Take Cuttings
Cuttings should be inserted as soon after flowering as potential in box seat of sandy dirt place in a frame kept closed . If a stock of onetime plant exist , the flowering shoot should be hack off when the blooms have fade and a mixture of leaf stamp and Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin worked in among the shoots : the latter will then form roots freely and , if remove and transplanted in fall , will bloom the following outpouring .
In Europe , many beautiful named varieties of the Italian A. deltoidea are grown , but in America , it is more common to raise flora from seed . Seedlings vary substantially ; effective shape may be selected for vegetative propagation .
