Lavandula 'Ellagance Snow'

Lavandula 'Ellagance Snow': Snow-White Spikes Glowing at Dusk

Pure white spikes on a tidy grey-green mound, smelling like a spa that charges way too much. 'Ellagance Snow' brings the whole RELAXATION PACKAGE, NO ROBE REQUIRED.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia 'Ellagance Snow'
• Common Name: English Lavender
• Height: 30–40 cm (12–16 in)
• Spread: 25–40 cm (10–16 in)
• Flowers: Pure white, fragrant spikes
• Bloom Time: Early to late summer (June to August)
• Foliage: Aromatic grey-green, forming a tidy, compact mound
• Features: Rabbit resistant

Where to Plant: Its small size makes it a natural for edging a sunny path, the front of a border, a rock garden or a container on a hot patio. White flowers glow at dusk, so plant it where you sit in the evening, and cut the flowers fresh or for drying.

Companion Plants: Plant 'Ellagance Snow' in a sunny, dry bed with dark alliums, red rosettes and tall yellow hollyhocks. Sempervivum 'Commander Hay' tucks in at the front at about 10 cm with big red rosettes. Allium atropurpureum opens deep purple-red heads at 60 to 75 cm in May and June. Alcea 'Sunshine' rises at the back to 150 to 180 cm with yellow hollyhocks from July to September. Pennisetum Prairie Winds® 'Desert Plains' adds red-tipped blades at 90 to 120 cm.

Plant Care: Give it full sun and soil that drains fast. Sandy or gravelly soil is ideal. Heavy, wet clay is the real enemy in our winters, so raise the bed or mix in grit if your garden holds water. Water through the first season, then only in long dry spells. Leave the plant standing over winter. In spring, once new green growth shows, trim it lightly to shape. Avoid cutting into old, bare wood, because lavender rarely regrows from it. A light shear after the first flush can tidy the plant and sometimes brings a few more flowers.

History: 'Ellagance Snow' is a seed-raised selection from the Ellagance series, introduced by Kieft Seeds of the Netherlands. English lavender comes from the dry hills of the Mediterranean, and the species name angustifolia simply means narrow-leaved.

Final Thoughts: Low maintenance, deer and rabbit resistant and a magnet for bees and butterflies. Plant a row by the hot tub. TREAT YOURSELF DAILY.