Lavender 'Hidcote' (Lavandula angustifolia) - fragrant honey-producing perennial - 12 cm pot - Height 25 cm

Yes, Hidcote Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote') is a perfectly hardy lavender that can withstand winter temperatures down to around -15°C without any special protection. It is one of the hardiest true lavenders available for the French garden. The absolute prerequisite for its hardiness is well-drained soil: excess standing moisture in winter is far more dangerous to the plant than the cold itself. In well-drained soil, or with gravel mulch at the base, Hidcote Lavender winters without difficulty in almost all regions of France, including moderate mountain zones.

Hidcote Lavender produces its famous spikes of 'deep, intense purple from June to August, blooming continuously for about six to eight weeks in midsummer. In the warmest and sunniest regions, a lighter second wave of flowers may appear in late 'summer if 'the faded spikes are cut back promptly after the first flowering. The fragrance is particularly intense during the warmest hours of the day. This long flowering period makes it a leading perennial for brightening up the summer garden and attracting pollinators.

To create a low, fragrant hedge with Hidcote Lavender, space the plants d'about 30 to 40 cm apart from center to center, allowing for their mature spread of d'about 40 to 60 cm. Prepare the soil by l'amending it with gravel or sand if it is too heavy, and plant preferably in spring or early d'autumn to encourage r'ooting. Water regularly during the first six weeks, then gradually reduce watering. Prune the whole hedge after flowering to maintain an even, compact shape.

Absolutely: Hidcote Lavender is l'one of the best lavender varieties for container growing thanks to its naturally compact and dense growth habit. Choose a container at l'east 20 to 25 cm in diameter with a drainage hole, and fill it w'ith a mixture of potting soil and pumice or clay d'clay pellets to ensure optimal drainage. Place the pot in full sun on your balcony or terrace. W'atering should be moderate: always let the substrate dry out between waterings. In winter, Hidcote Lavender can remain outdoors in a pot in most regions, provided the pot is raised to prevent the 'accumulation of 'water.

Hidcote Lavender is an exceptionally nectar-rich plant: its nectar-laden purple spikes primarily attract honeybees and wild bees, which are great admirers of the plant. It also welcomes many species of butterflies (red admiral, swallowtail, lady butterfly, and white butterfly), as well as bumblebees and certain hoverflies. Planting several Hidcote Lavender plants in your garden directly helps support pollinator biodiversity, which is essential for the pollination of other plants in the garden and vegetable patch. This nectar-rich quality is'fully expressed in full sun, where the flowering is most abundant.

Hidcote Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote') stands out from other true lavender varieties by its particularly compact and dense habit, its restrained size (40 to 60 cm at maturity) and the exceptionally dark colour of its flower spikes, an intense purple almost indigo-blue. Compared to common unselected lavender, 'Hidcote' offers remarkable uniformity in a hedge or border. It is more compact than 'Munstead', another popular cultivar, and hardier than Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas).

Hidcote lavender is ideally pruned twice a year to keep it dense and full. The first time, at the end of s'ummer (August-September), involves removing the faded flower spikes by pruning just below the flowers to stimulate possible repeat blooming and tidy up the plant. The second, more substantial pruning takes place in spring (March-April), when the new shoots begin to emerge: the stems are then cut back by abou'nce a third, never cutting into the old woody growth, which will not regrow. This regular pruning routine is key to preventing the lavender from becoming leggy and losing its compact shape after a few years.