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ShrubsConservatory Greenhouse

Lavandula multifida

Egyptian lavender

A small, evergreen shrub with downy, fern-like, grey-green leaves and long-stalked flowers of violet-blue produced from early summer into autumn. The foliage is aromatic, but more like oregano than typical lavender

Synonyms

Lavandula mairei var. lanifera

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Plant nurseries
3 suppliers

Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Lamiaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Lavandula are small aromatic evergreen shrubs with usually narrow, simple, entire, toothed or lobed leaves and small tubular flowers in dense spikes in summer
Name status: Correct
Plant range: N Africa, Spain, Italy

How to grow

Cultivation

Thrives in well-drained, ideally slightly alkaline soil; will not tolerate waterlogging. In warmer regions, may be planted out in a sunny, sheltered position with winter protection. In areas prone to frost, grow in containers and overwinter in a greenhouse or conservatory. See lavender cultivation for more advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed in spring or propagate by semi-ripe cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Mediterranean climate plants
Coastal
Patio and container plants
Wildlife gardens
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

Deadhead to prolong flowering, then pruning group 10

Pests

May be susceptible to rosemary beetle and cuckoo spit (froghoppers)

Diseases

High Risk Host for Xylella fastidiosa. May be susceptible to grey moulds (Botrytis) and honey fungus (rarely)

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