Aubrieta deltoidea
Common name: Purple rock cress · Aubretia · False rock cress
Aubrieta deltoidea is a low, mat-forming evergreen perennial in the mustard family, native to rocky slopes of the Mediterranean region and southeastern Europe eastward into western Asia. In spring it disappears under dense carpets of small four-petaled violet-purple flowers over gray-green foliage, making it a classic choice for rock gardens, wall crevices, and sunny border edges. Gardeners value it as a cascading, drought-tolerant ground cover; shearing it back after bloom keeps the mats tidy and compact.
Care summary
Sun
Full sun for best flowering; tolerates very light shade
Water
Water sparingly; drought-tolerant once established and dislikes wet soil
Soil
Gritty, sharply drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil; thrives in lean, rocky ground
Hardiness
Zones 4–8
Mature height
10–15 cm (4–6 in), spreading 45–60 cm (18–24 in) wide
Pet safe
Generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs (not listed as toxic by the ASPCA)
Difficulty
Moderate
Propagation
By division, basal cuttings in summer, or seed sown in spring
Fun facts
- The genus honors Claude Aubriet, an 18th-century French botanical illustrator who painted plants for the royal garden at Versailles.
- In full spring bloom the foliage is often completely hidden under flowers, turning rock walls into solid sheets of violet, pink, or purple.
- Shearing plants back by half right after flowering encourages dense regrowth and can trigger a light second flush of bloom.
- Its nectar-rich early flowers are an important food source for bees and butterflies emerging in spring.