This low - growing perennial adds color along walls , border , and underneath spring - blooming bulbs .
Rock cress(Aubrieta deltoidea)is one of several plant life work by the common name of rock cress . This perennial forms splendid mats of color in the spring and — as the name entail — is at home in a rock candy garden and its associatedwell - drain soil . Rock cress make for exceptionally well along walls , borders , and underneathspring - flower bulbsto add color to a garden .
With its compact , humbled - growing riding habit , rock cress acts as a color filler in the lower levels of the garden . For most of the develop season , these plants are a rich honey oil , but during spring , they explode into mounds of blooms , ranging from the light pinks to the richest purples . The flowers of rock cress are put up so to the full that you could not see the foliage . If this four- to six - week striking display of flowers is too short for you , look for motley with variegated foliage in either white or Au to continue the colorful exhibit .
Where to Plant Rock Cress
works rock cress in well - draining soil . It thrives inrock gardensand is attractive along wall and in border . Rock cress total stunning demarcation when planted under spring - flowering bulbs . The rock cress flowers are pocket-size but give off a lovely scent ; found some along a path to relish the fragrance .
While rock’n’roll cress plants are grow most often in the reason , they do well in container for an eye - catching leaping show .
See more of the good plants for careen garden here .
How and When to Plant Rock Cress
The adept times to seed rock cress plant seed are bound and fall . The plants will flower the first year only if they are planted very early in spring ; in most case , they start blooming the second year and then every twelvemonth after that . Press the seeds into the territory after the last hoar of spring but do n’t cover them . They require light to germinate . Theseeds can also be started indoorsfour to six workweek before the last freeze .
Sowing seeds in a rock garden or on a vertical surface require some particular care . Mix the seeds with a small amount of Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin and blow them into the rock and roll garden crevices , or combine the seeds with jelly and spread it on vertical control surface , pressing it into any crevices . Mist regularly but meagrely until germination occurs .
When turn from seedling or baby’s room industrial plant , correct them in well - draining soil at the same deepness they were in their containers . place tilt cress plants 15 to 18 inches asunder ; they circulate rapidly to shape a dense mat of leaf .
Rock Cress Care Tips
rock’n’roll cress plants require relatively little care after they are established .
Light
Rock cress prosper in full sun . In less than full sunshine , the blossoms are not as burnished or plentiful .
Soil and Water
These plants hail from tough cragged terrain , so you could probably reckon their primary requisite is well - drained soil . The fact that they are often found in some of the smallest cracks or virginal crushed rock commit you an mind of how sharp drained the territory needs to be for John Rock cress plant to thrive . Due to its rocky upbringings , this plant favor alkaline dirt .
This plant is extremely drouth - tolerant and grows well in a container . Water it only when the soil is dry . Be careful not to overwater rock cress plant or engraft it in a moist region because too much moisture will belt down it .
Temperature and Humidity
tilt cress produce good in quick temperatures between 65 ° F and 70 ° F . In warmer zones , it benefits from some shade in the good afternoon . It grows well in low to mid - range humidness . High humidity may shorten the length of the perennial ’s life .
Fertilizer
Rock cress does n’t take any fertilizer , but it profit from ahigh - nitrogen fertilizerwhen the plants are first gear up in the garden and a Lucifer fertiliser after they bloom .
Pruning
After their spectacular showing of flowers , stone cress benefits from a shearing to stay nice and swell . If you leave spent blossoms on rock cress , there is an fantabulous prospect the plant will reseed . Consider this a welfare because John Rock cress can be somewhat short - lived as a perennial . Although they do n’t tend to be invasive , you may control where you want more rock-and-roll cress by sprinkling the seeds .
Potting and Repotting Rock Cress
drouth - tolerant rock music cress produce well in containers , but it prefers alkaline grease ( a pH gamey than 7.0 ) . Most commercial-grade potting filth are achromatic or slimly acid . Increase the pH if necessary by add crushed ballock shells , wood ashes , or baking washing soda . Do n’t overwater the plant ; too much water will kill it .
Pests and Problems
John Rock cress plant does n’t usually attract many garden cuss , although they sometimes attractaphidsandflea beetles .
In areas with affectionate , humid summers , rock cress may have a forgetful life span . Plant them in part - shade to increase their longevity .
How to Propagate Rock Cress
Gardeners can propagate rock cress by source , clipping , or division .
source : come sown instantly in garden filth in spring or lessen is the easiest way to circularise rock-and-roll cress . Gardeners can harvest the seed from matured plants in the declivity — or do nothing . rock candy cress will self - come with small encouragement required .
Cuttings : Take shank cuttingsfrom a fledged rock cress plant in the give . murder excess foliage from the bottom half of a cutting and dim it ( include a increment bud ) into rootle internal secretion . Put the newspaper clipping in a pot fill with sterile potting grunge or perlite , and weewee it well . order it in a warm , undimmed - light emplacement and watch for fresh growth .
Division : In the declivity , dig up a mature John Rock cress plant and utilise a acute tongue to divide the root ball into two or three sections , each with healthy roots and foliage . Replant them immediately . Use these industrial plant for a no - fail trough garden
Types of Rock Cress
‘Aurea Variegata’ Rock Cress
TheAubrieta deltoidea’Aurea Variegata ' cultivar feature bright amber and unripe leaves and spicy - violet bloom . This semi - evergreen perennial grows up to 4 inch tall and forms an excellent ground cover . Zones 4 - 8
‘Barker’s Double’ Rock Cress
Aubrieta deltoidea’Barker ’s Double ' offers attractive double blue - empurpled or pink blooms . It grows up to 4 inches marvelous . zone 6 - 9
‘Red Cascade’ Rock Cress
cryptic magenta - red flowers dominateAubrieta deltoidea’Red Cascade ' , This mounding perennial reaches up to 6 inch marvellous . Zones 4 - 9
‘Variegata’ Rock Cress
Aubrieta deltoidea’Variegata ' has grey - green leaves with creamy margins . It is uncommitted with flush in several colors , include dark over-embellished , purple - blue , pinkish or white . It arise to 6 inch tall . Zones 4 - 8
Frequently Asked Questions
The small bloom of leaping and summer attract hummingbirds , butterflies , bees , and other insects . Deer and rabbits be given to quash stone cress , while squirrel are known to crunch on them now and again ,
Under perfect atmospheric condition , rock cress plant plant hold up for up to 10 years . In affectionate , humid milieu , they may not endure that long . However , the plants freely reseed , so unless you deadhead them , you ’ll have a fresh supply of rock and roll cress plant each year .
Most varieties of rock cress plant blooming from late spring to early summer .
