Lavandula angustifolia Bleu de Gien - True Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia 'Bleu de Gien' is a new variety of English lavender that stands out for its particularly long summer flowering and its excellent winter performance. In summer, it produces numerous well-filled spikes, with a captivating fragrance, which are a deep but bright violet-blue colour that catches the eye. The plant also charms with its small, evergreen, grey-green foliage that remains impeccable in winter. This compact lavender is ideal as a background plant in a border or in a rock garden. In the garden or in a container, it thrives in well-drained, not too rich soil, in full sun.

Lavandula angustifolia, sometimes called English lavender is a low shrub of the Lamiaceae family, related to sage, thyme, and rosemary. This montane species is widespread on limestone and rocky soils. The 'Bleu de Gien' variety forms a small-sized shrub, reaching 40 cm (16in) in all directions, with a flexible, dense, and erect habit, forming a rounded clump. Its decorative foliage persists in winter and does not discolour under the effect of cold and rain. It consists of aromatic, narrow leaves with rolled edges, of a beautiful grey-green colour. From June to August, this lavender is covered with a multitude of highly coloured, fragrant, and nectar-rich flowers, carried by cylindrical spikes at the end of thin, leafy, woody stems. It is actually the coloured calyxes, surrounding the flowers, that influence the perception of the colour of the inflorescence when viewed from a distance. In 'Bleu de Gien', the bright colour of the spikes is intermediate between blue and vivid violet.

This 'Bleu de Gien' lavender is hardy, but like most other lavenders, it needs to be planted in full sun in well-drained soil (even rocky soil), in a slightly raised bed, on a slope, or in a rock garden. In sunny and warm locations, its foliage will be more vibrant, and its flowers will exude an intense fragrance. An ornamental and Mediterranean plant par excellence, lavender can be used in a border, as a specimen plant, in a rock garden, in a container, by the seaside, and even as a low flowering hedge.

To imitate nature, one can be inspired by a scene that can be found on the hills of the Mediterranrean, by associating 'Bleu de Gien' lavender with small grasses such as Stipa pennata or Stipa tenuifolia, with their tousled appearance.  These will contrast with its rounded shape. It will also work wonders when paired with evening primroses, perennial flax, astragals, euphorbias, or dark-coloured shrubs. Its association with pink roses (The Fairy, Eglantyne...) is perfect. You can also create beautiful containers to place on the patio or balcony. It is also possible to mix several lavender varieties together, creating an elegant display with a variety of flower and foliage colours, as well as plant sizes and volumes.

Properties: As lavender is a very nectar-rich plant, it contributes to the preservation of bees: the nectar from its flowers attracts bees, making it one of the most renowned honeys.  The plant can be distilled to obtain highly sought-after essential oil for perfumery and aromatherapy. Its numerous therapeutic properties are still widely used: its essential oil has antiseptic, antispasmodic, healing, cleansing, diuretic, and other properties.