Cottage Garden

Lavenders are tactile plants so use them along a path, by a doorway or gate, around a seating area or along a driveway so you can reach out and run your hands through the flower stems releasing their fragrance. You can also use lavender to define an eating area or terrace. In wet winters lavenders can look drab and unhappy against bare dark soil so plant lavender into a base of gravel or slate chippings and they will look much happier.

"Emerald Lavender Garden Contemporary Rug"

Lavender is good grown with Mediterranean type plants and herbs such as santolina, rosemary, gold marjoram and hyssop. These all like the same conditions as lavender and look best with it. A chequerboard planting of alternate ‘Grosso’ lavenders and clipped grey santolinas looks sophisticated in raised beds to make a solid block of hazy colour.

A classic combination is roses underplanted with lavender – they do seem to look right together – while neat pyramids, domes, or balls of clipped box make a great contrast to large areas of soft swishy lavenders.

You can create a gentle tapestry effect too. Remember white and pink lavender flowers die to brown colour, which can spoil a colour scheme in the garden. The scent isnt’ released into the air except on very warm days – but it’s all in the touch!