Product Review

Lavandula angustifolia is old-fashioned favorite of gardeners everywhere, and it is rich in essential oil making it very fragrant both fresh and even once it is dried. This variety, Munstead, reaches 18 - 20 inches in height and nearly 30 inches in width making a nice compact plant that works well in flower beds and gardens. Munstead produces dark violet-blue blooms that have a lovely fragrance and a long bloom season. The foliage is pale gray-green and also nicely aromatic. Lavender is a perennial that is heat and drought tolerant. The fragrant blooms attract bees and butterflies all summer long, and the blooms are nice for cutting and drying as well. Lavender is usually resistant to both deer and rabbits. In the spring, start the seed indoors 6 - 8 weeks before the last expected frost. Press the seed into the soil, cover the seed very lightly, and keep it moist. With a temperature of 72 - 75F, germination is normally within 21 days. After danger of frost has passed, transplant the seedlings outdoors and space the plants 20 inches apart. Lavender prefers to grow in full sun and in gritty, sharply-draining soil. Trim plants back in the early spring to encourage bushier growth. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage continuous blooming.