Plant Care Guides / Outdoor & Coastal / Herbs and aromatics
Exotic (Mediterranean) | Easy Care | Herbs and aromatics
Lavender is the classic Mediterranean aromatic shrub, and it thrives in the hot, dry, well-drained, windy conditions of the St Francis Bay coast. The grey-green, aromatic foliage smells wonderful year-round, and the spikes of purple, blue or pink flowers in spring and summer are a magnet for bees and butterflies.
Margaret Roberts is the most popular variety here, bred in South Africa for our conditions. Lavandula Allardii Meerlo is a striking variegated form with cream, green and grey leaves. All lavenders share the same basic needs: sun, drainage, not too much water, and an annual clip to keep them compact.
50 cm to 1 m depending on variety. Margaret Roberts is about 60 to 80 cm.
Moderate.
Border edging, herb garden, scented pathway, container, cottage garden, potpourri and cooking. Plant it along a pathway where you will brush past and release the fragrance.
Full sun. It needs hot, sunny, open conditions and good airflow.
Well-drained, sandy or gravelly soil. It thrives in the lean, sandy conditions here and does not need rich soil. Avoid heavy, waterlogged ground. It prefers slightly alkaline to neutral soil, which suits the coastal conditions here well.
Low once established. Overwatering is more dangerous than underwatering. Water while settling in, then leave it to cope on natural rainfall.
Minimal. It does not need rich feeding and performs better in lean soil.
This is the essential maintenance task. Clip lavender back by about a third after flowering, shaping it into a neat mound. Do this every year without fail. If you skip it, the plant becomes woody, bare and leggy at the base and will not recover. Never cut back into old, bare wood; it does not resprout.
Ask about availability. WhatsApp us to check what is currently in stock, or visit the nursery and we will help you choose the right plant for your spot.
