Hidcote Giant        Hidcote        Hidcote Pink

Plant Name:  Lavender, Hidcote Giant

Common Name:  Hidcote Giant

Botanical Name:  Lavandula x intermedia, “Hidcote Giant.”  The “intermedia” lavender varieties are cross breeds.  This means they are a cross between two varieties of lavenders:  L. angustifolia and L. latifolia.  Intermedias are also known as “lavandins”.  These plants tend to grow larger, produce numerous long flower stems, have a high oil content and are hardy.

Origin:  Major Lawrence Johnston, Hidcote Manor, Gloucester, England, before 1957.

Height/Physical Description:  This plant variety is 36 to 42 inches in height and width, gray-green leaves, medium purple flowers once in early Summer.  The flower stem length spans 24 to 30 inches.

Special Attributes:  The flowers are very fragrant with very large and plump medium purple flowers.

‍Purchasing:  Private nurseries and online.

Planting Requirements:  Plant in Spring after danger of frost or in the Fall.  Lavenders require good drainage.  If soil is mostly clay, amending and aerating the planting area will ensure better success. Planting in a dome is another way to promote good drainage and keep your lavender from sinking down in clay soil.  The preferred mulch at the base of the plant is gravel or a thin layer of compost.  Do not use wood or leaf mulches as this contributes to root rot.

Repotting and transplanting:  To determine your lavender is hardy and ready to repot or transplant, check the bottom of the container for vigorous roots coming out of the drainage holes.  This is a sign of good health.

Watering:  Water at base of plant only.  Lavenders do not like overhead spray.  Use of a drip system is best.  Put on a drip line with plants that have similar water needs to avoid overwatering.  Lavenders rot very easily when overwatered.  To avoid this, allow the soil to dry out moderately before watering next.  

Fertilizing:  Lavenders are hillside plants that thrive in rocky, good draining soil that is somewhat alkaline (pH of 6.5 to 7.5).  Lavenders do not require a great deal of fertilizer as they prefer neutral soil.  Since this is the case, use of compost or compost tea is all that is needed.

Blooming Time/Harvesting:  Medium purple flowers once in early Summer.  Harvest when flowers first pop open.

Pruning:  Lavenders can live up to 25 years if well maintained.  The time to prune is after the flush of flowers.  The flowers and stems should be gently pruned so the plant is the shape of a ball. Consider it a haircut not a severe pruning  Removing the flowers in this manner allows the plant to regenerate foliage and avoids it from becoming “woody.”  

Note:  If the plant has become woody, it cannot be reversed.  It will live but will not have the original full shape that it had at the beginning.
Pruning underneath the plant is another way to keep the plant healthy as this promotes good air circulation which prevents root rot.

Pests:  Spittle bugs, grasshoppers, gophers, moles.

Diseases:  Root rot.

Hardiness:  zones 5-9.  

Additional Comments:  Very large and plump flowers with a strong fragrance.

Plant Name:  Lavender, Hidcote

Botanical Name:  Lavendula angustifolia “Hidcote”

Origin:  Hidcote Manor, France, early 1920’s.

Height/Physical Description:  12 to 20 inches in height, 20 to 24 inches wide, stem length 6 to 8 inches, dark blue flowers that bloom once in Spring and has green leaves.

Special Attributes:  The flowers are dark purple, very fragrant, and have a sweet flavor for culinary purposes.  The flower buds remain tight on the stem even when dry making them a good choice for craft projects.    

‍Purchasing:  Nurseries that have a reputation for carrying multiple varieties or order online.

Planting Requirements:  Plant in Spring after danger of frost or in the Fall.  Lavenders require good drainage.  If soil is mostly clay, amending and aerating the planting area will ensure better success.  Planting in a dome is another way to promote good drainage and keep your lavender from sinking down in clay soil.  The preferred mulch at the base of the plant is gravel or a thin layer of compost.  Do not use wood or leaf mulches as this contributes to root rot.

Repotting and transplanting:  To determine your lavender is hardy and ready to repot or transplant, check the bottom of the container for vigorous roots coming out of the drainage holes.  This is a sign of good health.

Watering:  Water at base of plant only.  Lavenders do not like overhead spray.  Use of a drip system is best.  Put on a drip line with plants that have similar water needs to avoid overwatering.  Lavenders rot very easily when overwatered.  To avoid this, allow the soil to dry out moderately before next watering.  

