Our second and final post describe two more classic plants that are both an RHS Lavender AGMs. The featured varieties are two popular and proven hybrids.
All Lavandula × chaytoriae varieties (the name remembers the important and well-renowned Lavender expert, Dorothy Chaytor) are hybrids of Lavandula Angustifolia and Lavandula Lanata (Woolly Lavender), a shrubby native of southern Spain, renowned for its silvery-haired foliage. The resulting varieties, collectively known by the apt title of the Velvet Lavenders, are hardy to around -10°C and have a glorious scent, attractive soft, silvery foliage and a mass of rich purple flowers that typify what everyone is looking for in a Lavender.
RHS Lavender AGM Lavandula x chaytoriae Sawyers
RHS: “A plant with silvery foliage and tall thin wands of pointed dark purple spikes. Warm, slightly medicinal scent. Flowers July and August. Not fully hardy. Introduced by Suffolk Herbs, Sudbury (UK) in late 1980’s. Originally called ‘Conard Blue’.”
• Flattened dome, h. 40cm w. 70cm
• Overall height including flowers 60cm
• Foliage silver grey
• Flowering stems 30-40cm long, spraying outwards, held above foliage
• Inflorescence 5-10cm long, dense with pointed tip
• Flowers intense purple (83B)
• Calyx silvery violet (90A) with long white hairs.
RHS Lavender AGM Lavandula x chaytoriae Richard Gray
RHS: “A low growing plant with an open habit. Silvery foliage and vivid violet, blunt-tipped flower spikes. Warm, slightly medicinal scent. Flowers July to August. Introduced by RBG Kew in 1980’s and named after Richard Gray, who worked at Kew.”
• Spreading plant, h. 30cm w. 60cm.
• Overall height including flowers 50cm.
• Foliage silver grey
• Flowering stems 25-30cm long, soft grey, spraying outwards, some held in foliage
• Inflorescence 3-5cm long, dense
• Flowers dark violet (88A), throat (88C)
• Calyx silvered strong violet (98A).
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