Lavandula Stoechas "French Lavender" 14cm Pot

🌿 Lavandula stoechas – French Lavender

Botanical Name: Lavandula stoechas
Common Names: French Lavender, Spanish Lavender, Butterfly Lavender

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📌 Product Description

Lavandula stoechas, commonly known as French Lavender, is a compact, evergreen shrub admired for its distinctive pineapple-shaped flower heads topped with colourful bracts, resembling butterfly wings. Flower colours range from deep purple and violet to pink, creating a vibrant display from spring through early summer (and often again in autumn).

Highly fragrant and drought-tolerant, French Lavender thrives in sunny South African gardens, especially in coastal, temperate, and Mediterranean-style landscapes. Its compact growth and bold blooms make it ideal for borders, containers, and water-wise gardens.

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📏 Size When Fully Grown

• Height: 50 – 80 cm
• Spread: 50 – 80 cm
• Growth Habit: Compact, rounded evergreen shrub
• Growth Rate: Moderate

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🌱 Best Growing Conditions

• Light: Full sun (essential for strong flowering)
• Soil: Well-draining sandy or loamy soil; prefers slightly acidic to neutral conditions
• Water:
  • Moderate watering during establishment
  • Drought-tolerant once established
• Feeding: Light feeding in spring; avoid excessive nitrogen
• Maintenance:
  • Prune lightly after flowering to maintain compact shape
  • Do not cut into old woody stems
  • Ensure excellent drainage to prevent root rot

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🌦️ Planting & Growing Season (South Africa)

• Best Planting Time: Spring or autumn
• Flowering Season: Spring to early summer; may repeat in autumn
• Growing Season: Spring and summer
• Climate Suitability: Coastal, temperate, and semi-arid regions
• Frost Tolerance: Tolerates light frost; protect in severe cold

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🌼 Additional Benefits

• Distinctive “butterfly” flower heads
• Highly fragrant foliage and blooms
• Drought-tolerant and water-wise
• Attracts bees and pollinators
• Excellent for mass planting and containers

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🌿 Ideal Uses

✔ Water-wise and Mediterranean-style gardens
✔ Garden borders and edging
✔ Rockeries and dry beds
✔ Container and patio planting
✔ Pollinator-friendly landscapes