Aubrieta Hamburg State Park

Description

Aubrieta ‘Hamburg State Park’ – aubretia

Botanical name: Aubrieta ‘Hamburg State Park’
Common names: Aubretia, rock cress
Family: Brassicaceae
Plant type: Evergreen perennial
Habit: Low, trailing, mat-forming
Pot size: 1 litre pot
Eventual size: Approx. 10–15cm tall × 30–60cm spread
Foliage: Small, grey-green leaves forming a dense evergreen mat
Flowers: Masses of rich purple flowers, spring (March–May)
Scent: Not scented
Aspect / light: Full sun
Soil: Well-drained; tolerates lime; neutral to alkaline
Hardiness: RHS H6 (hardy, to about −20°C); USDA zones 4–8
Exposure: Open, sunny
Native range: Species native to south-east Europe
Toxicity / pet & child safety: Generally considered non-toxic to people and pets

Aubrieta ‘Hamburg State Park’ is a vigorous trailing aubretia smothered in spring with rich purple flowers over evergreen mats. Perfect cascading over walls, banks and rockeries, it thrives in sun with well-drained soil.

GardenAdvice notes

A low, spreading evergreen perennial in the cabbage family, aubretia is one of the classic spring alpines, forming dense mats that tumble beautifully over walls and rocks and disappear beneath a sheet of flower in spring. It thrives in poor, well-drained, limy soil in full sun and is exceptionally reliable.

Growing & planting

Plant in autumn or spring in full sun in well-drained soil, ideally a limy or neutral one; it is perfect at the top of a wall or bank where it can trail. Improve heavy ground with grit. Space about 40cm apart, allowing for its spread.

Care & maintenance

Low-maintenance, but the key task is to shear it back hard immediately after flowering — this prevents it going straggly and bare, and keeps a tight, well-shaped mat that flowers freely next year. Water only while establishing. Avoid rich feeding, which encourages soft, sparse growth.

Propagation

• Cuttings: Take softwood cuttings in early summer, just after the post-flowering trim.
• Division: Divide established mats in autumn.
• Seed: Sow seed in spring, though named forms are best from cuttings.

Pests & diseases

Generally trouble-free. It can go woody and bare in the centre if not trimmed, and rots in wet, heavy soil. Flea beetle occasionally nibbles the leaves. Sharp drainage and a hard post-flowering trim keep it in good order.

Uses in the garden

Ideal cascading over dry stone walls, raised beds and banks, in rockeries and gravel gardens, and edging sunny borders and paths.

Wildlife value

The early spring flowers are an important source of nectar for bees, butterflies and other pollinators emerging in spring.

Toxicity & safety

Aubrieta is generally regarded as non-toxic to people and pets.

GardenAdvice tip

The one job that makes all the difference with aubretia is a hard shear straight after flowering — cut it back by half or more and it re-forms into a tight, tidy cushion that flowers well again, whereas left alone it quickly becomes woody, leggy and bare in the middle. Plant it at the top of a wall so it can cascade down in a purple curtain.

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