Aubrieta deltoidea aka Garden Aubrieta

Taxonomy

Aubrieta deltoidea, also known as lilacbush, purple rock cress, and rainbow rock cress, is a mat-forming, herbaceous perennial plant that belongs to the mustard family. It is a semi-evergreen groundcover that produces vivid purple-red flowers in early spring and has dainty, grayish-green leaves. This plant is native to southeastern Europe but is grown worldwide as an ornamental plant and can sometimes escape gardens to grow wild. It grows best in zones 4a to 9b and can spread as wide as 2 feet but will not exceed a height of 1 foot. The showy inflorescence bears small flowers with four lavender to deep pink petals, and the fruit is an inflated, hairy silique up to 2 centimeters long. While it is often grown outdoors, Lilacbush is also a super rare houseplant that needs regular watering and abundant sunlight to thrive, and should be less than 3 feet from a window.

Common names

Garden Aubrieta, Purple Rock Cress, Aubretia

How to care for Garden Aubrieta

Difficulty

Even if you don't have a green thumb, you can successfully care for Garden Aubrieta due to its easy-going nature.

Water

Garden Aubrieta should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.

Lighting

Garden Aubrieta thrives in bright and direct sunlight. To ensure your plant receives enough light to survive, place it less than one foot from a window. The current weather in your area may affect the placement in your home. For example, if you live in a region that has longer and more intense periods of sunlight, then you may want to place the plant farther away from the window to avoid direct sunlight and reduce the risk of sunburn. Alternatively, if you live in a region with relatively milder temperatures and less intense sunlight, then you may be able to place the plant closer to the window for increased exposure. Ultimately, the current weather in your area should be taken into consideration when determining the best placement for your Aubretia.

Toxicity

The toxicity level of this plant has not been officially confirmed by Ploi. If there is a possibility of ingestion of plant material with an uncertain toxicity by you, a family member, or a pet, it is advisable to seek the assistance of a medical professional.

Region of origin

Garden Aubrieta’s native range is Europe - S. Greece. A garden escape in Britain[17].


More info:
Wikipedia