Description Description Lavender ‘Anna’® (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Anna’®) is a fragrant, compact, tidy evergreen shrub up to 0.5m in height and width. Grown in peat free compost, this Lavender has narrow grey green leaves and dark, deep purple flower spikes from July through to September. To get the most out of this flowering period, before the flowers turn, dead head them to get an extra flush. It is a variety of Hidcote, bread to be more resistant to fungal disease and thus makes for an excellent substitute. Lavender ‘Anna’® (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Anna’®) is part of the Lavandula angustifolia (English Lavender) family. Angustifolia means narrow leafed and these varieties originate originally from the Mediterranean and the mountains of northern Spain. It is hardy throughout most of the UK, having a RHS hardiness rating of H5 meaning it can tolerate temperatures down to -10 to -15C. Lavender should be positioned in full sun in soil with good drainage. Lavender is widely misunderstood in many ways. Many people think it hates water. From experience, I know this not to be true, lavender simply likes to be in well drained soil so it does not sit in the water for long periods of time. Though once established it is very tolerant of droughts. Given where it originates, this is hardly surprising. Despite not being native, despite its common name Lavender ‘Imperial Gem’ (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Imperial Gem’) is great for the local wildlife. Being high in pollen and nectar content, it attracts bees, moths, butterflies, birds and other pollinators. This makes them perfect for cottage, informal, low maintenance, city and courtyard gardens. Lavender ‘Anna’® (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Anna’®) also makes for the perfect dwarf hedge, capable of flanking a path or dividing a garden in to sectors. Due to its love of sharp drainage, it is perfect for being put on steep banks and suits Mediterranean garden well. Lavender ‘Anna’® (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Anna’®) is in RHS Pruning group 10. This means it should be pruned in early to mid spring. Lavender ‘Anna’® (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Anna’®) is not poisonous to livestock. Horses are generally fine to eat it and it can have a calming effect on them. Growth rate Slow Max dimensions Height up to 0.5m Width up to 0.5m Light levels Needs full sun Growing conditions Needs free draining soil Pruning RHS Pruning group 10, Prune after flowering when flowering is on the previous years growth Hardiness Hardiness level H5, meaning it can tolerate down from -10 to -15C Livestock Not generally poisonous to livestock or horses. Recent studies show it can help de stress horses Buying Lavender When buying a lavender it is important to know the different forms of hedging. For more information visit our page on Bare root, root ball, potted plants. When purchasing a hedge it is important that you give it every chance it can to thrive. For more information on planting visit our Planting page. Other shrubs and lavender we stock Rosemary ‘Miss Jessop’s’ goes very well with Lavender, creating a Mediterranean feel to the garden. Other angustifolia varieties we stock include: Lavender ‘Dwarf Blue’; Lavender ‘Miss Katherine’; Lavender ‘Imperial Gem; and Lavender ‘Twickel Purple’
