The red flowered French (Spanish in the US) lavender (Lavandula stoechas) is a perennial of the Lamiaceae family that surprises with the unique colour of its flowers. It forms dense, fairly regularly shaped tufts that reach a height of 50 to 60 centimetres in Central European climate. Similarly to the popular narrow-leaved lavender, the French lavender develops erect, woody shoots. Small, narrow leaves are covered with silvery hairs that give the plant its unusual colour. Inflorescences make French lavender stand out from the crowd. Broad bracts, that grow above tiny flowers gathered in a dense spike, make French lavender flowers more impressive. The colour of those top "petals" differs slightly from the colour of actual flowers. This lavender blooms in May and again in early autumn, in September.

Lavender is a must in Provencal and Mediterranean garden compositions. It looks beautiful in dense rows at borders, it perfectly complements plants in rock gardens. In Central Europe, French lavender grows best in pots that decorate balconies and terraces. French lavender flowers can be cut into bouquets, both fresh and dried. Presented plant belongs to melliferous species and is popular among insects.

French lavender is a bit more demanding than narrow-leaved lavender. It needs a warm and sunny position that is sheltered from the wind. It likes to be planted in humous, well-drained, and moderately moist soil. It should contain a lot of calcium so the reaction remains slightly alkaline. It belongs to plants that cannot stand low temperatures. Even a minor frost makes those plants die. The solution to the problem is cultivation in containers, moved to bright, cool rooms during the winter. During the dormant period, French lavender needs to be watered from time to time to prevent the soil from drying out completely.

Quoted price is valid for one seedling of the red flowered French lavender. Basic plant facts and growing instructions were printed on the package label.

• Variety: Red French
• Use: ornamental - garden, cut flower dry arrangements; melliferous; herb
• Growth form: compact, dense tuft
• Flower colour: red
• Vegetation form: perennial
• Foliage: narrow, silvery, hairy
• Site: sunny, sheltered; humous, well-drained. moderately moist soil
• Bulbs: 1
• Height: 50 to 60 cm
• Flowering period: May and September
• Wintering in the ground: yes