Aubrieta deltoidea
Blue Cushion
Common names: Purple Cushion
Photo: Stan Shebs · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
This description was machine-translated.
Description
The Blue Cushion (Aubrieta deltoidea) is a low mat-forming shrub that produces dense violet to purple flower carpets from April to May. It spreads flat and closes quickly, making it ideal for wall crowns, rock gardens, and along stream banks. Its evergreen, gray-green foliage keeps the mat attractive outside of flowering season. Cultivars such as "Royal Violet" and "Doctor Mules" provide strong color accents and are well suited for dry walls and container edges.
Care instructions
Blue Cushion prefers full sun, warm conditions, and a well-drained, somewhat sparse soil; it tends to rot on heavy, waterlogged soils. Water only when the soil remains dry for an extended period, as excess moisture is more harmful than drought. After flowering, cut the plant back to about half its height to keep it compact and encourage dense blooming the following year. Divide larger mats every few years in early autumn to prevent central dieback. In most locations, Blue Cushion does not require winter protection, but a light mulch of straw can help in highly exposed rock gardens.
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, lime-loving, lean, dry
Feeding
Light feeder
Companion planting
Good neighbors
legume family (Fabaceae)
particularly well establishedLeguminous plants collect nitrogen in the soil, from which Brassicaceae benefit as heavy feeders.
For example PeaBush beanPole beanBroad beanMarker peaSugar pea and 31 more species in the catalogue
Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)
carrot family (Apiaceae)
You can pair celery and dill with all Brassicaceae because they repel the cabbage whitefly with their scent, a proven companion.
For example Carrotcelery rootDillParsleyCarrot fennelCoriander and 19 more species in the catalogue
Source: Bio-Gärtnerei Mixed-culture Practice
mint family (Lamiaceae)
You will notice that the intense scent of basil, thyme, and others confuses the cabbage whitefly and keeps it away from the cabbage family.
For example LavenderThymeBasilRosemarySageHyssop and 31 more species in the catalogue
Source: bio-gardening intercropping practice
nasturtium family (Tropaeolaceae)
Nasturtium serves as a trap plant for you. Aphids and cabbage whiteflies prefer it over the brassicaceae next to it.
For example Tropaeolum majusMashua
Source: Trap plant practice in organic horticulture
Companion planting is partly traditional gardening lore. Where the reason is known, it is given.
Some of these explanations were machine-translated.
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