Lavandula 'Munstead'

Lavandula 'Munstead': Cold-Hardy Lavender from Jekyll's Garden

'Munstead' is the friend who smells amazing at every party and never once asks for a ride home. Lavender-purple spikes, silvery leaves and a scent that follows you around the yard. THE DEER TAKE ONE SNIFF AND KEEP WALKING.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia 'Munstead'
• Common Name: English Lavender
• Height: 30–45 cm (12–18 in)
• Spread: 30–45 cm (12–18 in)
• Flowers: Lavender-purple, fragrant spikes on slender stems
• Bloom Time: Early to late summer (June to August)
• Foliage: Narrow, silvery grey-green and aromatic

Where to Plant: Its small size makes it perfect for edging paths, lining a sunny driveway, filling a herb garden or growing in a container. Plant it in groups as a low, fragrant hedge, and use the flowers and leaves fresh or dried.

Companion Plants: Plant 'Munstead' in a hot, dry, sunny bed with partners that share its love of lean, well-drained soil. Gaillardia Low Rider™ edges the front with red and yellow daisies at 20 to 25 cm from June to October. Armeria Dreameria® 'Daydream' adds soft pink globes at 25 to 30 cm from May to September, pretty beside the lavender. Sedum 'Hot Stuff' brings bright pink heads at 25 to 30 cm in August and September, after the lavender's main flush. Muhlenbergia Undaunted® adds a fine mound that turns into a pink-red haze in September and October.

Plant Care: Choose full sun and well-drained soil. Sandy or gravelly ground is ideal, and a slightly alkaline soil suits it well. In heavy clay, plant it on a slope or in a raised bed so water drains away in spring. Water through the first summer, then only during long dry spells. Leave the stems standing over winter. In spring, after new growth appears, trim back lightly to keep it compact, staying above the woody base. Shearing off spent flower stems in summer keeps it neat.

History: 'Munstead' is named after Munstead Wood in Surrey, England, the home of the influential garden designer Gertrude Jekyll. The species, Lavandula angustifolia, is native to the Mediterranean, and its name means narrow-leaved.

Final Thoughts: Plant it along the path so every trip to the mailbox feels like a spa day. NO BATHROBE REQUIRED.