Munstead English Lavender

Munstead English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia 'Munstead') is the compact, free-flowering classic of the cottage garden. It grows 30 to 45cm tall and 30 to 60cm wide, with slender grey-green foliage and slim stems of dark purple flowers in spring and summer. The garden designer Gertrude Jekyll developed it more than a century ago, and it has stayed popular ever since.

Why you'll love it

• Compact and tidy. At under half a metre it suits edging, small beds and containers without crowding anything around it.
• Dark purple flowers. The blooms are rich in colour and very free flowering through spring and summer.
• Tough in cold and dry. It is frost hardy and drought tolerant, and English lavender copes with cold better than Italian or French types.
• Often flowers twice. Clip it over once the first flush finishes, and it will often flower again.
• Deer and rabbit resistant. The aromatic foliage is not what browsing animals go for, and the flowers draw bees and butterflies.

Where it works best

Edging and low hedges. Plant 40cm apart in a single row for a continuous scented edge along a path, bed or kitchen garden.

Rockeries and waterwise gardens. It enjoys gravel, sharp drainage and sun, and it needs little water once settled in.

Cottage borders and pots. Plant it at the front of a mixed border, or in a pot by the door. The dark flowers also suit cutting and drying for arrangements or potpourri.

Growing Munstead English Lavender in Australia

Position and climate. Plant in a sunny location. It will tolerate lower light levels, but flowering will be affected. It is right at home in cool, dry climates and tolerates frost once established if drainage is good. It is less happy in humid gardens, where a pot or raised bed helps.

Soil. Free draining soil is the one real requirement. Avoid wet feet, because root rot is the main cause of losses.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly for the first 12 weeks. Once settled it is drought tolerant. Fertilise once a year with slow release fertiliser after flowering.

Pruning. Prune twice a year, taking only a third of the foliage and avoiding old wood. Lavender can upset cats and dogs if they eat a lot of it.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Munstead English Lavender as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly once planted. It arrives small and bushes out within a season, then flowers more heavily each year. Our grower supplies the tube, so it is not always in stock. A sold out tube means the grower has none right now, and the notify button on the page emails you the day it is back.

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

• All lavenders in our range
• Lavender care guide for Australian gardens
• How to create a cottage garden in Australia
• Plants for pots

Common questions

Will it flower more than once?

Often, yes. It flowers freely in spring and summer, and clipping it over after the first flush encourages a second round.

How far apart should I plant it for edging?

Forty centimetres apart in a single row. The plants knit together into a continuous line within a season or two, without overcrowding the bases.

Can I cut it back hard if it gets woody?

No. Lavender does not reshoot from bare old wood. Clip lightly twice a year, taking only a third of the foliage, and the plant stays dense.