The lovely lavender

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 582, 18 April 1995, Page 8

The lovely lavender

In recent years there seems to be a revival in popularity for one of the oldest shrubs, the lovely lavender. Swathes of sweetly scented lavender for flower borders, broad and brushy lavender hedges, or neatly clipped low edgings for flower or vegetable plots or to divide herb gardens. What can be more delightful on a warm summer evening than the scent of lavender permeating the garden or drifting through the open windows? The soft grey or grey/green leaves blend so well with almost any other planting in the flower or shrub border. There still seems to be some confusion with the nomenclature, some lavender being offered under more than one name but the real tried and true old English lavender is now known as Lavendula Augustifolia. This was originally known as L. Vera or L. Spica then became L. Officinalis and finally L. Augustifolia. This, the hardiest of all lavenders will grow to up to a metre, has a wide bushy habit and the tall thick spikes of flowers are the best for lovely perfume. Easily and fast growing L. Augustifolia 'will quickly form a solid hedge. L. Augustifolia 'Rosea' is the pink form and 'Alba' is the white. The white is less robust and will do better with some shelter. Augustifolias flower November/December onwards. Several attractive hybrids have been developed over the years, among these L. 'Hidcote' grows 25cm-40 or so and makes a good low hedge. It has purple flowers with grey/green leaves and will cut back well. It flowers a little later than 'Augustifolia'. L. 'Munstead' will also make a good low hedge. It flowers about the same time as 'Hidcote' and is about the same size but 'Munstead' can cover several forms as it doesn't grow true from seed. L. Spica, known as sweet or spike lavender, will grow up to 45cm and has pale lavender flowers with grey/green leaves.

L. Viridis is the green flowered variety with soft grey/green leaves. Will grow to 60cm-75cm with a thick bushy habit. This is less hardy than Augustifolia and can be knocked back by frost but usually recovers quite well. A little shelter will help Viridis although mine is not really sheltered but managed to survive very well for about four years. The Stoecha (pronounced stoker) lavenders include those of the French, Italian and Spanish groups. They are said to be frost tender but I have not found them to be unduly so. The flower heads on shorter stems are barrel shaped with rather insignificant flowers but with a brilliant flare on the top of the flower head in shades of purple or blue-purple. Recent hybrids are L. 'Marshwood' bred for the oil content and L. "Helmsdale' both developed at Marswood gardens in Invercargill. Lavenders should receive a light pruning immediately after flowering when the spent flowers should be removed down to the first pair of leaves. I give all my lavenders a further clip back in the spring to keep the bushes compact and to encourage leaf growth down to ground level. We haven't the room in our garden for large swathes of lovely lavender. Don't leave the spring clip too late though or you will badly delay the flowering.