Lavender 'Rosea'

While most British gardeners associate lavender with shades of purple and blue, 'Rosea' (often known as 'Jean Davis') offers a sophisticated alternative with its delicate, pale pink flower spikes. This compact, evergreen shrub features the classic silver-grey, linear foliage that remains attractive year-round. The flowers emerge from silvery buds in midsummer, opening to a soft, blush pink that creates a wonderful pastel contrast when planted alongside deeper blue varieties like 'Hidcote'. The fragrance is exceptionally sweet and fruity, often considered more refined than the species. It is an excellent choice for a low, informal hedge or as a specimen in a Mediterranean-style container. As with all English lavenders, it demands full sun and perfectly drained, preferably alkaline soil. It should be pruned back to just above the old wood in late summer after flowering to maintain a neat, bushy shape and prevent it from becoming woodily sparse at the base.

Sun: Full sun.

Soil: Well-drained, chalky or sandy soil.

Hardiness: H5 — down to −15°C.

Flowering: Jun, Jul, Aug.