
Common lavender: A bushy dwarf evergreen shrub with narrow, silvery-grey leaves, and small deep violet-purple flowers in dense aromatic spikes of 4 cm long, from July to September. Prefers to be grown in a moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun, and should be cut back once a year to avoid excessive woody growth at the base. Aim to replace approximately every 10 years to keep a nice compact form. They have high nectar content, making them very attractive to bees.