The Lavenders of Kaž

I love Lavenders and put them in every garden I get to plant and, so far, I have found or purchased 4 types of Lavender in Kas. Everyone knows that Lavenders are drought beaters and in my gardens have been no exception, most coping well with the heat.

One of my neighbours insists that her lavenders, species unknown, wilted in the summer heat but I hope that this is a one off due to soil or other. Lavender are rumoured to repel pests and scorpions and it is true that they themselves do not generally suffer from many pests or diseases but are good for attracting pollinators.

To propagate tear off a small woody limb and put in water until it roots and to prune cut off most of green green growth but don’t touch the wood. The cost varies around Kas but it should cost around 3 lira to 5 lira for a small and medium pot. French lavender shouldn’t be more pricey than the others but is.

Lavandula dentata is probably the most common around here and you can identify it by the large serrated edge to the leaves. It is a fast grower, has fragrant foliage and has, in theory, a typical spike of purple flowers, mine however have failed to appear. The soil is fine and the plant is otherwise very healthy and so I wonder, is anyone else having the same problem? My guess is a little damming in that I suspect the sub-species from which these lavenders are derived maybe of bad flowering quality.

Lavandula stoechas is better known as French Lavender and to my mind the most attractive of the lot having the big-headed, heavy look to them. I planted 15-to 20 of them in pretty poor soil over the winter and they have done well, doubling in size and produce an even mass of flowers.

Lavandula angustifolia is also known as English Lavender and is easily recognizable by its compact shape, glaucous grey leaves and bluish flowers. These grow really well here once they have put their roots down and are useful as low structure and borders in the garden. The angustifolia may take a little time to start flowering but once they get going then they have a good long season.

Opposite the Phellos hotel and behind the new car park there is a huge patch of self seeded wild lavender which you can collect and domesticate. It doesn’t look much at first but given a home in half decent soil and a little water it will quickly treble in size. The flowers have yet to appear but the scent of the leaves is much more potent than that of any lavender I have come across. It is clearly the most suited of the lavenders for drought if this is a consideration and if the flowers turn out ok it would be worth cross pollinating with other species.

Mike Robbins Kaž 26/04/10