Perennial of the Brassicaceae family, aubrieta originates from the eastern Mediterranean basin and the Middle East, from rocky and sunny regions ranging from the Balkans to Iran. The cultivated forms are garden hybrids resulting from crosses between several wild species, mainly Aubrieta deltoidea.
It forms a dense and spreading cushion, 10 to 15 cm in height with a width that can reach 40 to 50 cm. The evergreen foliage, composed of small oval leaves, medium green to grayish green, finely pubescent, forms a tight carpet that remains presentable throughout the year.
The flowers, simple, with four widely open petals, display a bright and sustained crimson-red, one of the warmest hues of the Aubrieta genus. Their intense color is particularly striking in the spring sun, where they completely cover the cushion in a dense and homogeneous mass. A slight contrast appears between the petals and the light stamens in the center.
In its natural habitat, the flowering of the parent species extends from March to May. In cultivation, 'Royal Red' generally blooms from April to May, with a possible partial reprise in autumn after a severe post-flowering pruning.
It requires well-drained soil, poor to moderately rich, in full sun. Robust and easy, it naturally integrates into rock gardens, dry stone walls, and spring compositions where it willingly dialogues with seasonal bulbs.