A popular form of lavender, ‘Avonview’ has fragrant flowers and foliage and a naturally compact, bushy growth habit.
It is a long-flowering lavender, with purple flowers appearing from spring through to autumn in suitable conditions. The flowers have the characteristic ‘butterfly’ bracts associated with Spanish Lavender and are held above the grey-green foliage.
‘Avonview’ is a hybrid involving Lavandula stoechas and Lavandula viridis and is useful as both a garden plant and an informal hedge.
It can be allowed to develop into a rounded bush, used as a feature plant or pruned regularly to maintain a lower, more compact shape.
Lavender ‘Avonview’ Growth Habit
‘Avonview’ develops a naturally bushy habit and can reach around 1m high and 1m wide when given suitable growing conditions.
Its relatively dense growth makes it useful for informal hedging. Regular tip pruning from a young age encourages branching and helps produce a fuller plant.
The mature size will vary with climate, soil, watering and pruning, so allow enough room for the plant to develop rather than relying on a fixed size.
How to Grow Lavender ‘Avonview’ – Basic Care
- Position: Full sun is best for flowering, although it can tolerate some light shade. A sunny, open position is preferable.
- Soil: Plant in a well-drained soil. Lavender does not perform well when the roots remain wet for long periods.
- Watering: Water regularly while establishing, then only as needed during prolonged dry periods.
- Fertiliser: A light application of slow-release fertiliser in spring is generally sufficient if the soil is poor.
- Mulch: Use a light, open mulch to suppress weeds and help protect the root zone, keeping it away from the base of the plant.
Good drainage is particularly important during winter and in areas with high rainfall.
This is a low care plant once established.
- Ensure a well drained humus rich soil.
- Plant in full sun to a little shade.
- Water in with a liquid seaweed fertiliser.
- Tip prune from a young age.
- Mulch around the plant to maintain a cool root run and suppress weeds
Pruning
The best time to prune is after flowering, simply cut back 1/3 of the foliage below the flowers without going back into old wood with no green growth on it.
Regular pruning helps maintain the compact, bushy growth habit.
The main prune can be carried out after flowering. Trim back around one-third of the leafy growth, taking care to leave plenty of healthy green growth below the cut.
Do not cut back into old, bare wood. Lavender can struggle to produce new growth from woody stems.
Tip pruning young plants is also useful. Lightly trimming the growing tips encourages branching and produces a fuller plant, which is particularly helpful when establishing a hedge.
Lavender ‘Avonview’ Hedge
‘Avonview’ makes a useful informal hedge because of its bushy growth habit and relatively large mature size.
Prepare the planting area before planting by improving the soil with compost where necessary. If the soil is heavy clay, improve drainage by raising the bed or creating a mound rather than relying solely on added organic matter.
For a dense hedge:
Planting at around 40cm apart will produce a good hedge over time.
Around 30cm apart will give a faster initial fill, although closer planting means more competition between plants as they mature.
Tip prune young plants regularly to encourage branching from the base and produce a denser hedge.
Once established, maintain the hedge with light regular pruning rather than allowing it to become woody and then cutting it back heavily.
Lavender ‘Avonview’ in Containers
‘Avonview’ can be grown in a large container, although its relatively generous mature size means it needs more room than dwarf lavender cultivars.
Choose a container with good drainage and use a free-draining potting mix. Place it in a sunny position and allow excess water to drain away freely.
Container-grown plants will need more attention to watering during hot weather than plants growing in the ground.
Summary Information
- Botanical Name – Lavandula hybrid ‘Avonview’
- Parentage – Lavandula stoechas × Lavandula viridis
- Common Name – Avonview Lavender.
- Height – To 1 metre
- Spread – To 1 metre
- Growth Rate – Fast to Medium.
- Soil – Humus rich, well drained and slightly alkaline.
- Position – Full sun to a little shade.
- Foliage – Mid olive grey green.
- Flowers – Purple with butterfly wings
- Fragrant – Yes.
- Drought tolerant – Yes once established.
- Frost tolerant – Yes
- Coastal conditions – Second line
Lavender ‘Avonview’ in the Garden
‘Avonview’ is a useful choice when you want a lavender with a long flowering period, fragrant foliage and a substantial, bushy growth habit.
Its purple flowers and prominent butterfly-like bracts provide colour from spring into autumn, while regular light pruning keeps the plant compact and encourages good branching.
For the best results, give ‘Avonview’ plenty of sun, good drainage and enough room to develop its natural shape.
Where To Buy Lavender ‘Avonview’
470 Monbulk-Silvan Road Monbulk VIC 3793
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