Lavandula angustifolia 'Ashdown Forest'

Lavender is one of the most popular small garden shrubs. Plants have narrow, oily and aromatic evergreen leaves and bear dense spikes of small tubular flowers in summer. Lavandula angustifolia is commonly known as English lavender. Most varieties yield purple flowers, but some cultivars come in white or pink. Nearly all cultivars and hybrids are extremely attractive to bees, butterflies and hoverflies. They make an excellent cut flower – both in fresh and dried arrangements.

Lavandula angustifolia ‘Ashdown Forest’ is a bushy lavender, bearing pale purple flowers over grey-green foliage. Grow it as an informal low hedge or towards the front of a sunny border.

For best results, grow ‘Ashdown Forest’ in well-drained soil in full sun. Cut back the flower stalks after they have finished, and then trim back plants in April, if necessary.