GARDEN TRENDS
The latest lavenders
The ‘Fairy Wings’ series comes in three delicate colours: ‘Whimsical’ in white with just a touch of pale pink, ‘Spellbound’ in dreamy mauve and ‘Radiance’ in effervescent rosy pink. The real magic happens when the three are combined in soft clouds of colour. The flower bracts are over-long, forming the ‘wings’.
As breeders strive to bring us easycare plants with more flower performance on more compact and healthy plants, Fairy Lavenders certainly meet the mark. All three ‘fairy’ lavenders form neatly compact shrubs around 70cm tall and wide, with masses of flower heads per plant.
And the benefits don’t end there. Added to the visual effect is the presence of a lovely lavender aroma that arises from the foliage. Crushing the leaves between your fingers releases the lavender oils.
There’s no need to fuss over your fairies. Once established they’re hardy to cold extremes, humidity and drought. All that’s required is the occasional trim and a good feed of quality slow release fertiliser, ideally in late summer or early autumn.
Planting your ‘fairies’ near an entranceway ensures you can enjoy their beauty and fragrance every time you pass by. These lovely lavenders are also perfect for pots if you have limited space, or as part of a sensory garden. Gather up posies of flowers or dry the leaves for creating lavender cushions for under the pillow.
For more information visit www.livingfashion.co.nz
Lavender ‘Fairy Wings’ collection include ‘Whimsical’ (white with pink blush), ‘Spellbound’ (mauve) and ‘Radiance’ (pink); Combine the three or simply use one en masse. (‘Whimsical’ opposite page)