Fertilizing:  Lavenders are hillside plants that thrive in rocky, good draining soil that is somewhat alkaline (pH of 6.5 to 7.5).  Lavenders do not require a great deal of fertilizer as they prefer neutral soil.  Since this is the case, use of compost or compost tea is all that is needed.

Blooming Time/Harvesting:  Dark blue flowers once in Spring.  Harvest when flowers first pop open.

Pruning:  Lavenders can live up to 25 years if well maintained.  The time to prune is after the flush of flowers.  The flowers and stems should be gently pruned so the plant is the shape of a ball. Consider it a haircut not a severe pruning.  Removing the flowers in this manner allows the plant to regenerate foliage and avoids it from becoming “woody.”  

Note:  If the plant has become woody, it cannot be reversed.  It will live but will not have the original full shape that it had at the beginning.
Pruning underneath the plant is another way to keep the plant healthy as this promotes good air circulation which prevents root rot.

Pests:  Spittle bugs, grasshoppers, gophers, moles.

Diseases:  Root rot.

Hardiness:  zones 5-9

Additional Comments:  Hidcote is a type of lavendula angustifolia.  Angustifolias are considered “true lavender” and known for being some of the most cold-hardy varieties.  Their colors seem more vibrant, flowers seem more fragrant and taste sweet.  A common name that is used for Angustifolias is “English” lavender.  This is not an accurate term especially since lavenders are grown worldwide.  The best way to identify a lavender or any plant in general is by using its botanical name.

Plant Name:  Lavender, Hidcote Pink

Botanical Name:  Lavendula angustifolia “Hidcote Pink”

Origin:  Major Lawrence Johnston, Hidcote Manor, Gloucester, England, before 1957 (Johnston brought Hidcote to England from France in the 1920’s).

Height/Physical Description:  30 to 36 inches in height width, stem length 6 to 8 inches, light pink flowers that bloom once in Spring, and has green leaves.

Special Attributes:  The flowers are light pink, very fragrant, and great for culinary use.

‍Purchasing:  Online or from nurseries that have a reputation for carrying multiple varieties.

Planting Requirements:  Plant in Spring after danger of frost or in the Fall.  Lavenders require good drainage.  If soil is mostly clay, amending and aerating the planting area will ensure better success.  Planting in a dome is another way to promote good drainage and keep your lavender from sinking down in clay soil.  The preferred mulch at the base of the plant is gravel or a thin layer of compost.  Do not use wood or leaf mulches as this contributes to root rot.

Repotting and transplanting:  To determine your lavender is hardy and ready to repot or transplant, check the bottom of the container for vigorous roots coming out of the drainage holes.  This is a sign of good health.

Watering:  Water at base of plant only.  Lavenders do not like overhead spray.  Use of a drip system is best.  Put on a drip line with plants that have similar water needs to avoid overwatering.  Lavenders rot very easily when overwatered.  To avoid this, allow the soil to dry out moderately before next watering.  

Fertilizing:  Lavenders are hillside plants that thrive in rocky, good draining soil that is somewhat alkaline (pH of 6.5 to 7.5).  Lavenders do not require a great deal of fertilizer as they prefer neutral soil.  Since this is the case, use of compost or compost tea is all that is needed.

Blooming Time/Harvesting:  Light pink flowers that bloom once in Spring.  Harvest when flowers first pop open.

Pruning:  Lavenders can live up to 25 years if well maintained.  The time to prune is after the flush of flowers.  The flowers and stems should be gently pruned so the plant is the shape of a ball. Consider it a haircut not a severe pruning.  Removing the flowers in this manner allows the plant to regenerate foliage and avoids it from becoming “woody.”  

Note:  If the plant has become woody, it cannot be reversed.  It will live but will not have the original full shape that it had at the beginning.
Pruning underneath the plant is another way to keep the plant healthy as this promotes good air circulation which prevents root rot.

‍Pests:  Spittle bugs, grasshoppers, gophers, moles.

Diseases:  Root rot.

Hardiness:  zones 5-9

Additional Comments:  Hidcote Pink is a type of lavendula angustifolia.  Angustifolias are considered “true lavender” and known for being some of the most cold-hardy varieties.  Their colors seem more vibrant, flowers seem more fragrant and taste sweet.  A common name that is used for Angustifolias is “English” lavender.  This is not an accurate term especially since lavenders are grown worldwide.  The best way to identify a lavender or any plant in general is by using its botanical name.