Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote'
Common Name: Lavender
Genus: Lavandula
Species: angustifolia
Cultivar: 'Hidcote'
The word Lavandula is derived from the Latin for ‘wash’; a reference to how the Greeks and Romans would use these plants as a herbal additive in their bathing water.
Category: Shrubs and Sub-shrubs
Growth Rate: Average
Features: Has fragrant flowers/foliage, Good for wildlife
Awards: RHS Award of Garden Merit, RHS Perfect for Pollinators
| Hardiness: Hardy | Height: 0.60 m (60 cm) |
| Sun/Shade: Full sun | Spread: 0.75 m (75 cm) |
| Foliage Type: Evergreen | Flower Colour: Purple |
| Foliage Colour: Grey/Silver | Flowering Period: July to September |
Soil Type: Normal/Loam or Sandy/Light or Chalky/Alkaline
Soil Moisture: Dry, well drained
A compact form of the popular English lavender, named after plantsman Laurence Johnston's famous Arts and Crafts garden in Gloucestershire. It produces dense spikes of fragrant deep violet summer flowers above slender aromatic silvery-grey leaves. It is possibly the best lavender for edging paths and borders and the aromatic foliage perfumes the air if you brush against it. It also works well in a gravel garden or clipped into a formal sphere for a contemporary look. The flower-spikes are highly attractive to bees and other nectar-loving insects.
Garden Care: Cut back the stalks after the flowers have faded. Carefully trim back in April, taking care not to cut into old wood.
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