Lavandula angustifolia 'Maillette'

Common name(s): English lavender

Description: evergreen shrub; thought to be a selection by Monsieur Maillet, a French farmer in Valensole who had judged oils from his own selected plants for decades. It's been widely grown since the 1950s for its ease of cultivation and resistance to disease and in 1999, it represented 40-50% of their L. angustifolia essential oil production at the time. Very popular in the perfume industry because the oil mixes well with alcohol. As of 2000, there were at least five different clones under the name 'Maillette' in just the Alpes-de-Haute Provence of France but it is probable that there is only a single clone in the U.S. market. Upswept growth with gray-green foliage and strongly fragrant, violet-blue flower spikes on mid-length stems.

Height: to 2 ft. Spread: to 3 ft.

Stem length: 10-14 in.  

Corolla: dark violet-blue

Calyx: dark purple, sage green at the base

Bloom season: early summer

Best Uses: landscaping, essential oil, culinary, bouquets, potpourri, crafts

Position: full sun and well-draining soil

Winter Hardiness: to 0 F and below

Drought: adapted to 3 months of summer drought