Lavandula angustifolia 'Melissa Lilac'

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 ‘Melissa Lilac’ is a gorgeous, lilac-flowered lavender, with fragrant, lilac flower spikes and silvery-grey leaves. Grow it towards the front of a mixed herbaceous border, use it to line paths or clip it into an informal hedge.

For best results, grow ‘Melissa Lilac’ 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.