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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Lamiaceae (Labiatae) (Mints) |
| Origin: Spain (Europe) |
| Flower Color: Violet Red |
| Bloomtime: Spring/Summer |
| Height: 2-3 feet |
| Width: 2-3 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Seaside: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 0-10° F |
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Lavandula stoechas 'Kew Red' - This lavender grows to 2 to 3 feet tall by as wide with gray-green aromatic foliage and short stalks of small, densely-packed, dark red-violet flowers in 1 inch tall plump heads that are topped by 2 to 4 3/4 inch tall pale pink to almost white bracts (rabbit ears) that show their darker veins. This long blooming selection has flowering peaks in late spring and fall but in mild climates can have flowers nearly year-round. Plant in full sun in well-drained soil and irrigate regularly to very little. It is relatively drought tolerant and only requires occasional irrigation. Hardy to 5 degrees F. As with other Spanish Lavenders, this plant benefits from shearing in late winter to maintain compact growth. Although sometimes called Lavandula stoechas 'Kew Pink', this cultivar was named 'Kew Red'. In the book, "The Genus Lavandula" by Tim Upson and Susyn Andrews (Timber Press, 2004), it is noted that this fuchsia-pink selection of Lavandula stoechas (subsp. stoechas f. rosea) was brought into cultivation from Almaria southern Spain by a joint University of Reading and Kew expedition in 1991. It further notes that the plants that resulted from this expedition were destroyed after trialling but somehow this plant escaped into the trade and is now regarded as a "colour breakthrough". This book also lists this plant as a cultivar of Lavandula stoechas forma rosea.
This information about Lavandula stoechas 'Kew Red' displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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