Avice Hill English Lavender

Avice Hill English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia 'Avice Hill') is a compact, richly scented lavender bred in New Zealand for high quality perfume and oil. It forms a shrub 50 to 60cm tall and wide, woody at the base, with bright silver-grey foliage and long, slim stems of cool, light purple flowers in spring. You may also see it sold as 'Impressions'.

Why you'll love it

• A deep, complex scent. It was developed for premium fragrance work, so it carries that sweet, vintage lavender perfume in good measure.
• Silver and purple. Bright silver-grey new foliage sets off the cool light purple flower spikes.
• Cold hardy. English lavenders are much hardier in the cold than Italian or French types, and an established plant tolerates frost where drainage is good.
• Good for cutting. The long, slim stems suit the vase and drying for arrangements or potpourri.
• Bee friendly. The spring flowers are a good pollinator plant, and the compact shape fits small gardens.

Where it works best

Low hedges and borders. Plant 50cm apart for a neat half-metre hedge along a path or garden bed, trimmed lightly after each flush of flower.

Patio pots. It is compact enough to sit in a large pot beside a seat, where the perfume can be enjoyed up close.

Cottage and cutting gardens. Grow a few plants at the front of a sunny bed, and use the long stems indoors in summer.

Growing Avice Hill English Lavender in Australia

Position and climate. Give it a sunny position. It will tolerate lower light, though flowering will be affected. English lavender is at home in cool, dry climates, and Avice Hill is drought tolerant once established. In humid gardens, favour a pot or a raised bed.

Soil. Plant in free draining soil. It dislikes wet feet, so mound heavy soils and add coarse sand.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly for the first 12 weeks. Feed once a year with slow release fertiliser after flowering to keep growth compact.

Pruning. Prune twice a year, removing no more than a third of the foliage, and never cut into old wood. Lavender can upset cats and dogs if a lot is eaten.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Avice Hill English Lavender as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly once planted. It arrives small and upright, then bulks up into a tidy mound as the weather warms. Tube stock comes from our grower and is sometimes unavailable. A sold out tube means the grower has none today, and the notify button on the page will email you the day it returns.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse all lavenders
• How to care for lavender in Australia
• Low hedge plants under 1 metre
• Bee and butterfly friendly plants

Common questions

Is Avice Hill the same as 'Impressions'?

It is sometimes sold under that name, so you may see both. Both names refer to the same compact English lavender bred in New Zealand.

When should I cut the flowers for drying?

Cut the stems when the lowest flowers on the spike have opened and the rest are in bud, then hang them upside down somewhere airy and dark.

Does it grow in humid weather?

English varieties like this one are more resilient to humidity than many lavenders, but still need sharp drainage. Choose a sunny spot, a raised bed or a pot, and avoid wet feet.