Lavandula stoechas Magical Posy Pink - French Lavender

Lavandula stoechas Magical Posy Pink is a particularly compact and floriferous variety of butterfly lavender that forms a lovely scented pink cushion that is always in flower. This low shrub, covered with aromatic and evergreen leaves, flowers for several months with very pretty dark pink spikes, topped with bracts of a lighter pink. In addition to its ornamental qualities, this selection has the advantage of tolerating moist heat, allowing it to be successfully grown outside the Mediterranean region or in pots, in regions that are not too cold in winter. Butterfly lavender, unlike classic lavenders, is grown in non-limestone soil.

The Magical Posy Pink butterfly lavender is a descendant of Lavandula stoechas, an aromatic plant from the Lamiaceae family native to the western Mediterranean basin. Wild butterfly lavender is a shrub with evergreen leaves that blooms in spring on siliceous slopes, in non-limestone soil, which is very dry in summer. Butterfly lavender is a moderately hardy species, tolerating temperatures to -10°C at their lowest. Plants are likely to fail when there is combined moisture and severe frost, as well as combined moisture and heat, which promotes the development of a fungus deadly to the roots. The Magical Posy Rose variety is less susceptible to this lethal combination. It is a compact shrub with dense vegetation and a rounded shape. Its quadrangular stems bear narrow, fuzzy leaves with fringed edges, giving off a pine scent when crushed. The plant rarely exceeds 50 cm (20in) in height at the time of flowering. It blooms from late April to late September, or even longer, depending on the climate. At the tip of each stem, a dense, short-stalked, thick and square-shaped spike forms, bearing tiny dark pink flowers. This spike is crowned with several petaloid bracts, resembling butterfly wings, which are a light pink colour. Frequently visited by pollinating insects, particularly bees, it is a nectar and honey plant.

Properties: Lavender contributes to the conservation of bees: the nectar of its flower attracts bees, making it one of the most renowned honey plants.