Trailing Little Purple and White Flowers - Name?

Pont

As the post says (feel free to move it if in wrong place!).

As I'm driving around I have noticed plants with little, either, blue or white little flowers. They seem to be grown over walls - everywhere. Because they are so 'common' I'm guessing they are easy to grow/look after.

I have a small front garden that has a wall, facing a street. It looks a little bare, despite planters and hanging baskets, so thought of having wall brackets with troughs. The troughs would have to face inwards but thought the plants suggested above would be able to trail outwards IYSWIM.

Anybody know the name of what I'm thinking of? Or any other suggestions (easy care please!)?

Mojisola

Aubretia?
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=aubretia&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=sYlKU43XHeme7AbCoIG4CA&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1771&bih=949

cattie

If it's not the plant suggested by Mojisola, I think you possibly mean Lobelia, which is available in different varieties. The most common is probably Crystal Palace. See here, https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=aubretia&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=sYlKU43XHeme7AbCoIG4CA&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1771&bih=949#q=lobilia+crystal+palace&tbm=isch

Pont

Mojisola wrote: »

Aubretia?
www.google.co.uk/search?q=aubretia&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=sYlKU43XHeme7AbCoIG4CA&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1771&bih=949

Yeah!!! You are totally right! Thank you, I am now on a mission to plant up these 'easy to tend' (?) plants.

Mojisola - you are a star :T

Pont

cattie wrote: »

If it's not the plant suggested by Mojisola, I think you possibly mean Lobelia, which is available in different varieties. The most common is probably Crystal Palace. See here, https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=aubretia&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=sYlKU43XHeme7AbCoIG4CA&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1771&bih=949#q=lobilia+crystal+palace&tbm=isch

Awh gawd! Now I'm all confused again!

Mojisola

Pont wrote: »

Yeah!!! You are totally right! Thank you, I am now on a mission to plant up these 'easy to tend' (?) plants.

Mojisola - you are a star :T

They are very easy to grow and look after.

To maintain them, you have to cut them back after flowering otherwise you get long, straggly brown stems with flowers just at the end.

I think it's a bit early for lobelia but they are similar in habit and will flower all summer so it may be worth thinking about putting some lobelia in when you prune the aubretia so that you have flowers for longer.

Aubretia are perennials and will come back year after year but lobelia is an annual and you will need to put new ones each Spring.

Bennifred

I agree with Mojisola - if you are seeing them in flower now it is probably aubretia, it's a bit too early for lobelia to be flowering.

Pont

Perennials are the ones I'm looking for so...Aubretia it is! Can I pick these up from any garden centre/online etc?

alba7

You should be able to get them in most garden centres. I certainly saw them in Dobbies last week.

Pont

Just googled Aubretia - seems like a short flowering period (May/June). Can anybody recommend a similar plant with a longer 'pretty' period?

Mojisola

Mojisola wrote: »

it may be worth thinking about putting some lobelia in when you prune the aubretia so that you have flowers for longer.

Pont wrote: »

Just googled Aubretia - seems like a short flowering period (May/June). Can anybody recommend a similar plant with a longer 'pretty' period?

Lobelia flower for longer but don't start so early.

If you want to spread the flowering season, you need a selection of different plants, as suggested above.