Originating from the Mediterranean, English Lavender is a popular plant for adding summer colour to sunny borders, container, herb or gravel gardens. They thrive in warm summers and wet winters in any poor or moderately fertile, free-draining soil.

Pruning should be undertaken every year to keep them compact, either at the end of the summer or in early spring. On established plants use secateurs to remove flower stalks and about 2.5cm (1in) of the current year’s growth, making sure that some green growth remains. Lavender does not break readily from old wood and neglected specimens are best replaced.

The dwarf varieties ‘Munstead’ and ‘Hidcote’ perform well as an edging plant, where their flowers provide forage for bees and other beneficial insects. Their architectural flowers go well with other sun-loving and drought tolerant plants such as Oregano, Celosia, Rudbeckia and Rosemary.

• Prefers a sunny position in a free draining soil
• Excellent for drought-tolerant, coastal and gravel gardens
• Good for bees and other beneficial insects
• Prune in late summer or early spring