Aubrieta aka Lilacbush

Aubrieta, often spelled as Aubretia, is a genus of approximately 20 species of flowering plants in the Brassicaceae family. Originating from southern Europe and extending to central Asia, it has now become a common garden escape across Europe. This low-growing, spreading plant is hardy, evergreen, and perennial. It thrives in rocks and banks, displaying small violet, pink, or white flowers. Aubrieta prefers well-drained soil and can tolerate a wide pH range while flourishing in either partial shade or full sun. With its mat-forming habit, it reaches a height of about 10cm and features ovate, sometimes toothed, hairy leaves in mid-green to grey-green hues. From mid-spring to early summer, it produces bright white flowers with a yellow-green central eye in short spikes. Aubrieta plants not only create a living wall effect, spreading up to 18 inches or more wide, but they also offer erosion control on hillsides and attract butterflies with their abundant spring blooms. The genus was named after Claude Aubriet, a renowned French flower painter.