Italian Lavender

Italian Lavender 'Avonview' (Lavandula stoechas 'Avonview') carries deep purple flower heads topped with two upright bracts, held above grey green aromatic foliage. It forms a rounded bush about 80cm tall and 80cm wide, and flowers earlier and for longer than English lavender in most Australian gardens. Frost hardy, drought tolerant and content in poor soil, it is genuinely low maintenance once established.

Why you'll love it

• Scent you brush past. Both foliage and flowers are aromatic, so it earns a spot along a path where people walk close.
• A long flowering season. The purple heads come in repeat flushes rather than one short burst.
• Built for dry, poor ground. Drought, heat, salt air and thin soil are all handled, which suits coastal and inland gardens alike.
• Bees and butterflies. Few plants of this size do more for pollinators through the warmer months.

Where it works best

Low hedging and borders. Plant 60cm apart for a soft informal hedge. At that spacing the bushes touch without pressing into each other, keeping air moving at the base.

Mass planting and rockeries. The same spacing works for a drift, and the grey foliage sits well against gravel, stone and dry stacked walls.

Pots and hot courtyards. A 300mm pot of gritty mix in full sun suits it, and the raised position helps in gardens with heavy soil.

Growing Italian lavender in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun all day, with airflow around the plant. It suits Mediterranean, warm temperate, cool temperate and arid gardens, and it is frost hardy. Humid tropical and subtropical summers are its weak point, where warm wet air brings on stem rot.

Soil. Sharp drainage is not negotiable. Poor sandy ground suits it, and on clay plant on a raised mound. Use gravel rather than heavy organic mulch, kept clear of the stems.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer, then only in prolonged dry weather. Feeding is barely needed, and rich soil produces soft leggy growth with fewer flowers.

Pruning. Trim by about a third after each flush, cutting into green growth only. Lavender does not reshoot reliably from bare wood, so a plant left untrimmed for a few years cannot be brought back.

What to expect when it arrives

It is sold as tube stock and as 140mm plants in packs of ten. Tubes are the economical choice for a long border and usually flower in their first full season, while 140mm plants give a visible bush within months.

Foliage may look flattened after transit, which is normal. Plant into free draining ground, water in once, then wait until the soil dries. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, minimum order of $300 before delivery, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read our guide to the most fragrant plants for a garden.
• Browse other fragrant plants for the same bed.
• See what else supports bees and butterflies.
• Compare more drought tolerant plants for a dry garden.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a low hedge?

Sixty centimetres apart. The bushes meet within two seasons and stay dense, while closer planting traps moisture between them.

Is lavender safe around cats and dogs?

No. Lavender is toxic to cats and dogs if eaten, and the essential oils can also irritate skin. Plant it away from areas where pets graze or dig.

Will it grow in a humid subtropical garden?

It can, but it is short lived there. Give it the sunniest, most open, best drained position you have, and accept replacing it more often than a southern gardener would.

How do I stop it going woody?

Trim lightly and often, taking a third off after each flowering flush and never cutting into bare wood. Regular trimming is the whole difference between a dense plant and a sprawling one.