Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Aubrieta from seed, anyone tried and how successful was it?

young codgeryoung codger Posts: 543
in Plants

I'm having a go this year. I've read two  slightly different sowing methods. One advising to leave the seeds uncovered on top of the seed compost, because they need light to germinate. The other advice was 'just cover the seeds lightly'.

I guess either way will be ok?

What has been your experience of growing Aubrieta  from seed right up to mature plants? I really like the display of this plant, and how it grows in walls and over them. 


Photo from online.
«1

Posts

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    my experience was that they were very easy to germinate and grow on but the packet photo with mixed colours was deceptive. They were all rather weedy and dull mauve


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    I haven't sown it myself but it has sown itself into cracks in paving. I imagine therefore that the seed doesn't need covering.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • Penny_ForthemPenny_Forthem Posts: 455
    I've grown it from seed, though I cannot now remember if I covered it or not. But it was very successful. Good luck.
    Beautiful North Wales - hiraeth
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited March 2023
    There was a lawn mower shop in our village that had access to an enthusiast's vegetatively-propagated, named Aubretia plants.  Many were double, and a wide range of colours  It was worth paying a little extra to get outstanding plants.  And without the wait to flowering.  They were metre squared plants before the end of the flowering season.

    Alas, that source is no longer available.  Also I now live with an acid-soil, shady garden.

    The poorer Aubretias can be almost weed-like.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • clematisdorsetclematisdorset Posts: 1,348
    I did sow some aubretia seeds early last July @young codger they were called Cascade Mixed, possibly Fothergills. I sowed in a pot in ill-suited random mixed compost that I had bought earlier in the year and happened to have left over. It was not gritty enough for a start. Seeds began to sprout outdoors on day 6. By mid October, they were getting battered by rain so I took them indoors to an east-facing window. They probably don't get enough light. Last month the pot was knocked over and the roots dislodged. They were growing slowly up to early December at least, with minimal watering maybe 1x per week. I am going to add grit to the soil and see how it goes. I am aiming to put it outside in spring if it gets bigger and more robust.
    Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus 
  • young codgeryoung codger Posts: 543
    bédé said:
    There was a lawn mower shop in our village that had access to an enthusiast's vegetatively-propagated, named Aubretia plants.  Many were double, and a wide range of colours  It was worth paying a little extra to get outstanding plants.  And without the wait to flowering.  They were metre squared plants before the end of the flowering season.

    Alas, that source is no longer available.  Also I now live with an acid-soil, shady garden.

    The poorer Aubretias can be almost weed-like.
    @bedel Thank you for sharing that about the villiage shop.
    When you mention 'poorer' Aubretias, what does that actually mean?
  • young codgeryoung codger Posts: 543
    @clematisdorset
    I always like to add grit when planting-be it pots or planting in the actual garden. As well as drainage, grit is also good for  airation around plant roots in the soil.

     I have small grit for pots. For large containers  and planting in the ground I use pebbles from my one tonne bag which I bought for aggregate for making concrete. I always wash the pebbles well though for  plant use due to the salt. 
  • clematisdorsetclematisdorset Posts: 1,348
    That makes sense @young codger I am amazed mine continued in the conditions I gave them. I guess it is essential to have a supply of grit at all times. That is a good point about washing aggregates in case of salt contamination etc. 
    Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus 
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    I have grown aubretia from seed with out any problem. They are still sprouting up between paving slabs with no care or soil at all so should not be a problem. I use vermiculite or perlite to cover very small seeds when sowing. 
    Remember to give any of your plants a close cut hair cut immediately after flowering, like lavender, this keeps the root ball invigorated and sometimes an autumn flowering.
  • ontopofthehillontopofthehill Posts: 76
    I've grown them a good few times including direct onto a steep sloped bank with minimal soil. Well drained and try to keep weeds away seems to work fine. Think most of the soil I covered them with fell off immediately due to the slope so don't think it's essential.
Sign In or Register to comment.