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ShrubsConservatory Greenhouse

Lavandula 'Helmsdale'

lavender 'Helmsdale'

A shrub up to 70cm high, with a compact habit, evergreen, aromatic, linear, mid-green to dark green leaves up to 4cm long, and flowering stems up to 12cm long topped by spikes 2-4cm long of fragrant, very dark violet-blue flowers with dark reddish-purple bracts, from late spring or early summer

Synonyms

Lavandula 'Genghel'
Lavandula stoechas 'Helmsdale'

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Plant nurseries
4 suppliers

Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Sand

Loam

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Neutral, Acid

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Lamiaceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Lavandula are small aromatic evergreen shrubs with usually narrow, simple, entire, toothed or lobed leaves and small tubular flowers in dense spikes in summer
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained soil in a sheltered, sunny position. In colder areas, may need protection from very low temperatures and excess winter wet. Also suitable for growing in containers that can be overwintered in an unheated greenhouse. See lavender cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings in late summer, or by softwood cuttings of new growth in early summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Wildlife gardens
Coastal
Mediterranean climate plants
Cottage and informal garden
City and courtyard gardens
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

Pruning group 10, in early spring or mid-spring

Pests

May be susceptible to rosemary beetle, and to cuckoo spit (froghopper or spittle bug nymphs)

Diseases

May be susceptible to grey moulds (Botrytis) and honey fungus (rarely)

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