Munstead Lavender Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’

LATIN NAME: Lavandula angustifolia

COMMON NAME: Munstead Lavender

The Munstead lavender bobs the short, violet wands above the neat grey-green mound, the whole plant staying in the tidy, classic look of the sunny border. The hardy, evergreen shrub carries the narrow, linear, grey-green leaves along the short, woody, branching stems, and the small, violet-blue, tubular flowers in the short, dense spikes, on the slender stems, through the early summer, one of the tidy, fragrant sights of the sunny border, drawing the bees, to be followed by the small, dry, brown nutlets. The nutlets have a very long record as the fine, dwarf lavenders of the old gardens, and the plant is a historic presence of the sunny border. It is a plant of the open, sunny, light, gritty, well-drained ground.

Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology

The Munstead lavender is a historic subject of the plant science, and the violet spikes keep showing up in the work on the dwarf lavenders. The way the small, violet-blue, tubular flowers form in the short, dense spikes has been studied at length, and it keeps appearing in the studies of the dwarf lavenders, the narrow leaves and the members of the mint family. The nutlets and the tidy habit have also made it a fine study shrub, and the Munstead lavender is a regular subject of the work on the violet spikes of the temperate world.

Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications

The Munstead lavender is a tidy, useful plant of the sunny border and the study collection. The narrow, linear, grey-green leaves along the short, woody, branching stems carry the tidy look of the sunny border, one of the tidy, fragrant sights of the sunny border, drawing the bees, and the nutlets have a very long record as the fine, dwarf lavenders of the old gardens, the neat, low clumps coming to the hedges, the edges, the pots and the steady practice of the old gardens, while the small, violet-blue, tubular flowers in the short, dense spikes, on the slender stems, open through the early summer, to be followed by the small, dry, brown nutlets. It is one of the fine choices for the sunny border, the low hedge and the study collection, and it has been written up in the horticultural and the botanical papers for the violet spikes and the very long history. It is a tidy, useful plant of the open, sunny, light, gritty, well-drained garden.

The Munstead seeds germinate slowly in a gritty, sandy mix kept barely moist. The young plants are tidy and compact, and they enjoy the light, gritty ground of the low hedge.

To grow the Munstead lavender from seed, sow the small, grey seeds singly over the surface of the shallow pot of gritty, sandy mix, water gently, then keep the pot in a bright, airy spot. The seedlings appear within a few weeks, and they grow on slowly. With the sun and the light, gritty, well-drained ground, the violet wands will bob over the early summer.

Evergreen perennial (zones 5-9) boasting a mounded compact habit with subtle blue-green coloring and sweet fragrance. Growing to 12-18" high and 30" wide with 2-1/2" linear, downy leaves on strong stems. The leaves first open white, then turn a pale gray-blue-green color. Stalks of lavender flowers grow up to 12" tall. Munstead is one of the richest in essential oil, meaning more fragrance power, both fresh and dried. Great for fresh, fragrant cut flowers and dried in potpourri and satchets. Compact growth makes this perfect for containers and baskets in all zones. Prefers well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil in full sun. Trim back in spring to encourage bushier growth; also deadhead after flowering.