BOTANICAL: Aubrieta deltoidea

PRONOUNCED: aw-bree-EH-tuh del-TOY-dee-uh

Click on the pic for a close up.

COMMON: Common aubrieta, False rockcress.

BLOOM	HEIGHT	LIGHT	ZONE
Late April to June	6" - 9"	Sun	4 - 9

April - Mauve to deep purple

COMMENTS: Resembling and related to Arabis, a well-grown aubrieta can become covered with hundreds of 3/4-inch flowers. Moundlike and wide spreading in sun or light shade, although light protection from the high heat of summer is advisable. To maintain compact shape, cut back after flowering. It prefers a sandy, well-drained, neutral soil of average fertility. Excellent for rock gardens, borders, and cascading over walls.

BOTANICAL: Bergenia purpurascens (prev. Bergenia saxifragaceae)

PRONOUNCED: ber-GEE-nee-uh pur-pur-ESS-kenz

COMMON: Bergenia

BLOOM	HEIGHT	LIGHT	ZONE
Late April to early May	18" x 1 ft. x indefinite	Semishade	3 - 9

April - Deep pinkish purple

COMMENTS: Clump-forming with mossy foliage and dainty flowers in the spring. The hairless leaves, which are more narrow and oval than B. crassifolia and B. cordifolia, turn a deep maroon in the Fall. Closely related to Saxifraga, it is often incorrectly tagged as Bergenia saxifragaceae. B. purpurascens 'Helen Dillion' has pink flowers and the leaves turn maroon during winter.

BOTANICAL: Muscari comosum (syn. Leopoldia comosa)

PRONOUNCED: mus-KAR-ee kom-OH-sum

COMMON: Tassel grape hyacinth

BLOOM	HEIGHT	LIGHT	ZONE
Mid-April to mid-May	6" - 8"	Sun to light shade	5 - 9

April - Purplish blue

COMMENTS: Unusual in having between 20 to 30 purple-blue, upright, sterile florets at the top of each stalk, and 20 to 70 pendant, greenish brown, fertile florets below. It succeeds in sun or light shading in any moist, average soil. Divide overcrowded bulb groupings immediately after the foliage fades away in midsummer

BOTANICAL: Phlox subulata 'Benita'

PRONOUNCED: floks sub-yoo-LAH-tuh

COMMON: Creeping phlox, Moss phlox.

BLOOM	HEIGHT	LIGHT	ZONE
Mid-April to mid- May	3" - 8"	Sun	2 - 9

April - Lavender blue, white or pink.

COMMENTS: Remarkably hardy, this mossy-looking ground cover is evergreen and forms a dense mat, especially in average, dry, gritty, well-drained soils. Use in sunny rock garden, drape over walls, place in borders for a dramatic display. Can be sheared back halfway after flowering to promote compactness, although this is not essential. Topdressing lightly with compost or humus promotes thrifty, new growth. It will not bloom in shade. P. subulata 'Benita', shown, is unusual with its dark purple eyes.