Lavandula angustifolia Munstead - True Lavender

The Lavandula angustifolia 'Munstead' is an excellent variety of true lavender, compact, vigorous and easy to grow. It forms a regular, dense and aromatic ball, and comes alive in summer with spikes of very bright blue-violet flowers, emerging from evergreen foliage of an ash green. This small fragrant lavender that ages well, without thinning out, is also distinguished by a good lifespan. It will thrive in a well-drained soil, even very dry in summer, rocky, in full sun.

The Lavandula angustifolia, also known as English lavender, is a plant of the lamiaceae family related to sage, mint, thyme and rosemary. This subshrub is native to rather mountainous areas of the Mediterranean basin. The 'Munstead' variety, obtained in England around 1916, is named after the famous property Munstead Wood, ruled by the great lady of gardening Gertrude Jekyll. This variety forms a very rounded bush, of small size, about 50 cm (20in) in all directions, with a dense and vigorous habit. Its decorative foliage, more or less evergreen in winter, is composed of narrow and aromatic leaves of a soft grey-green, which will be even lighter if the summer is hot and the soil is dry. In summer, from June to August depending on the regions, this lavender is covered with a multitude of very fragrant purple flowers, carried in cylindrical spikes of 15-20 cm (6-8in) long, at the end of thin woody and leafy stems. This nectar-rich and honey-rich flowering is visited by pollinating insects.

As an ornamental and Mediterranean plant par excellence, lavender can be used in flower beds, rock gardens, pots, seaside, and even as a low flowering hedge or in large borders. With its graphic and wild appearance, the color of its foliage and flowers, there are infinite possibilities for the gardener. Lavender 'Munstead' can be associated with grasses like Stipa pennata or Stipa tenuifolia, which, with their tousled appearance, will contrast with its rounded shape and reproduce a harmonious association, often found in nature. It will also work wonders when associated with evening primroses, perennial flax, euphorbias, gauras, or landscape roses. It pairs well with Iris germanica and a small Provençal bindweed called Convolvulus althaeoides. You can also create beautiful pots to place on the terrace or balcony. It is also possible to mix several varieties of lavender together, creating an elegant tableau with a variety of flower and foliage colors, as well as plant size and volume.

Properties: Lavender contributes to the preservation of bees: the nectar of its flower attracts bees, making one of the most famous honeys. In Provence, the plant is distilled to obtain a highly sought-after essential oil in perfumery and aromatherapy. Its many therapeutic properties are still widely used: its essential oil has antiseptic, antispasmodic, healing, purifying, diuretic properties, etc.