Lavandula stoechas subsp. stoechas 'Purple Wings'
French lavender
- Position: full sun
- Soil: fertile, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: average
- Flowering period: June to August
- Hardiness: borderline hardy
A compact cultivar that produces deep purple flowerheads with paler apricot bracts. Like most French lavenders, the flowers appear earlier than the English cultivars, so it is great for planting next to them if you want to prolong the season of lavender in your garden. The flowers are long-lasting and are a magnet for bees and other beneficial insects. It looks wonderful planted en masse in a protected, sunny border where its heady fragrance can be enjoyed - but it is equally happy in a container. - Garden care: Cut back the stalks after the flowers have faded to retain a compact shape, and carefully trim it back again in April, taking care not to cut into old wood. In frost-prone areas it is best grown in a large container and over-wintered indoors.
- Eventual Height: 0.4m
- Eventual Spread: 0.45m