French Lavender
Lavandula stoechas
Common Name: French Lavender
Genus: Lavandula
Species: stoechas
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, Makes a good hedge
Hardiness: Half-Hardy | Height: 0.50 m (50 cm) |
Sun/Shade: Full sun | Spread: 0.50 m (50 cm) |
Flower Colour: Purple | |
Foliage Colour: Green, Grey/Silver | Flowering Period: May & June |
Soil Type: Normal/Loam or Sandy/Light or Chalky/Alkaline
Soil Moisture: Dry, well drained
This small shrub has very thin, grey-green, evergreen modified leaves (to reduce moisture). When planting, make sure the soil is very free draining; it is damp winter soil that is usually responsible for poor results when growing French Lavender, the roots rot in such cold, wet conditions. The leaves are fragrant along with the flowers, which are purple in colour and produced in late spring and early summer on short stalked flower spikes. Ideal for the wildlife garden because the flowers are attractive to bees. Prune/trim with shears after flowering. Native throughout the Mediterranean.
Related Articles: