Lavender, a Fragrant Shrub Deserving a Place in any Garden Design

The lavenders are a family of small to medium Mediterranean and south European evergreen shrubs which flourish in poor, free draining soil and prefer full sun. Nevertheless most species and varieties are fully hardy in most areas of Great Britain and Europe.

Their attractive aromatic foliage, fragrant blooms in varying shades of lilac, blue, white, purple and pink, and their long flowering period, earn them a place in many different roles in landscaping and in a range of garden designs. They are also valued as cut and dried flowers and for use in essences and perfumes, making them one of the most versatile and popular of garden plants.

Lavender Species and Varieties

There are many different varieties of lavender in cultivation, but three of the most popular are:

• Lavandula angustifolia. Also known as L. officianalis, L. spica or Old English Lavender. Fragrant pale grey/blue flowers from late spring to late summer, with greyish young foliage maturing green. L. angustifolia also has numerous cultivated hybrids includingthe popular Hidcote Blue and Hidcote Pink varieties and Rosea.
• Lavandula dentata. A semi or half hardy species, with large flowers blue and purple flowers on long stems, and dark green deeply toothed leaves. The flowers are tipped by attractive contrasting lilac coloured bracts.
• Lavandula Stoechas, or French Lavender. A hardy plant, provided it’s grown in well drained soil. The most opulaent of lavenders, with sumptuous deep purple flowers, pink bracts and silver/grey foliage.

Many other species and varieties may be found at specialist lavender growers.

Landscaping Uses of Lavender

Lavender plants have a wide variety of uses in garden design, including:

• Mediterranean and Dry Gardens. Iconic Mediterranean plants, lavenders can take a central place in any Mediterranean garden design. Their soft blues and greys offer a base against which the more flamboyant colours of plants like cistus, orchids and gladiolus shine more brightly, and their sharp fragrance pervades the air. Their high drought resistance makes them ideal for a dry or low-water garden.
• Mixed Borders. Here again the restful colours and pungent fragrance of lavender act as an attractive foil to more flamboyant plants, while their foliage gives winter colour.
• Ground cover and formal plantings. Large groups of lavender are very effective in formal and semi-formal plantings, and the smaller growing varieties like Hidcote Blue can create stunning effects as underplanting, for example around pink rose bushes or standards.
• Hedging. Lavenders of all varieties make particularly attractive small formal hedges, and this is one of their most popular roles.

Lavender as Cut and Dried Flowers

Dried lavender flowers have a host of uses around the house, including:

• Dried flower arrangements. Lavenders offer a long lasting and fragrant base for dried flower arrangements.
• Sachets and pots pourri. Lavender is one of the most popular fragrances, giving a fresh, clean scent to rooms and clothes storage.
• Kindling. Use lavender cuttings and dried flowers as kindling to give a delicious fragrance to a fire.