Picture – eBay
There are a few dozen species of Lavandula: many of them are well known, such as L. lanata or L. stoechas, and others that are not. This is the case, for example, of our protagonist: the Lavender x allardii.
It is not found in nature since It is a cross between two varieties man made: Lavender latifolia on the one hand, and tooth lavender other.
How is the Lavender x allardii?
Image – les-aromes-du-gres
It is a plant that when you see it, and even more so if you do it in winter, there may not be anything that particularly catches your eye, since it could certainly be confused with any other species. of lavender. Because? Because it is also an evergreen shrub (or false shrub), which It reaches an approximate height of one meter, and has a rounded and compact shape..
Its leaves are very small, about a centimeter long, elongated and glaucous green. And as for its flowers, when they grow, they can attract attention more easily than other Lavandula, because they are a little larger. In reality, This hybrid is said to be the biggest producer of the entire genus. They grow in spring and summer and are lilac-lavender in color.
The whole plant is aromatic.
What are the care Lavender x allardii?
It is a very interesting plant, which you can have in a pot or in the ground, and which you will not have to take care of too much. But on this site we like to educate you on all the care you need to give your plants, and this time it was not going to be any different. Precise:
Location
As soon as you buy it and as soon as you get home, you have to put it outside. But not only that, but it is also very, very important that you put it in a sunny position. Although it can tolerate some shade, provided it is very light and short lived, it is best if given full sun throughout the day so that its stems do not wither. (i.e. they do not elongate excessively during the direction of sunlight).
soil or substrate
- Flower pot: If you are going to have it in a pot or planter, it is recommended to use a good quality substrate, such as those sold by certain brands such as Westland, Boom Nutrients, Flower or others. Also, you should choose one with holes in its base.
- Court: If you intend to put it in your garden, the soil must be neutral or alkaline, clayey and well drained.
Irrigation
When do you water the lavender? The truth is that Needs to be done very occasionally if planted in the ground. Being native to the Mediterranean region, it is more than prepared to withstand long periods of drought, even if it coincides with summer.
Things change a bit if it’s in a jar. As the amount of soil you have is limited, and also the material with which the container is made can absorb a lot of heat and this contributes to said soil drying out even faster (which happens with plastic pots) , you are going to need to water on average twice a week during the hottest time of the year.
But if you have any doubts, the best thing to do is to take a wooden or plastic stick and see if the soil is wet or dry.
Subscriber
the maid It is highly recommended if you have your Lavender x allardii potted. As it has “little” soil (compared to what it would have if it were planted in the ground), it can quickly run out of nutrients, since the roots take advantage of it from the first day they come into contact with it.
Therefore, we have to pay it in the spring and until the beginning of autumn. In this way, you will be able to take advantage of these months when the temperatures are pleasant to grow as much as possible with the additional help of this compost or fertilizer that we will add to it. But what is the best product for her?
Well, since it is a plant that attracts many beneficial insects (butterflies, bees, etc.), I recommend that you use natural fertilizers such as guano -without mixing with fertilizers-, seaweed fertilizer, or worm humus for example. But if you prefer, you can apply a fertilizer for green plants (on sale here) or universal (on sale here) from time to time, following the instructions for use.
Transplant
Image – Nativeson // Lavender x allardii ‘Merlo’
the transplant it will be done in the spring, or at the latest at the beginning of summer. And in any case, the plant must have roots coming out of the holes in the pot, or at least have been there for more than two or three years.
hardiness
Frost resistant up to -7ºC.
What do you think of the Lavender x allardii?