Lavender

Lavender Plants and flowers: 
Lavender 'Hidcote', Purple Ellagance, Phenomenal  and Purple Essence, Mini Blue, Early Blue Scent.

Lavandula angustifolia 'Essence Purple' PPAF

Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Common Name: Lavender-English

In our trials here at Walters Gardens, we have been trialing a lot of varieties of Lavender because it meets the needs of today’s home gardeners: it is long blooming, deer and rabbit resistant, drought tolerant, and very easy to grow. 

There are two varieties that have really stood out to us as the best of the best—‘Silver Mist’ for its intense silver foliage and ‘Essence Purple’ for its consistently outstanding landscape performance.  Both cultivars are scarce in the US trade but are destined to become very popular. 

‘Essence Purple’ forms a perfect rounded ball-shaped, uniform, dense clump of green, aromatic foliage.  In our trials, the plants retained their shape all season without opening up or discoloring. 

It starts to bloom about 10 days earlier than standard Lavenders such as ‘Hidcote’, producing a profusion of bright blueberry colored flower spikes for many weeks.  The stems are just the right length for cutting for fresh or dried bouquets.

If you’ve been growing the same varieties of Lavender forever, it’s time to give this new kid on the block a try.  You won’t be disappointed!  

Lavender has been grown for centuries for its intensely fragrant flowers and beautiful appearance. It is a staple item of every sunny garden, and its dried flowers are widely used in potpourris and arrangements.

Intro Year: 2012

Origin: Not Native to North America

CHARACTERISTICS:

Height:
  18 Inches

Spread:
  18-24 Inches

Flower Color:
  Purple-blue shades

Foliage Color:
  Green shades

Hardiness Zone:
5,6,7,8,9
Find Your Zone

Sun or Shade?:
  Full sun (> 6 hrs. direct sun)

Wet or dry?:
  Low water needs

Want to see wings?:
  Attracts butterflies

Need critter resistant plants?:
  Deer resistant
  Rabbit resistant

How fast should it grow?:
  Medium

When should it bloom?:
  Early summer
  Midsummer
  Late summer
  Early fall

Looking for seasonal interest?:
  Evergreen (in some or all zones)

How's your soil?:
  Poor Soil

Sweet or Sour Soil?:
  Neutral Soil (pH = 7.0)
  Alkaline Soil (pH > 7.0)

What's your garden style?:
  Container/Patio
  Prairie
  Cottage
  Formal
  Rock Garden
  Eclectic

Lavandula angustifolia ‘Mini Blue’

English Lavender

USDA Zone: 5-9

Lavender is actually a low-growing shrub, native to the Mediterranean region. The fragrant flowers and foliage make it a favourite for herb gardens and in the perennial border. This compact selection has grey-green foliage and features spikes of vivid blue. Prune lightly in early spring, if required, no harder than 4 inches. Lavender MUST have good drainage in order to avoid root rot problems. Will also grow fine in tubs or containers, but in colder regions the plants may then need shelter for the winter.

Lavandula angustifolia ‘Mini Blue’

Verbascum mixed colors

Information and photo from Heritage perennials:

Verbascum phoeniceum hybrids

Showy Mullein

USDA Zone: 4-9

Relatively unknown by gardeners, the Purple Mullein is a worthwhile perennial, especially for hot sunny sites. Plants form a low, ground-hugging rosette of crinkly green leaves, bearing upright stems or spikes of flowers in a range of soft pastel colours, from white through pink to rose and purple. Stems are tall and excellent for cutting. Although not a long-lived perennial, these usually self-sow. Seedlings are easily moved while small. Most effective when planted in groups towards the middle of the border. Also interesting in tubs or mixed containers.

Further details for
Verbascum phoeniceum hybrids

Optimal Growing Conditions	Appearance and Characteristics
Sun Exposure   Full Sun Soil Type   Normal or   Sandy or   Clay Soil pH   Neutral or   Alkaline or   Acid Soil Moisture   Average or   Dry Care Level   Easy	Flower Colour   Deep Pink   Light Pink   Mauve/Lilac   Mixed   Purple   White Blooming Time   Early Summer   Mid Summer   Late Spring Foliage Color   Deep Green Plant Uses & Characteristics   Accent: Good Texture/Form   Attracts Butterflies   Border   Containers   Cut Flower   Deer Resistant   Drought Tolerant   Rabbit Resistant   Massed Flower Head Size   Very Large Height    60-120 cm    23-47 inches Spread    30-45 cm    12-18 inches Foot Traffic    None Growth Rate    Fast

Growing Flowers for Summer Butterflies and Winter Birds

Here's a short list of easy to grow flowers for both butterflies in the summer and seed for the birds in the winter.

Sedum Autumn Joy and Fountain Grass

Coreopsis 'Brown Eyes'

Liatris or Gayfeather

Various Rudbeckias

Helianthus hirsutus  -Perennial Sunflower

Cosmos 

Sedums sp. great for bees, butterflies and later the birds

Rudbeckia- Black-Eyed- Susans -all varieties birds, bees and butterflies

Liatris- also called Blazing Star and Gayfeather

Coreopsis- is an excellent flower for both summer butterflies and winter seed sources

Cosmos- an easy to grow annual

Goldenrod- does not cause hayfever! A perfect flower for all winged animals and insects.

Coneflower or Echinacea

Sunflower - great to grow with kids

Butterfly Bush - a non-native species, still great for butterflies and winter birds

Perennial Asters of all types. Perfect food for the Juncos and sparrows that stay with us for the winter

Fountain Grass

Winterberry Holly

Snowberries - beneficial wasps pollinate and bird feed on the berries