Aubrieta X Cultorum Pixie Pearls

Class

Dicotyledons

Division

Angiospermae

Family

Brassicaceae or Cruciferae

Order

Brassicales

Genus

Aubrieta

Species

x cultorum

Description

A compact-growing ornamental perennial up to 15 cm high, it forms dense foliage coverings studded with numerous flowers, which are also well liked by insects useful for pollination and maintaining biodiversity such as bees. Rustic, it withstands the winter cold and is easy to grow.

Variety description

Perennial plant with autumn-winter and early spring flowering. In summer with strong heat it goes dormant and tends to turn completely yellow. Suitable for flower beds and flower bed borders. Does not fear frost.

Curiosities and special features

The name of the botanical genus Aubrieta was given in honour of the French miniaturist and draughtsman C. Aubriet, who accompanied the German botanist A. von Gundelsheimer on an expedition to the Orient in the late 17th century, during which he bequeathed numerous works on natural history that are today preserved in the National Library in Paris.

Origin and distribution

A hybrid obtained by crossing A. deltoidea × A. intermedia, the former native to the range extending from central Greece to western Crete and western Turkey while the latter species is native to Albania, western Bulgaria and central Greece.

Flower size

The flower is small, lending elegance to the copious flowering.

Leaf

Leaf has bipinnate lamina.

Flowering period

fromearly autumn to early summer for a duration of 90 to 100 days, giving your outdoor green spaces colour and brightness for a long time.

Leaf colour

solid colour, in chromatic harmony with the shade of the flowers.

Plant height

The height of the plant varies from 0.1 to 0.15 m, ideal for creating dense foliage coverings from which a multitude of flowers emerge, creating a landscaping result of great decorative value.

Lifespan

Perennial herbaceous plant.

Where to plant

Versatile, due to its size and developed habit, it is ideal for adding a unique ornamental accent to outdoor spaces such as flowerbeds, borders, planters, rock gardens, green roofs, outdoor tubs.

Stem

Herbaceous type plant; the variety has no thorns.

Flower

The flower is simple in form, small in size, with a pinkish corolla and single-coloured petals. It flowers from early autumn to early summer, with a flowering period of between 90 and 100 days. It has bitterish notes and is unscented, with a delicate aroma. It is attractive to bees and butterflies.

Growth

Compact growing variety.

Plant habit

It develops a globular habitus, suitable for creating homogeneous and formally harmonious groups.

Branching

The abundant branching allows for high density of coverage in flower beds, planters as well as in rock gardens or on green roofs.

PH

Like many other ornamental grasses, it requires a slightly acidic soil or substrate pH, with optimum values between 6.0 and 6.5.

Soil preparation

Before transplanting, carry out light digging to remove any weeds, residues of previous crops and bulky stones; continue with basic fertilisation by uniformly burying organic or chemical granular fertiliser. To ensure better drainage of excess water, create a raised flowerbed by lightly berming the soil.

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Sun exposure

It adapts to different types of exposure such as half shade, bright shade, full sun.

Ideal climate and temperature

The ideal temperature is between 12 and 15 °C. The vital temperature is between -5 and 38 °C. It prefers a cool climate and is not afraid of cold.

Use

Due to its developed habit and luxuriant flowering, which continues even during months in which other ornamentals are absent or dormant, it is widely appreciated in

Outdoor ornamentals

Hardiness

A variety with medium to high hardiness, it is ideal for cold winter climates.

Soil

It prefers a peaty, light and well-draining soil. For planters and pots, use a high-quality substrate for spring plants containing peat and perlite.

Difficulty

It is fairly easy to cultivate, requiring a low level of management effort for maintenance.

Growing tips

Some specific cultivation indications that will lead to better results in terms of vegetative development and flowering:

In hills above 300 m. Can also be in the sun all day. Prefers cool climate

Combinations with other plants

Also suitable in mixed compositions with other ornamentals such as Alyssum, Arabis, Iberis sempervirens.

Planting

We recommend an average planting density in a flower bed of 10 plants per square metre in order to ensure proper vegetative development of each specimen and to obtain proportionate overall results. We also recommend positioning the plant on a raised bed with the collar outside the soil surface; water after planting but without causing water stagnation.

Propagation

Propagation can be by apical cuttings.

Watering

Use rainwater, alternatively aqueduct water with an optimal pH of sub-acid. When transplanting, assist the seedling to the new site by keeping it at a constant humidity, preventing dryness as well as water stagnation. Afterwards keep the soil or substrate slightly moist but free from water saturation. It is advisable not to water the aerial part of the plant directly, particularly during the evening.

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Fertilising

During pre-planting soil preparation, carry out a background fertilisation by burying organic or slow-release chemical fertiliser. During the spring-summer period, following proper settlement in the new planting site, on average 3 to 4 weeks after planting, regularly apply a balanced liquid fertiliser for flowering plants to the soil or substrate, to be diluted in the irrigation water according to the instructions on the relevant information label. During the colder period, fertilisation can be localised with organic mineral fertiliser.

A lack of fertiliser can lead to yellowing of the vegetation and necrosis of the basal leaves.

Read more on the Joyflo blog

Edibility for humans

Non-edible

Tip

In summer with the strong heat and if exposed to full sun, the plant tends to go dormant. At the end of the summer, the aerial vegetation can be completely removed, from the base new shoots will then start again, which will later lead to new flowering.