Aubrieta 'Blue Whale'

RHS Plant Profile
aubrieta 'Blue Whale'

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Herbaceous Perennial
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A low-growing, mat-forming, evergreen perennial about 10cm high, producing spreading mounds of small, hairy mid-green leaves, and masses of large, intense blue flowers on short stems through spring

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Up to 10 cm

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
Up to 10 cm

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
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. An ideal plant for dry areas such as slopes and over walls, and a useful container plant for spring colour

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in early summer, or semi-hardwood cuttings in midsummer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Hanging Basket
  • Patio and container plants
  • Rock garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • 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 mildew