Lavandula stoechas Anouk - French Lavender - Plant in 9 cm Pot

Lavendula stoechas are native to much of the Mediterranean area and North Africa and have been cultivated since the mid 16th Century in the UK. It has almost certainly been gathered for various uses, including medicinal, air freshening and insecticidal for much longer. Lavandula stoechas Anouk is a compact, evergreen, hardy, recent introduction with very aromatic grey green foliage and strongly fragrant, dark plum flower heads topped with long lasting violet blue bracts fading to a beautiful pink as they age. Lavandula stoechas Anouk produces flowers in abundance in flushes from as early as late May to September in mild years. Generally Lavandula stoechas are more fragrant and aromatic than Lavender angustifolia (Old English Lavender) but is a little less hardy and less tolerant of poorly drained soils. A beautiful small shrub, superb when planted massed in borders, as short hedges and in pots on the patio. Very attractive to Butterflies and Bees. Easy to grow in a full sun location in most well drained soil. Will grow well in poor and chalky soils. In pots and containers use a good quality John Innes compost to which 20% Horticultural Grit has been added to ensure free drainage. Ensure you feed regularly as a hungry plant is a poor performer. We recommend Osmoscote pro 8-9 month applied in the early spring. One application gives all the nutrients the plant requires for the whole year. John Innes is a soils based compost.