A new Aubrieta plant named ‘ABRZ0004’ particularly distinguished by its burgundy flowers, a compact and mounding habit with strong vigor, and a good winter hardiness.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed:Aubrieta hybrida.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a newAubrieta, botanically known asAubrieta hybridaand hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘ABRZ0004’.

‘ABRZ0004’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar ‘ABRZ0004’ has burgundy flowers, a compact and mounding habit with strong vigor, and is good winter hardy.

‘ABRZ0004’ originates from a hybridization in a controlled breeding program in a greenhouse in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The female parent was an unpatented, proprietary plant identified as ‘L2011-1’ with deep red flowers and less branching compared to ‘ABRZ0004’.

The male parent of ‘ABRZ0004’ was an unpatented, proprietary plant identified as ‘M1882-3’ with a deep purple flower color, more branching, and later flowering compared to ‘ABRZ0004’. The resultant seed was sown in August 2010 in a greenhouse in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.

‘ABRZ0004’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in March 2011 in a greenhouse in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘ABRZ0004’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were propagated from the initial selection in June 2011 in a greenhouse in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plant initiated in August 2011 in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands, and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘ABRZ0004’ are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

A Plant Breeder's Right for this cultivar was applied for in the European Union on May 27, 2015 and assigned application number 2015/1068. ‘ABRZ0004’ has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing of this application.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of the new variety. The combination of these characteristics distinguishes thisAubrietaas a new and distinct variety.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The plant descriptions and measurements were taken in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands under natural light in March 2015. These plants were approximately 22 weeks old and were growing in 13 cm pots, in shade-house trials.

The plants used for the photographs were about 22 weeks old, grown in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands and taken in March 2015.

Color Chart used: Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.) 2001