Lavandula angustifolia Hidcote Group

RHS Plant Profile

English lavender Hidcote Group

Shrubs

A group of lavenders comprising the varieties 'Hidcote', 'Gray Lady', 'Imperial Gem', 'Midnight Blues', and 'Tom Garbutt'. The cultivars vary in height from 50 to 120cm. They have evergreen, aromatic, linear leaves which vary in length between the cultivars from 2.5 to 5.5cm; 'Gray Lady', 'Midnight Blues', and 'Tom Garbutt' have grey leaves, while 'Hidcote' and 'Imperial Gem' have grey-green leaves. The flowering stems vary in length between the cultivars from 20 to 35cm, topped by spikes which vary in length from 2.5 to 6cm. All the cultivars have fragrant violet or violet-blue flowers around midsummer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Sand, Chalk, Loam

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years

Growing Conditions

Sand Chalk Loam

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Neutral or Alkaline or Acid

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Exposed or 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): H5
Drought Resistance: Yes

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower Foliage

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Lamiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: 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 full sun in well-drained soil; for more advice, see lavender cultivation

Propagation

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

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Wildlife gardens
Gravel garden
Coastal
Mediterranean climate plants
Cottage and informal garden
City and courtyard gardens
Flower borders and beds
Cut flowers

Pruning

Pruning group 10; deadhead after flowering. Trimming in late summer prevents plants from becoming straggly, but you can leave plants for a season to benefit wildlife with seeds or as shelter if you prefer. Avoid pruning in autumn in wet or cold regions as this may leave plants vulnerable to winter damage. Avoid cutting back into old wood

Pests

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

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus, grey moulds, lavender shab, and fungal leaf spots