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Spanish lavender in Scotland
so my first ever plant purchase was 15 spanish lavender plants which I've planted round the perimeter of a herb garden. Being my first ever Purchase, if no idea it was Spanish and therefore not really suitable for a Scottish climate.
I wasn't sure whether to dig them up and move to the garage? Is it too late now? We've had a couple of days of snow and a few days of zero temp wise. I'd put mulch round the base. I'd looked at cloches but with so many plants it would be really expensive plus with the wind here they probably wouldnt last long!
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Lavendula stoechas ( the ones with the bunny ears) are generally thought to be tender. It depends quite a bit on the drainage, grown on thin poor soil, with sharp drainage, they will be hardier than soft growth on rich soil with poor drainage.
If you have had snow, it is probably too late. Even here in the midlands, they do not usually survive a winter outside. I usually pot them with a lot of grit, but lately I have given up, as I have a bed of L. angustifolia which is pretty hardy, and I just shear it over each spring.
Mine died in the December cold snap (South East), with snow but was fully potted in grit. Definitely tender as mentioned above
Last edited: 10 February 2018 12:01:02
I'd add to that ... check and see if anyone is growing it for more than one year ... that will indicate that it's survived your winter ... just seeing some in next door's garden might simply reveal that they've been tempted, like you .... and will live to count the cost.
As has been said, we've all done it ........... and every dead plant is an opportunity to choose another one
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I am in Fife and the above varieties are really hardy here - the French not so. I have just replaced lavender plants at my front door which were nigh on 20 years old!!
Can I ask what variety you had success with? I really like having it just outside the window! I'm devastated - just counted and there are 18 plants! What a waste! I wish I'd known!
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Is there something bright I can grow along the length of the wall that won't die quickly? It's a bit of a wind tunnel! I prefer things with a bit of structure...
Nadine12, Muddled-Up suggested Angustifolia Mustead and Hidcote, and I agree both are suitable for your area, but as mentioned, they may need to be replaced depending on your soil and pruning. I would say, it's still a good option.
If you make sure the soil is worked over very well, and you have plenty of grit, you could look into Russian Sage, Perovskia 'Little Spire'. Gives you a similar effect in summer and in the winter, the remaining structure is bright white stems, and they hold their shape very well, so I think a really good plant to have for year round structure. Just prune back hard in March, and new growth will start all over again. They can withstand temperatures down to -15. That's another option.
...as an afterthought I am just planting seeds of lavender Hidcote. They take a while to germinate but then you can have lots of plants for very little outlay.....
and as a second afterthought, if you live near a Lidl they usually do an offer in Spring of a dozen small lavender plants for around as fiver - worth looking out for
If that is a current picture of th eplants you may get away with it with good drainage on top of a wall. Try fleecing over them or a polythene cloche.
I took the pic today so will get ordering some fleece! Thank you!