Most Lavenders have their origins in the lands bordering the Mediterranean sea. New Zealand is not unlike the Mediterranean in that typically we enjoy high light intensity, long sunlight hours and mild temperatures year round.

Variously known as Italian, Spanish or French lavenders, we've grown a very wide range over the years. We've distilled this down to a handful of the very best cultivars. With their varying uses and appearances, Mediterranean lavenders are one of the New Zealand gardeners most rewarding and successful plants.

Lavender Major

One of the showiest of all Mediterranean forms with large, plump flower heads on short strong stems. It flowers very prolifically from early in spring and is a home on the patio, as a low screen, in gardens and en masse.

Selected by Wayne Horrobin and Sarah Hodge in the 1980's, Major's stood the test of time and has not yet been beaten!

A compact plant to 60cm, grow in an open location and remove spend flower to entice new flowers to form until late in the season.

Lavender Purple King

An excellent garden and landscape form with an upright habit and long flower stems that carry large flower buds with stunning luminous electric blue wings.

Plant is where it will have a little room, it'll grow to 80cm tall and spread to 75cm.

Lavender Pukehou

Selected by Mary Roberston, formerly of Pukehou Nurseries and Serenity Gardens, Pukehou is one of the showiest of all stoechas cultivars. From mid-spring to early summer it's a picture with showy bracts and luminous wings. In the right light, it simply shines.

Particularly effective en masse, and as a specimen plant, it looks good as a low hedge too.

Growing to form a tidy and dense bush with a slight upright habit to 70cm, Pukehou's easy to grow and will produce a second flush of flower from late summer if the early spent flowers are clipped off.

Lavender Avonview

A taller cultivar (80cm) with a bushy habit with dense bright green to grey foliage. It flowers early with hint of purple with showy bracts.

It's effective as a low screen and garden plant.