Aubrieta 'Somerfield Silver'

RHS Plant Profile
aubrieta 'Somerfield Silver'

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A low-growing, mat-forming evergreen perennial to around 60cm in height with small, grey-green leaves with thin creamy-white margins and a trailing habit. Purple flowers with yellow centres appear on short stems in spring and early summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H6

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Brassicaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Matforming, Trailing
Genus
Aubrieta are mat-forming evergreen perennials with small leaves and short racemes of 4-petalled flowers in shades of pink and purple in spring
Name Status
Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, well-drained, preferably neutral to alkaline soil in full sun, though it can also tolerate partial shade This plant was part of the RHS Aubrieta, Arabis and Aurinia trial 2024-2026 https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/trials-awards/ongoing-plant-trials/aubretia-arabis-aurinia

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in early summer, or semi-hardwood cuttings in midsummer. Propagate by seed in spring or autumn, though seed-grown plants may vary

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Hanging Basket
  • Patio and container plants
  • Rock garden
  • Banks and slopes
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Garden edging
  • Ground cover

Pruning

Cut back after flowering to maintain shape

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, leaf and bud eelworms and flea beetles

Diseases

May be susceptible to white blister and downy mildews