French Lavender Lavendula Stoechas
Lavandula stoechas is an Heirloom ornamental variety grown both for its intense fragrance and for the short dense flower spikes topped with a flourish of conspicuous violet bracts that bloom from spring to autumn.  Not as hardy as culinary lavender it will need good drainage, especially over-winter.  The plants can get large and are best pruned in mid summer and early winter to maintain at 3 ft or less in height.
Cultivation Advice French Lavender Lavendula Stoechas
- Lavender tolerates various types of soils, but does best in dry, sandy, well-drained alkaline soil in full sun.
- Start seeds indoors or in a propagator from 10 to 12 weeks before your last spring frost date at a minimum temp of 70 degrees. To increase the speed of germination, chill the seeds in the refrigerator for a week before planting.
- Plant seeds no deeper than 6 mm (1/4 inch). Seeds take from 14 to 28 days to germinate.
- When large enough to handle, plant seedlings on and transfer gradually outside after all danger of frost is past.
- Add liquid fertilizer regularly to potted plants to encourage flowering.
- Protect from harsh periods of cold in winter.
Please Note – Lavender seeds are by nature ‘ low and slow’ germinators and one of the harder varieties to grow from seed.  Lavender seeds have a short shelf life (these are the freshest possible). They can also take a long time to sprout (two weeks or more) and this increases the risk of fungal problems, with the potential for seed to rot if insufficient temperature is provided. Â
