Lavandula Angustifolia Munstead
Lavandula Angustifolia Munstead and other Lavenders
The Lavender Angustifolia in our front raised border reached the end of its lifespan. This plant had edged the rose bed for four years.
We will start of with the common form of Lavender, Angustifolia often referred to as English Lavender.
The very robust angustifolia, in spite of being pruned each year started to look very woody and also had much less living shoots. Of course the very severe Winter of 2010 did not help. This deterioration is not unusual with Lavender, although I thought that I might just get another year out of the plants
Since planting this hedge of angustifolia the amount of butterflies that came to the garden increased dramatically. As well as the more common species of butterfly which we would normally get, we more regularly got visited by the Peacock, and Painted lady which previously we seldom would see in the garden.
Angustifolia is very much the common form of English Lavender which can grow to a height of 4ft. In our garden it hung over the wall of the raised border looking quite impressive but kind of overwhelmed the bed of the HT Rose Laura Anne.
Plant your Angustifolia in a position which gets full sun. Help to prevent your plants from getting woody by pruning back after flowers have gone over.
Lavender will find its way back in our garden soon, the one below we spotted in Raemoir garden centre in the Summer last year really caught our eye, (lavender angustifolia blue cushion) what a beauty it is.
This compact free flowering form is said to be fully hardy and would be expected to flourish in the Aberdeen area. The flowers start off a deeper shade of blue lightening as they age but still a clear blue and not peely wally like some of the varieties, height is about 45cm/18 inches. this is one which at some time I will find room for.
After the removal of Angustifolia we decided to have a change from the Lavender in this raised border so we opted for Alchimilla Mollis Auslese and the hardy geranium jolly bee.
This set up gives the Roses a little more breathing space. We did miss the Lavender and decided to plant three of the dependable variety Lavendula Angustifolia Munstead, they are placed at the very bottom of this raised border and I wouldn’t be surprised if at some time we replant the Lavender hedge in full again this time using the variety Munstead.
Munstead is very much shorter than the standard form of Angustifolia and our plants in their second year have clumped up nicely reaching a height of about 18 inches.
The purple/blue flowers are extremely attractive, a little paler in colour than the more often seen variety Hidcote. We have had Hidcote in the garden in the past but it is not as hardy as Munstead which is the one which I would recommend for the Aberdeen area.
As you can see above the variety Munstead is really more suited for this raised border than was the form of Angustifolia which you see at the top of this page. Well I am saying its more suited, perhaps you may not agree.
At one time we had great difficulty getting Lavender to come through the Winter. The main problem was planting in an area that did not have the very good draining ability that is absolutely essential for Lavender. This position where they now are, just hard up against the wall of the raised border is just ideal. To make sure drainage was sufficient I added a fair amount of grit to the soil when planting and I top dressed with the grit also.
Another important issue with Lavender is the pruning. The flowers of Munstead first open in early July and go on until September. I don’t like to be too severe with the pruning as an early Winter may cause a fair amount of damage. I cut back the faded bloom stems in September then in mid April I trim the plants back further taking care not to go too far into the old wood.
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Last year, around mid August along with my young grandson Curtis we went off to visit Balmedie Beach. Its about seven miles north of Aberdeen and I honestly think it must be one of the most outstanding beaches in the UK Donald Trump also seems to think so also, considering the money he has spent developing a golf course within the area.
When I was young in the 60s Balmedie beach was a favourite place where we would picnic. You may think with our cool weather, that visits were infrequent. However large sand dunes are plentiful and provide marvellous shelter making temperatures between 65 and 70f feel comfortably warm.
This year also in mid August when our eldest daughter was visiting with her family she decided that we should head off to Balmedie, it was 7pm a bit on the late side but off we went anyway. They live in Cheshire and I think she wanted to impress my son in law, plus she has difficulty sitting still for more than fifteen minutes. We arrived at our destination about thirty minutes later, here is a few pictures of our early evening trip.
Not much further
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The Gulls seem quite content.
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On our way back to the car we came across this. A second world war beach look out (Pillbox)
Time to go home.
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We only have four Daylilies in the garden, some years they are late in coming into bloom. Two of them didnt stand a chance as they were completely crowded out with our habit of over planting an area, I will pot them up and see if I can find better positions for them next year. Two of them did manage to start blooming in mid August. I don’t know the names of them though.
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Looks like we will have some Tomatoes from the greenhouse
If you happen to leave a comment I will be sure to visit your site and do the same
Hello Charlotte, you should be able to grow Lavender in Derbyshire. The main reason for Lavender dying off is poor drainage. They really cant cope with it. When planting mix loads of grit in amongst the soil and then add a layer of grit around each plant. Cutting back always ensure there is fresh growth below the point of where you are pruning on the stem.
