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LAVENDER
Few perennials can compare in popularity to the Lavenders. They are long flowering, easy to grow and very versatile as a garden or potted subject. More recent uses for this outstanding plant include border hedges, standard topiary and pottager gardens. With plant hybridizers both overseas and in New Zealand busy creating new varieties every year, we decided to ask Auckland Lavender specialist, GARY WINTER to tell us a bit more about these hardy Mediterranean shrublets.
KINGS: Gary, how do we choose the right Lavender for our garden?
GARY: Most people choose Lavenders according to size or their flower colour. Lavenders come in three main groups, each with their own characteristics.
Probably the most well know variety is Lavender Dentata or French Lavender. Dentata grows tall (2 metres) with long stems of blue flowers and toothed leaves. Then there are the Stoechas types, some-times called Spanish or Italian Lavender. These usually grow about half the height of Dentata with many of the hybrids sporting impressive flowers in a wide range, and soft grey-green foliage.
The last group are what we call English Lavenders. The popular varieties are generally dwarf in habit with fine, light flower stems.
KINGS: So Dentata for a tall hedge or back-ground, Stoechas types for medium size and English Lavenders for small border edges?
GARY: Yes, that's right. Of course you can trim to shape and should do so, especially after flowering, but you're better off starting with the right growth habit to begin with.
KINGS: You mentioned the many different Stoechas types. What are some of the best?
GARY: Well, Marshwood is still a very good New Zealand hybrid - big, soft plum feathers and early flowering. Pukehou and Avon View are popular too because of their intense, violet coloured flowers. Stoechas itself is fairly reliable too. Personally I'm a big fan of Major, which has proven over the last couple of seasons to be an excellent plant with wonderful dark plumes.
KINGS: Are there any varieties we should not buy?
GARY: Not really. Because Lavenders are so easy and trouble free by nature, there aren't really any that can't be recommended.
KINGS: What about latest releases?
GARY: We've been particularly happy with the new Van Gogh that was released through you guys in August. It's been great to see lemon coloured flowers because we are really getting into flower colours that are very different for Lavenders.
KINGS: What about the recently released Monet?
GARY: It's great! I guess there are a lot more people who would use Dentata more if it wasn't for its size. That's where Monet comes in. It's the perfect miniature of French Lavender and reliably recurrent in flower. Well behaved I guess you could say.
KINGS: We hear a lot about Lavenders as pressed flowers or for Pot Pourri.
GARY: Yes, it's an old idea that seems to be catching on again. You can use any Lavenders for these purposes, but tradition-ally it was the English varieties used because their higher oil content gave off a stronger fragrance. You just pick or strip the flowers just as they show colour and then press or dry them in a cool, shady place.
KINGS: These English Lavenders sound interesting.
GARY: Yes, the most popular would be the Lavender 'Pukehou'. Munstead and Hidcote strains because of their dwarf, compact growth habit. The true English type is usually called Spica and is still sold as a bigger growing variety to about one metre. The flowers of these English strains are a bit different to other varieties, clustered up a fine stem rather than fat and feathered. There's a reasonable colour range through blue, purple, white and even pink.
KINGS: What about Lavender ailments?
GARY: Well, that's easy... because there aren't very many. As long as the soil is free draining - planting on a mounded garden works really well - and there's plenty of sunshine, you shouldn't have too many problems. You might get a few caterpillars but bugs don't seem to like Lavenders. In fact I've heard of people planting them under fruit trees as a deterrent to codling moth.
KINGS: Any tips to those of us wanting to grow better Lavenders?
GARY: Just keep trimming after each flower flush finishes... that's the most important thing. You can feed them a little but they're not particularly hungry plants. Water them a bit through really dry periods, but not over their foliage if you can. Some gardeners cut early flower stems to encourage a plant to be vigorous when young. A light dressing of lime is usually beneficial too.
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