Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote Blue’

Lavandula ‘Hidcote Blue’ flower (03/06/2011, London)

Position:  Will flourish in full sun.

Soil: Well drained.

Flowering period: Summer.

Eventual Height: 45cm

Eventual Spread:  60cm

Hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a

Family: Lamiaceae

Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ is an evergreen shrub with a tufted habit. Its foliage is simple, narrow and silvery-grey in appearance with a centre ridge.  It bears small, very deep violet, dioecious flowers in dense aromatic spikes, held above the foliage.

The species, Lavandula angustifolia, commonly known as English Lavender or Common Lavender, is native to the Mediterranean regions as far north as Switzerland. This plant has a long history as a source of an essential oil which has been used in perfumes, soaps and cosmetics.

Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ is also known as Lavandula spica ‘Hidcote Purple’ or Lavandula ‘Hidcote Purple’ and was created at Hidcote Manor in Gloucestershire, England by Major Lawrence Waterbury Johnston (1871–1958), who designed the gardens (now owned an maintained by the National Trust) as well as creating many popular cultivars including Penstemon ‘Hidcote Pink’ and Hypericum ‘Hidcote Gold’.

The etymological root of the binomial name Lavandula is the ancient Latin name of lavender plant. Angustifolia is derived from the Latin; angustus meaning ‘narrow’ and folium meaning ‘leaf’. ‘Hidcote’ is in reference to its origins at Hidcote Manor where it was selected.

Lavandula ‘Hidcote Blue’ (03/06/2011, London)

Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ may be useful to the landscape architect for its compact habit making an effective low maintenance ground cover when planted en mass. It will also tolerate short periods of drought.

Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ will tolerate almost any soil conditions; it will be happy in acid, neutral or alkaline pH levels, or in loam, sand, clay or chalk based soils but will not thrive in a north facing position and will prefer a sheltered location. It will not thrive in continuously damp soil.

Ecologically, Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ will attract many pollinating insects such as honeybees and the adult stages of some lepidoptera.

The Royal Horticultural Society have given Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ requires little maintenance. Flowered shoots and old stems may be removed to encourage new growth. A hard pruning is recommended once the plant has finished flowering as it will only produce flowers on new growth.