Hello, very interesting post ????
I planted lots of munstead last year (in derbyshire) and 1/2 of it has pretty much died a death already, no new growth/flowers on it. Wondering whether to replace (25or so plants) or try something else. I failed to cut it back in aug/sep though, didn’t realise that. Also when you say taking care not to cut into old wood, it all looks old to me? Any tips?
My lavender doesn’t do even half as well as yours. All leaves, no flowers.
ps. Your tomatoes look so juicy.
I think the current set up is probably an improvement Jennifer.
Hi Alistair, Some helpful tips on growing lavender. I am sure you miss the Lavender Angustifolia in the raised border I think you are right when you say the Alchimilla Mollis Auslese and geranium give the roses more breathing room. The roses are hardly visible behind the pretty sea of lavender.
Hi Carolyn, I just noticed on a visit to my mothers sheltered housing complex, they have what looks like Lavender Hidcote growing in a border which is fully north facing. I was really surprised to see this.
SB, I am now convinced that the short lifespan of Lavender is not only an Aberdeen thing.
Sunil, I did get information in a comment about a green Lavender, I think it was called Virdis
Hi Alistair, some lovely pictures there. We have a couple of lavenders, including Hidcote. I have trouble taking cuttings of them but sometimes they do take. There’s one we have which is quite large and flowers very prolifically, it’s a “greener” colour for a lavender and I wish I knew what it was called. I’ve also got a white one too. I’m at the stage now where I’ve got cuttings on the go, young plants potted up, mature lavenders in the ground and some old ones that need replacing so I’m getting into the cycle.
I have noticed that lavendar seems to have an expiration date. After a few years, it seems to struggle or suffer from drought and harsh winters. I do love it, however, so I always replace it. I love what you did in the bed. There is so much interest–worthy of a very long stare. You seem to have had a wonderful beach excursion…makes me yearn for such an excursion myself, Alistair. 🙂
There is no where on my property with enough sun and drainage to grow lavender. You are so lucky. I love the lady’s mantle, Jolly Bee, rose combo—gorgeous.
Hi b-a-g, I am still blogging fortnightly and getting in touch with my friends like yourself on the same week. As for blotanical, seems like when I was messing about with my website settings I mucked things up. It should be fine now, however, it is not. I have tried getting in touch with blotanical but unfortunately getting no response. I am really very sorry to hear that your mother had passed away, I will keep checking your blog to see when your comments have been turned on again. In the meantime take care, talk again soon.
Catmint, 30 years for a Lavender, I am reall impressed.
Hi alastair, I am a lavender fan too, so exciting for bees. One of my English specimens has lasted for 30 years and is still going strong. Others, like yours, last only a few years if I’m lucky. That beach could be in Australia, looked quite familiar landscape. I did travel to Scotland once in my mispent youth, loved the landscape and felt at home, except the weather was much colder than I am accustomed to. cheers, cm
Hi Alistair, your posts are not popping up in Blotanical, I thought it was because you were blogging fortnightly.
Both lavenders look great to me. I’m beginning to wish I’d bought coleus plantlets like you because I’m waiting for my seedlings to have a growth spurt. Never seen such a sandy beach in this country, all to yourselves – fantastic.
Oh me, I dont know, well actually they both mean very pale and insignificant in colour, or sickly looking.
Thanks so much for the clarification Alistair, but what the heck is a washed oot cloot? (Sounds bad…)
Also I forgot to mention how impressed I am that you have that beautiful beach so close by!
Linnie, I am always over planting, I am well aware when I do it but just cant help myself. As for peely wally, well for instance, a friend may say to you, your son is lookin affa peely wally. Meaning, he is looking like a washed oot cloot.
Great discussion of lavenders Alistair, so important, seems to me. Also I was happy to see you had to relocate some day lilies due to over planting, something I seem to do endlessly with everything. Tomatoes look great–I hope you have a pot of basil too.
But, peely wally? What IS that?
Thanks for dropping by Martin, I just love that beach.
That doesn’t seem very fair regarding the plugins Donna.
Love the lavender and the beach. Wat a wonderful place to take a walk. The long view with your daughter walking towards the horizon is quite a shot. On your comment on Jetpack, I do not have a site that is a .org, so I can not use the plugins.
I rather like your Alchemilla and geranium combination Alistair, it really sets the roses off a treat. The beach looks wonderful, and what a fantastic light quality. Stunning.
Yes Holley, I am the master of over planting.
