Lovely lavender
So lavender is not really something you associate with the subtropics and/or humidity. It tends to bring up thoughts of rocky hillsides surrounding the Mediterranean - France, Spain, Italy. Or cool temperate English flower borders and fields in Tasmania. Or scented sachets in Granny closets and drawers….
Lavender is in the mint (Lamiaceae) family, and originates in the “Old World” (ie: Europe, Africa, Asia or the world as they knew it before they found the Americas), where it was used in perfumes, as a disinfectant and medicinally for its healing properties. The most ‘common’ lavender is Lavandula angustifolia, also commonly called “English lavender” and it tends to be the one commercially used for essential oil production. There are a number of other species though and some of these are much more suited to our muggy summers.
Lavandula pedunculata 'Senheart'
If you are keen on growing lavender in our somewhat less than dry summers, try French and Spanish lavenders. As with many common names they are used interchangeably to refer to many different lavenders so look for the species L. dentata (which has jagged leaves), L. stoechas, and L. pendunculata (which both have butterfly like bracts on the tops of the flowers).
The other key point in growing lavenders is pruning! If left to it’s own devices lavender will grow into a great bit woody mess that’s mostly dead looking with soft foliage at the ends, not unlike a dodgy 90’s ‘frosted tips’ hairstyle. And if you cut back into that woody bit. Buh Bow! Bye bye lavender. It won’t rejuvenate. If, however, you prune every year and cut back a good third, but never into the brown wood you will keep your little lavender lush and compact and extend it’s presentable lifetime by years! You can either do this in autumn, after flowering, or in very late winter/early spring in the hope that you don’t leave it so late as to impact this years blooms. I opt for after flowering. Much safer.
Plant your lavender in full sun and well drained soil, prune it well and you too can be baking lavender shortbread and filling sachets for your cupboards.
