May

Lavender

Lavender (Lavandula) is best planted between April and May. It thrives in poor or moderately fertile, free-draining alkaline soils in full sun. 
On heavier soils, like clay and clay loam, lavender tends to be fairly short-lived, becoming woody at the base.
To prolong the life of your lavender on heavier soil, add organic matter and gravel to improve the drainage and plant on a mound.
If growing as a hedge, plant on a ridge to keep the base of the plants out of wet soil.
Lavender is an easy to grow, evergreen shrub that produces masses of beautifully scented flowers above green or silvery-grey foliage.
The flower-spikes are also a magnet for bees and other nectar-loving insects.
The hardiest lavenders are the angustifolia, the stoechas or French lavender require a more sheltered position.

Lavender angustifloia ‘Melissa Lilac’

Lavender Melissa Lilac has large lilac-coloured flower heads, which appear above slender, attractive silvery-grey leaves.
This delicate looking lavender is attractive to bees and is lovely in a cottage garden, edging paths and in borders, where you will be able to enjoy its aroma as you walk by.
It also works well in a gravel garden, or clipped into a formal sphere for a contemporary look.

Lavender stoechas ‘Regal Splendour’

Our Best selling Lavender.
Fat round flower heads, delicate, upright flags emerge like butterfly wings and flutter in the breeze among grey-green aromatic leaves.
This French lavender has dark purple flowers and looks wonderful planted en masse in a protected, sunny border where its heady fragrance can be enjoyed.
Like most French lavenders, it is earlier flowering than its English cousins, but associates well with them if you want to prolong the season of lavender in your garden.