Lavandula pinnata var. pinnata - Lavender

Lavandula pinnata var. pinnata, also known as the fern leaf lavender or jagged lavender, is a fairly rare species in cultivation, probably due to its low hardiness. It is recognised by its magnificent pinnate foliage, finely cut, green-grey silver that somewhat resemble ferns. Its pinkish mauve flowers are very long-lasting, from spring to summer, and the plant is capable of flowering all year round if protected from cold. Decorative even in winter, aromatic in all its parts, this lavender forms a light, beautifully airy and bright mass that stands out in a dry garden, in a rockery, but also in a pot on the patio. 

Lavandula pinnata var. pinnata belongs to the Lamiaceae family. It is a subspecies of pinnate lavender native to the Canary Islands (La Palma, Lanzarote) and Madeira. Fairly vigorous, but not very hardy, this lavender does not withstand temperatures below -5 °C in dry soil. It is a shrub with woody stems that retain their foliage in winter. Lavandula pinnata var. pinnata forms a bushy clump wider than it is tall in a few years, measuring about 60 cm (24in) in height and 80 cm (32in) in spread. Its flat foliage with a slightly rubbery texture is divided into narrow and slightly spatulate lobes, covered in a silky white down. The foliage colour will be lighter and more silvery when the soil is dry and warm. It releases an earthy and camphoraceous scent with the slightest touch, which is both powerful and gentle, and lingers briefly on the fingers. The flowering period spans May-June to September, with the blooming being more or less staggered and prolonged depending on the climate and growing conditions.  Floral spikes with 2 to 3 branches emerge at the top of long leafy stems, that stand out clearly from the foliage. The bilabiate flowers, tightly packed together, display a colour which is between mauve and pink. Highly fragrant, they are visited by pollinating insects. The leafy stems and flowers, once dried, can be used in wardrobes to perfume linen and repel moths. 

With its slightly fuzzy silhouette, unique beauty of its foliage, and fragrance, Lavandula pinnata var. pinnata is one of the favourites of collectors who sometimes cultivate it as an annual or as a greenhouse plant. It has a rightful place in a Mediterranean coastal garden, which is mild in winter and dry in summer. This beautiful plant pairs perfectly with other large lavenders (Lavandula Merloo, Walburton's Silver Edge, and dentata), cistus, rosemary, teucriums, and other shrubs of the Mediterranean scrubland. It also works wonders among evening primroses, perennial flax, asphodels, euphorbias, or dark shrubs like dwarf conifers. It pairs particularly well with a small bindweed called Convolvulus althaeoides.  

Advice : the hardiness of this lavender cannot fall below -5°C in very well-draining and dry soil: outside of mild regions, it can be grown in a large pot that can be overwintered in a bright but unheated space.