Elegant Blue

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

A plant with thin, silky, grey-green leaves, fragrant to the touch, with deep purple, highly scented inflorescences.

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 medium in size, grouped in an elegant inflorescence.

Leaf

Leaf with needle-shaped lamina.

Flowering period

Abundant flowering occurs from late spring to late summer and lasts between 90 and 150 days.

Inflorescence

Inflorescence spike.

Leaf colour

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

Plant height

The height of the plant varies from 0.25 to 0.5 m, suitable as a second tier plant within mixed compositions.

Lifespan

Perennial plant.

Where to plant

It is an excellent solution to decorate settings such as flower beds, outdoor tubs, borders 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 has a simple, medium-sized shape and plain petals. It is arranged in medium-sized spike-like inflorescences. It flowers from late spring to late summer, with a flowering period of between 90 and 150 days. It is unmistakably fragrant, with an intense aroma. It is attractive to bees, butterflies and bumblebees.

Growth

Variety with medium to vigorous growth.

Plant habit

Characteristic bushy habit that gives 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 waterlogging, continue with a slight berm to create a raised flower bed, then add professional substrate for flowering plants to the surface to a height of about 5/10 cm and carefully level.

Sun exposure

It prefers an exposure in full sun for better flowering.

Ideal climate and temperature

The biological temperature is between 3 and 35 °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

Medicinal / phytotherapeutic field Outdoor ornamental field

Hardiness

The rusticity is average, adapting even 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 Balanced fertilisation Avoid over-watering Prefers warm and dry climate

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 12 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 out 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

Avoid planting the plants in poorly draining or clayey soils. If you want to limit the plant's development, prune halfway through the plant immediately after flowering.