Lavandula angustifolia
A timeless and beloved evergreen sub-shrub, this classic English lavender is a cornerstone of the aromatic garden. It is famous for its narrow, linear, silver-grey foliage that emits a soothing perfume whenever brushed against, maintaining its structural, mounded shape throughout the year. During the mid to late summer months, the plant produces a spectacular abundance of slender, upright spikes topped with densely packed, violet-purple flowers. These blossoms possess the highest concentration of essential oils of any lavender variety, filling the surrounding air with an intense, calming fragrance while acting as an absolute magnet for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators. It also has a variety of culinary applications, from tea and other drinks, to baking and even savoury herb mixes. This Mediterranean native is exceptionally cold-hardy, managing frost far better than French or Spanish varieties. However, because it originates from dry, sun-baked regions, it requires excellent drainage and open air to survive wet northern winters without succumbing to root rot.
Site: Sheltered
Soil: Must be very well-drained, does not tolerate clay or heavy soil
Position: Full sun
Season of Interest: Fragrant purple flowers in Summer, culinary use, pollinator plant
Hardiness: Hardy to -10
Height: 1.5-3ft (0.5-1m) Spread: 2-4ft (0.6-1.2m)
Image 1 and 3 by Maja Dumat cropped, and licensed under CC BY 2.0
Image 2 by Aneo cropped, and licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
