Lavandula 'Munstead'

An evergreen perennial, lavender 'Munstead' is a classic English lavender for U.S. gardens, renowned for its heavy midsummer bloom strength and its fine tolerance of heat, humidity, and even drought (once established). It makes a breathtaking hedge, but also shines as a border accent, mass planting, and even a container subject.

Reaching 12 inches high and 12 to 24 inches wide, this classic cultivar sports gray-green foliage. Highly aromatic, the foliage makes excellent sachets, potpourri, and more. It is heavenly to brush against in the garden, releasing its scent most strongly when touched.

In midsummer, the foliage is topped by masses of bright lavender-blue blooms, very full, rounded, and long-lasting. Bees and butterflies are drawn to this plant by the dozen, and you will be unable to keep yourself from cutting its stalks for fresh bouquets as well as everlastings. An herb, this Lavender contains essential oils that can be used in cuisine, but is such a fine garden presence that it is also widely used as a low hedge and mass planting. Spectacular!

Grow in a well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil in an open, sunny spot. Like all lavenders, 'Munstead' needs very well-drained soil, and prefers to be kept on the dry side (once established). Very tolerant of heat, humidity, and drought, it is a fine performer in the U.S. Trim back in spring to encourage bushier growth; also deadhead after flowering.

• Butterflies like a lot of sunlight, so locate your garden in a sunny area.
• If you live in a windy location, plant your butterfly-attracting plants near a building, fence, or hedge to protect them.
• Plant a variety of nectar-rich plants, as well as shrubs and evergreens for shelter.
• Since many butterflies and native flowering plants have co-evolved, try to put in some that are native to your area. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center provides lists of plants native to states and regions.
• Certain colors are particularly attracting to butterflies – red, yellow, pink, purple, or orange blooms that are clustered or flat-topped, with a short flower tubes are especially attractive to adult butterflies.
• Avoid using pesticides, especially around nectar-producing plants.
• Provide a shallow source of water – try a birdbath with pebbles lining the bowl.
• Place a rock in a sunny spot for butterfly basking and resting.
• Create a "puddling area" by digging a shallow hole filled with compost or manure where rainwater will collect and release essential salts and minerals.
• If you want butterflies to breed in your garden, put in some caterpillar food plants, such as parsley, milkweeds, asters, thistles, violets, clover, grasses, and Queen Anne’s Lace.
• Since butterflies need nectar throughout the entire adult phase of their lives, try to create a design that will allow for a continuous bloom – when one stops blooming, another starts.

Lavandula
Lavender

Planting:

Set plants in a dry, warm soil, spaced 12 to 18 inches apart, depending on the ultimate spread of the species you’ve chosen. Ample humus content and rather low fertility are best; choose a soil with excellent drainage as well.

Maintenance:

Clip or prune in spring, before the new growth starts, to promote bushiness and maintain desired height and form. Trim off flower stems after bloom in late summer. This is also a good time to trim back the foliage again, if desired, to develop a more compact bush.

Zones:

Zones 5-9

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