Lavender of any variety is found in most traditional cottage gardens. But for the cottage garden to be truly authentic, the lavender, intermedia Grappenhall should be planted. It is one of the oldest known cultivated lavenders and was widely used in English cottage gardens from the late 1700s.
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Old Grappenhall lavender will grow to 3′ in height, one of the tallest lavenders available. Its flower stems are much longer than most and it’s a bushy vigorous plant growing outward to 5′, which makes it a perfect choice for the back of the border. It is best grown in garden zones 5 to 8.
As a shrubby perennial herb, it is easily propagated by stem cuttings taken from new growth before the flower buds appear. The blue-purple florets appear in mid-summer and thrive until late August. The long greenish-gray foliage is strongly aromatic.
When Old Grappenhall lavender is in full flower, the bees are quickly drawn into the garden. The cottage gardener of old loved this lavender as a draw for bees. Since the cottage garden’s main purpose was sustenance for the family, bee keeping for honey partly determined what plants came into the garden and this lavender was on their lists
Old Grappenhall was also grown for culinary purposes as it added an unusual aroma to stews and soups. With its strong scent, it makes a great addition to potpourri. This lavender can simply be cut and dried to hang in the linen cupboard which will keep moths away and bed linens smelling fresh. The lavender scent is known give people a restful sleep.
Most lavenders don’t need a lot of fuss and bother. Grappenhall simply needs to be planted in a sunny well-drained location. It is an evergreen shrubby plant that seldom gets thirsty. The humidity and heat of some regions won’t affect the health of the plant. It’s as happy by the sea as it is on a windy hill.
It is easy to grow and is a good companion when planted in drifts with old roses. It could also be visually pleasing when planted en masses in a garden bed of its own, with inspirations from the lavender fields of France. As a shrubby and densely-growing perennial herb, It’s also suitable as a hedge to line a path or drive.
All lavenders should be lightly clipped in the fall to keep the bushes dense and growing uniformly.
Online searches will bring up several nurseries which carry this old traditional lavender.
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