Your lavender getting a bit leggy, or want to plant some more? Deborah Hele has the low-down on the latest lavender…

Lavender has a heavenly scent and, apart from filling up space in the garden can be used for dried flower arrangements, potpourris, lavender oil, and much more.

If you already have lavender in your garden, take note that it should be pruned in late summer.

To prune, simply cut off the faded blooms.

Be careful not to cut into the woody part of the plant!

Prune them every year to prevent them from becoming bare in the middle.

New lavenders to plant

The Ruffles Collection

Italian Lavender:

The bracts of these are remarkably ruffled. They bear flowers from winter right through spring.

Ruffles are more heat and humidity resistant and are best grown in full sun.

They are also very compact in growth habits — about 60cm high and 80cm wide.

The new five varieties are:

  • Blue Ruffles — deep pink flowers.

  • Boysenberry Ruffles — musky pink with dark pink in the centre.

  • Mulberry Ruffles — deep pink flowers

  • Raspberry Ruffles — pink flowers

  • Ruffles — soft pink flowers
GARDENING GUIDE

This article appears courtesy of GardenShop.