I love lavender, but can only grow it in a few spots here where I have trucked in some sandy soil. I do like the geranium and alchimilla in that bed, though. They really set off the roses well. I also enjoyed the beach trip. And while you were talking about your daylilies, I realized that I really like the look of your garden and the way you overplant. I guess the plants don’t always appreciate it, though!
Hi Crystal, your dog likes Lavender as much as our cat likes Nepeta.
I tried growing Lavender many years ago, but my dog at the time, a golden retriever, was not impressed and dug them up. He was a keen gardener.
Years later, I tried again, but my dog at the time, a cavalier king charles spaniel, was not impressed. You know where this is going.
Anyway, suffice to say, I cannot grow Lavender in my garden, and have to be content with viewing it in other people’s gardens instead. Your Lavender looks lovely.
Hi Helene, I am not sure what the name of the Coleus is. I bought them as a pack of mixed plugs from the garden centre in May.
Mark and Gaz, I was wondering if those seagulls were actually Terns.
Janet, I think Blue Cushion will be the next Lavender which I try out in the garden.
I like the look of “blue cushion” Alistair, but for the beach stole the post. Stunning.
A selection of beautiful photos and plants there Alistair! Do love that Lavender and the Alchemilla, and handy tips too! My favourite photo are the flock of seagulls along the beach, quite a sight to see them like that 🙂 Such a tranquil place
I used to have one Lavender ‘Hidcote’, but after 5 years it became very woody. I took some cuttings last year which survived the winter, but I think I made them too big, they became too leggy, so this spring I took cuttings from the cuttings, lots of them, and hope to have at least 20 plants by next year. They will probably take years to become big but hey, that’s gardening for you.
Loved your photos from the beach, reminds me of when I lived on the west coast of Norway, many years ago. Your deep red Coleus looks marvellous, what is it called? I have looked at one online called ‘Red Petticoats’ which I have on my wish list for next year, is that what you have?
Thanks for very good information about lavender, I am eager to get some back in my garden again, if my cuttings fail I will have to resort to some more online shopping 🙂
Hi Jane, it would be perfect if there were more days of sunshine like today.
Masha, in Aberdeen Lavender plants are unlikely to last longer than four years. I will check out Virdis although I don’t think it is for our climate.
Alistair, it is so lovely to see your lavenders. I am sorry your angustifolia had to go, but I hope Munstead will do better for you. My favorite lavender is l. viridii (green lavender) which has a sharp citrus fragrance.
The coastline is very pretty, thank you for the tour.
As always a selection of fabulous photo’s. So jealous that you live near such a beautiful beach too…is life not perfect up Aberdeen way!! x
Donna, I think we have to be careful with pruning after flowering especially those Lavenders still in bloom in early Autumn.
Astrid, I keep looking for more positions where Lavender may flourish in the garden.
Hi Alistair
GREAT post!! As I started reading, I thought: I’m sure I have Lavendula angustifolia ‘Munstead’ right by my little rabbit statue! I went out to check, pulled the tag and yup! It’s the one. In fact I purchased 3 more of the same for that area this past spring. I enjoyed seeing your large lavender hedge but can understand how it could become woody over the years. I like my little compact lavender and it comes back every year. I am Zone 5A.
Your Balmedie Beach reminds of the one we visited in Latvia this past summer, near Liepaja. Same thing – we walk through grasses (watch out for ticks 🙁 then across sand dunes and finally we got to a huge expanse of undeveloped beach on the Baltic Sea. In fact, it is forbidden to build hotels, etc so it may stay this wild and beautiful for a long time.
And those tomatoes? Bring on the toast and mayo – I’ll be over for lunch 🙂
Astrid
Excellent post … thankyou, Larry
Well Alistair so much to say…I grow all the lavenders I think you mentioned. They are hardy here as long as they have mostly sun and are in a dry spot. I love that hedge which gave me a thought about adding more lavender along our brick patio which looks much like your brick work there in the first shot. I had not thought about pruning them after they bloom as I leave the spent blooms until next spring. Perhaps the taller ones would like a bit more of a haircut.
The new rose bed is stunning. I knew you would have success with those tomatoes…and none of the pests as I have!
And I adore your shots of the beach and can see why The Donald is building there.
Thanks for the visit Hoover, give me a little of your climate please.
I am so impressed with your ability to grow lavenders in your climate. Your skill is first-rate.
I think the bed of roses, ‘Jolly Bee’, and Achemilla looks better, but the marvelous sweet fragrance of the lavenders is hard to resist.
In my climate all lavenders are effortless, but I also prefer the compact varieties as they look the best for the longest.