Overview
Aethionema 'Warley Ruber' is a bushy, matforming, trailing, clump forming alpine rockery in the genus Aethionema, part of the Brassicaceae family, with evergreen foliage. Aethionema 'Warley Ruber' grows best in full sun, and tolerates most soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H5. Suggested uses include rock garden, gravel garden, coastal, cottage and informal garden, mediterranean climate plants, flower borders and beds and wall side borders.
About
Aethionema 'Warley Ruber' is an evergreen alpine rockery plant that forms low, mat-forming clumps with a trailing habit and produces its spring display from April to June. It belongs to the Brassicaceae and suits shallow, well-drained sites. Plants do best in full sun on free-draining chalk, loam or sand and can occupy exposed as well as sheltered positions. The form combines compact growth with evergreen foliage useful in rock and wall situations.
About the genus
Aethionema is a genus of flowering plants within the family Brassicaceae. They are known as stonecresses. Stonecresses originate from sunny limestone mountainsides in Europe and West Asia, especially Turkey.
Wikipedia contributors, "Aethionema", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Aethionema
In the garden
Aethionema 'Warley Ruber' sits within the Brassicaceae and is treated as an alpine rockery plant, valued for its compact, mat-forming habit and evergreen leaves. Flowering occurs in the UK from April to June, making it one of the spring highlights for gravel and rock gardens. It tolerates both exposed and sheltered conditions, which makes it suitable for coastal sites as well as inland walls and beds. Plant into full sun where the soil is very free-draining: chalk, loam or sand are all suitable. It will tolerate a wide range of pH from acid through neutral to alkaline, but will not tolerate poor drainage; waterlogged soils encourage root loss. Sit it on south-, east- or west-facing banks, in crevices of stone walls or in gravel pockets where thin soil suits its trailing, clump-forming habit. The H5 hardiness rating means the plant is hardy in typical UK outdoor conditions. Use Aethionema 'Warley Ruber' in rock gardens, gravel gardens, coastal borders, cottage-style or Mediterranean plantings and at the edges of flower beds where its trailing stems can soften hard lines. Its evergreen foliage and mat-forming habit are particularly handy for filling joints in walls and edging narrow gravel paths.
Growing conditions
Best soil and position for Aethionema
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Alkaline, Neutral, Acid
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, East-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H5
Plant details
Aethionema 'Warley Ruber' size, habit and characteristics
- Plant type
- Alpine Rockery
- Habit
- Bushy, Matforming, Trailing, Clump forming
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Suggested uses
- Rock garden, Gravel garden, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Mediterranean climate plants, Flower borders and beds, Wall side borders
Care notes
Pruning and caring for Aethionema 'Warley Ruber'
- Propagation
- Seed, Softwood cuttings
- Pest resistance
- Aphids, Glasshouse red spider mite
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to plant Aethionema 'Warley Ruber'?
Aethionema 'Warley Ruber' prefers full sun. It suits exposed and sheltered positions.
What soil does Aethionema 'Warley Ruber' need?
Aethionema 'Warley Ruber' is adaptable and grows happily in most soil types, including chalk, loam and sand. It is happy in soil of any pH. Aim for soil that stays well-drained.
Is Aethionema 'Warley Ruber' hardy in the UK?
Aethionema 'Warley Ruber' has an RHS hardiness rating of H5, meaning it is hardy in most of the UK, tolerating -15 to -10°C.
How do I propagate Aethionema 'Warley Ruber'?
Seed, Softwood cuttings.