|
Lavandula x heterophylla (Sweet Lavender) - An upright-growing dense shrub that grows to 4 to 5+ feet tall by as wide or wider with olive green narrow 3/4 inch long leaves and with spikes that rise one to two feet above foliage of dark violet-blue flowers arranged in whorls on the slender peduncles. Flowers are aromatic as is the foliage, which is somewhat reminiscent of cedar pencil shavings.
Plant in full sun in a well-drained soil and irrigate occasionally to very infrequently. This is a drought tolerant species that is hardy to at least 20° F. An extremely durable and drought tolerant shrub with flowers that attract bees and other pollinators but is not recommended for human consumption. While not as sweet a fragrance as other lavenders, we consider this variety to be the most durable lavender that we grow.
Though this plant has long been sold in the California nursery trade as Lavandula x heterophylla and it does appear to somewhat match the description of the originally described clone of this hybrid between Lavandula dentata and Lavandula angustifolia first were described growing in Paris in 1804, another thought is that it might be a clone of Lavandula x allardii, which is a hybrid between Lavandula dentata and Lavandula latifolia. This is because the original Lavandula x heterophylla described is shorter, has a more open habit and usually has some leaves with dentate margins while this plant is large with a dense habit and has no dentate leaves. Either way, this plant is one of the toughest lavenders that we grow and since we have been growing it as Lavandula x heterophylla since 1992, we continue to list it under this name. We have large old plants in the garden that actually exceed 6 feet in height and would be far wider if we didn't need to cut them back from the walkway the plants are adjacent to.
Information displayed on this page about Lavandula x heterophylla is based on our research conducted about this plant in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about it as it has grown in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.
|
