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Key characteristics

Family: Brassicaceae
Height: 4 to 6 inches
Width: 12 to 24 inches
Flower color: Purple, pink, blue, with some cultivars in white or red
Foliage color: Gray-green
Bloom time: Blooms profusely in early spring
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Moderate; avoid overwatering
Maintenance: Low maintenance; prune after flowering to maintain shape
Growing zone: 4 to 8
Wildlife: Attracts bees and butterflies

Groundcovers

Aubrieta deltoidea

Purple Rock Cress

Aubrieta deltoidea, commonly known as Rock Cress, is an attractive perennial plant that forms a low-growing mat of colorful flowers in early spring, originating from Europe and western Asia. The plant has small, oval-shaped, gray-green leaves that are hairy to the touch. Its most striking feature is its profusion of small, four-petaled flowers that bloom in shades of purple, pink, blue, and occasionally white or red, creating a vibrant carpet of color.

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Water

Moderate; avoid overwatering

Bloom time

Blooms profusely in early spring

Find this plant

Works well in

Pollinator Gardens
Deer-Prone Areas
Borders
Rock Gardens

Companion plants

Candytuft · Creeping phlox · Dianthus · Sedums · Blue fescue · Helianthemums

Design tip

Repeat this groundcover at several points throughout a sunny garden to create visual continuity between separate planting areas. Carrying the same flower color through the landscape helps unify the design while making individual beds feel intentionally connected.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)