Which lavender is better, Hidcote or Munstead?
Hidcote’ has more tightly packed and darker coloured flowers than ‘Munstead’, whereas ‘Munstead’ flowers are lighter in colour and have more of a shaggy appearance. Grow Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’ in well-drained soil in full sun. QUICK ANSWER: The main difference is in their appearance. Hidcote lavender boasts darker, more densely packed flowers, giving it a rich look. On the other hand, Munstead lavender features lighter-colored flowers with a slightly more unkempt, shaggy appearance.Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’ is more compact than ‘Hidcote’ with a mounded or rounded form over time, and slightly smaller flowers. It tends to bloom earlier in the in the season and is often preferred for containers or smaller spaces.Grow Lavandula ‘Munstead’ in well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil in a sunny location. Just like all lavenders, it thrives in soil that drains well and prefers to be on the drier side once it’s established.Munstead is a smart, compact, some would say dwarf form of English lavender that carries masses of deep purple-blue flowers, along with Hidcote, it is one of the finest varieties available that has stood the test of time.
What is Munstead Lavender used for?
Description. As the quintessential culinary lavender, ‘Munstead’ has been a mainstay of the herb garden for years. Its high essential oil content makes it a great choice for fragrant crafts, such as creating potpourris, sachets, and soaps. The most fragrant Lavender plants are the Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia). Several cultivars of English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) are also prized for their delightful scent.Research suggests that the larger lavender cultivars are the best for bees. You can find varieties from fragrant white to luscious dark purple. Look for the hardier and less picky Lavandula angustifolia or Lavandin x intermedia cultivars for individual plants or to make a lovely hedge.English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is the best type for culinary purposes. Varieties like Hidcote, Munstead, and Royal Velvet are particularly favored for their sweet flavor and aromatic qualities, making them ideal for use in cooking and baking.Best Fragrant Lavender For Drying & Preserving ‘Provence’ is a lavandin, or hybrid lavender type, which are known for a high output of essential oils. It’s no surprise that ‘Provence’ is the lavender most frequently grown for use in scented products, including soaps, lotions, sachets, potpourri, and more.
How long does Munstead lavender last?
With the right soil, pruning, and sun exposure, Lavender ‘Munstead’ will bloom from early summer to late autumn, offering colour and fragrance to your garden. Lavender has a reputation of being difficult to grow from seed. Much is made of their need for refrigeration or high light levels, but in truth the greatest difference you can make to seeding success comes with your choice of seeds!A tough and beautiful lavender for colder climates. Lavenders require full sun and well-drained soil, and usually don’t begin flowering until their second year. Hardy in zones 5-9.Every spring, apply a slow-release, microbial, mineral-rich feed such as seaweed/kelp, shellfish, blood meal, or bone meal, which will provide all the fertilization lavender needs. Excess fertilizer can become toxic to the lavender’s root system.English Lavender ‘Hidcote’ is a beloved variety known for its fragrant, long-lasting blooms and striking contrast between dark purple flower spikes and blue-green foliage. It’s ideal for low hedges, edging, or borders. The flowers can be used for crafts and dried arrangements, as they retain their color.
What is the difference between Munstead Lavender and true lavender?
Munstead flowers are somewhat ‘looser’ and lighter in color. It’s named for Munstead Woods. Another plus is that it can withstand hot summer temperatures better than other of the English lavenders. Keep in mind that one of the biggest problems with growing lavender is too much moisture. Dead-head French lavenders throughout the summer as they’ll flower continuously from May to September. Deadheading will also encourage more flowering through the season.Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk’ (Spanish Lavender) This French Lavender blooms almost continuously from mid-late spring to late summer.Lavender is best planted in April or May as the soil naturally warms up and when many fresh plants become available in garden centres. Lavender should never be planted in winter when young plants are vulnerable to rotting in cold, wet soils.The most fragrant Lavender plants are the Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia). Several cultivars of English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) are also prized for their delightful scent. Lavandula x intermedia, also called Lavandin, is a hybrid cross between Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula latifolia.Once the flowers fade (late summer through autumn), they can be snipped off (‘deadheaded’) to encourage further blooming. The later blooms are usually not as prolific as the earlier ones, but every lavender bloom is precious and wonderful.
Is lavender munstead easy to grow?
The Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’ variety is known for its compact and hardy nature, making it an easy-to-grow shrubbery hedge. It forms a beautiful, low-growing hedge with soft purple flowers and lighter foliage compared to its close relative, the ‘Hidcote’ variety. The best place to plant Munstead Lavender is in a location that receives full sunlight for at least 6-8 hours a day. It prefers well-drained, sandy or loamy soil with a slightly alkaline pH.Munstead’ is a compact, early-flowering English lavender cultivar that was first introduced into commerce in 1916. It is a semi-woody perennial that typically grows to 12-18” tall and as wide. Lavender blue flowers appear in terminal spikes in late spring well into summer.It has a bushy, upright growth habit, typically forming a rounded mound. Its compact size makes it suitable for both formal and informal gardens and container planting. Size: Munstead Lavender typically reaches a height of 20 to 24 inches (50 to 60 cm) and spreads about 24 to 30 inches (60 to 75 cm) wide.Growth rate of Lavandula angustifolia ‘Little Lady’ hedges Dwarf Lavender is low growing and best suited to a height of less than 50cm.Is Munstead Strain lavender edible? Yes, it is an edible variety. The dried flowers and leaves can be used in teas, baked goods, and savory dishes. Use sparingly, as the flavor is strong.
Is Munstead Lavender a perennial or annual?
Munstead Lavender is a compact, evergreen perennial known for its aromatic qualities and striking appearance. Munstead or Hidcote? Hidcote lavender has a deeper, violet-blue color for the flowers and the flower head is more compact. The foliage is silver-gray and changes color slightly through the seasons. Munstead flowers are somewhat ‘looser’ and lighter in color.Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’ is more compact than ‘Hidcote’ with a mounded or rounded form over time, and slightly smaller flowers. It tends to bloom earlier in the in the season and is often preferred for containers or smaller spaces.English lavender is widely acknowledged to have the best and strongest scent, with the top three being Folgate, Munstead and Hidcote lavenders; all cultivated especially for their oil.What’s the difference between Munstead lavender and Hidcote lavender? Munstead’ and ‘Hidcote’ are two types of English lavender. Hidcote’ has more tightly packed and darker coloured flowers than ‘Munstead’, whereas ‘Munstead’ flowers are lighter in colour and have more of a shaggy appearance.