Lavanda da Talea Stoechas Lavinia® Rose Vein

Class

Dicotyledons

Division

Angiospermae

Family

Lamiaceae or Labiatae

Order

Lamiales

Genus

Lavandula

Species

stoechas

Description

Evergreen, aromatic and melliferous evergreen perennial plant with a bushy habit and abundant branching. It flowers in spring and summer with a profusion of flowers in spike-shaped inflorescences and a pleasant fragrance that is appreciated by useful insects such as bees, butterflies and bumblebees, thus helping to preserve and improve the biodiversity of the area in which it is used. The grey-green foliage is also decorative and fragrant to the touch. Wild lavender is suitable for adding a lively and elegant colour accent to terraces and balconies in planters or pots, as well as to flowerbeds and borders, also in composition with other ornamentals.

Variety description

This lavender differs from common lavenders in that it has a silky leaf and is a perennial that does not tolerate cold and high humidity. It flowers profusely in spring and summer. In contrast to the classic common lavender there are a wide range of colours.

Curiosities and special features

Lavandula stoechas, used in antiquity in traditional medicine, is today used as an ornamental but also in herbal medicine, aromatherapy, cosmetics and for honey production. Its flowers can be cut for compositions and potpourri.

The generic term, Lavandula, comes from the Latin word lava, meaning to wash as lavender was commonly used during bathing, while the specific epithet, stoechas, refers to the French islands called Stoechades, where the plant was first identified.

Origin and distribution

Native to the dry and semi-arid climates of north-west Africa and the Mediterranean basin, particularly Italy, France, Greece, Spain, Portugal and Turkey, it was introduced in England and the United States in the 17th century. Today it is widespread throughout Europe in a wide range of cultivars with distinctive spiky Inflorescences.

Flower size

The flower is small in size, clustered in an elegant inflorescence.

Leaf

Leaf with needle-shaped lamina.

Flowering period

Abundant flowering occurs from mid-winter to summer and lasts between 90 and 120 days.

Inflorescence

Inflorescence panicle.

Leaf colour

Solid colour shades, in perfect colour balance with the flowers.

Plant height

The height of the plant varies from 0.25 to 0.4 m, suitable as a second tier plant within mixed compositions.

Lifespan

Perennial plant.

Where to plant

It is an excellent solution for decorating contexts such as balconies, planters, tubs The persistence and continuity of the flowering makes it suitable for adding a touch of colour to your green spaces even in situations of full sun exposure.

Stem

Herbaceous stem, the variety has no thorns.

Flower

The flower is simple in form, small in size, with a dialipetal corolla and plain petals. It is arranged in medium-sized panicle-like inflorescences. It flowers from mid-winter to summer, with a flowering period of between 90 and 120 days. It is unmistakably unscented, with a delicate aroma. It is attractive to bees, butterflies and bumblebees.

Growth

Varieties with globular growth.

Plant habit

Plant habit is characteristically upright, giving the plant a compact and well-proportioned appearance.

Branching

Theabundant branching gives a pleasant decorative appearance with colourful flower patches within a dense, rich vegetation.

PH

The optimal pH of the soil or substrate is slightly acidic, averaging between 6.0 and 6.5.

Soil preparation

Before transplanting into the garden at the end of spring, carry out light digging to eliminate any weeds, residues of previous crops and bulky stones, then bury organic or chemical fertiliser, which will provide the nutrients necessary for the seedling's initial development, and break up the coarser clods to obtain greater softness; if the soil is excessively compact and has poor drainage capacity, it is preferable to bury sand. To further improve drainage, preventing harmful water stagnation, continue with a slight ballasting to create a raised bed, then add professional substrate for flowering plants to the surface to a height of about 5/10 cm and carefully level.

Sun exposure

Prefers half-shade, light shade, full Sun exposure for best flowering.

Ideal climate and temperature

The biological temperature is between 6 and 28 °C. The ideal temperature is between 10 and 25 °C; it tolerates hot and dry climates.

Use

Always appreciated by landscapers and gardeners at all levels of experience as a plant in the

Outdoor ornamental Aromatics

Hardiness

The rusticity is medium-low, adapting to hot and dry climatic conditions.

Soil

The ideal soil for use in flowerbeds is medium-textured, peaty and well-draining; a substrate of peat and perlite is recommended for planters and pots.

Difficulty

It is fairly easy in terms of cultivation and maintenance, the level of management effort is low.

Growing tips

For maximum growth and flowering, it is recommended to
Expose the plant to maximum light Avoid over-watering Prefers cool climate Exposure to direct light

Combinations with other plants

In flowerbeds as well as in pots or planters, it is possible to create well-proportioned overall compositions with a refined colour balance by combining it with other lavender species or with Allium cristophii, Allium shoenoprasum, Cistus, Dianthus, Helianthemum, Salvia officinalis, Thymus.

Planting

We recommend an average bedding density of 5 plants per square metre in order to ensure proper development of each specimen and thus obtain formally proportionate compositions. We suggest positioning the seedling on a raised bed with the collar outside the soil surface, making sure that the root ball is well moistened.

Propagation

It can be multiplied by apical cuttings.

Watering

Use rainwater, or alternatively aqueduct water with a sub-acidic pH optimum, either manually or by irrigation. When transplanting, assist the seedling to ensure proper development in the new site by keeping it at a constant humidity free of stagnation. Afterwards allow the soil or substrate to dry slightly between one watering and the next, avoiding both dry strikes and excessive watering resulting in harmful waterlogging.

Fertilising

During pre-transplant soil preparation, carry out base fertilisation by burying organic or chemical fertiliser. Subsequently, during the spring-summer period and preferably in the morning, apply a specific slow release granular fertiliser for ornamentals at the base of the plant, without exceeding the frequency and doses applied.

In order to favour a correct development of the root system and therefore a good rooting of the new plants, it is important to remember that the roots will generally develop beyond the projection of the foliage, which is very useful information for anticipating subsequent watering and fertilising.

Pet safety

Ingestion toxicity to pets not known; consider case-specific.

Edibility for humans

Non-edible.

Toxicity for humans

Toxicity not known, avoid ingestion.

Tip

Never water the plant from above. Never let the soil loam dry out otherwise the inflorescences will never recover. Do not plant in clay soil and soil with high waterlogging.