One of the very best, more unusual pink-accented lavenders is ‘The Princess’ Lavender, a popular garden plant valued for its colourful flowers and long flowering period.
What makes this plant particularly useful is that it is relatively easy to grow, easy to prune and has distinctive flowers. A well-established plant can make an attractive feature in the garden, while several plants grouped together create an excellent mass display.
When in full flower, The Princess Lavender is covered with purple flower spikes topped with large, bright pink bracts. The flowers are held above the grey-green foliage, creating a strong contrast in the garden.
The plant is fragrant and attractive to bees and butterflies. It can be grown successfully in containers as well as in garden beds.
The Princess Lavender can be used as a low hedge or border plant, or planted in groups of three to five for a mass display.
Flowering generally begins in spring, with further flowers possible through summer and into autumn, particularly when the plant is lightly pruned after its first flush of flowers.
Princess Lavender Care
Soil preparation before planting includes digging in some well rotted compost and ensuring that drainage is good.
After planting, water in well with a liquid seaweed fertiliser. Mulch around the plant to maintain a cool moist root run.
During long dry periods in summer, the occasional deep soaking may be beneficial.
Pruning The Princess Lavender
Pruning is important for maintaining a compact plant and encouraging further flowering.
After the first major flush of flowers, lightly trim the plant, removing the spent flower stems and a small amount of leafy growth. This can encourage further flowers through the season.
A further light prune later in the season can help maintain the shape of the plant. As a general guide, remove around one-third of the leafy growth, depending on the plant’s size and condition.
Always make pruning cuts where there is healthy foliage below the cut.
Do not cut back into old, bare woody stems. Lavender can have difficulty producing new growth from old wood, so leave healthy green growth on each stem.
Late-winter pruning is possible, but a harder prune at this time can delay flowering. If you want early spring flowers, avoid heavy pruning immediately before the normal flowering period.
When Does The Princess Lavender Flower?
This is a long flowering variety and the Princess Lavender generally begins flowering in spring.
With suitable growing conditions, flowering can continue through summer, with additional flowers sometimes appearing into autumn.
A light prune after the first flush of flowers can encourage further flowering. Plants grown in containers may also benefit from additional watering during prolonged dry weather.
Landscaping Uses
The Princess Lavender is versatile enough for a range of garden styles.
- Feature plant: A single established plant makes an attractive flowering feature.
- Mass planting: Plant in groups of three or more for a stronger display of purple flowers and pink bracts.
- Low hedges: Its compact growth habit makes it useful for informal low hedging.
- Garden borders: Plant along paths, driveways or the front of garden beds.
- Containers: Suitable for pots and troughs where drainage is good.
- Cottage gardens: The unusual flower colours work well with other flowering perennials.
- Bee and butterfly gardens: The flowers provide an attractive addition to gardens designed to support pollinating insects.
The Princess Lavender in Containers
With its naturally compact growth habit we think that the Princess Lavender is on of the best for growing in. containers and in our experience it does grow well in containers, provided the pot has good drainage.
Choose a container large enough to accommodate the mature plant and use a free-draining potting mix. Terracotta pots are particularly suitable because they allow excess moisture to evaporate through the sides of the container.
Container-grown lavender will generally need more frequent watering than plants growing in the ground, particularly during hot weather. Even so, allow the growing medium to dry somewhat between waterings.
Place the container in full sun for the best flowering.
The Princess Lavender – Summary
- Position – Full sun.
- Soil – Humus rich, moist and well drained.
- Height – Will reach around .7 metres
- Spread – Will spread to around .4 metres.
- Foliage – Mid grey green..
- Flowers – Brilliant pink
- Flowering period – Spring through summer
- Drought tolerant – Yes once established.