Lavender Border?

[Milliways]

I have a long thin border across the front of my house, which is usually a mess. We have had to dig it up recently (drains) and so I have just filled it with annuals. However, can't be bothered to do this every year & would like a small bush or something simialr to fill it.

Is dwarf lavender any good? Any other suggestions. Must be less than 2' tall and easy to keep, but would like some colour.

Over to the MN gardeners for suggestions please

I haven't got dwarf lavender, but ordinary lavender is lovely IMO, and I expect dwarf varieties are too. You could alternate French lavender which has different shaped flowers, and purple sage perhaps if you like that.

Which way does the border face? North, south etc.

South/South West - it's good & sunny.

Tiddlypom - I like the idea of purple sage - we have some in the back which does well.

Has anyone had butterfly lavender?

Vinca is great, and flowers twice a year with good sized purple flowers. Must be easy to grow because mine are doing great in a bed that the children traipse all over. I only put them in last year and they have more than doubled in size.

Thanks - I will "google" Vinca to see what it looks like

You need good drainage and sun for lavender to do well. I think the french ones are slightly more tender. Depends where you live Milliways

Berkshire - but we have a good sunny plot!

What about Spirea? Either 'Candlelight' or 'Firelight'. Think it's the right height, leaves go through different stages of colour including good autumn colour and they do flower. They're not evergreen though.

we've got a dwarf lavendar hedge. garden gets loads of sun in summer and absolutely none in winter; it has survived three winters of this now. (and my gardening brown thumb.)
can't remember name of variety -- will rootle if you are interested. it has very silvery leaves which hunker down for winter but it never looks twiggy. i love it. It's about to flower any day now.

Cotton lavendar is fairly easy to grow and is very pretty (tiny little yellow flowers). Grows fairly quick too - I did much the same as you for the same reason, planted it in a raised flowerbed and it filled the space really nicely even though they were tiny little plants when I filled it! Don't grow too high and even when not flowering the foliage is attractive and easy to keep tidy.

THanks everyone - loads of interseting plants to consider. Garden centre here I come

Two of the UK's best lavender specialists:

Downderry Nursery (I bought Lav. aug. 'Imperial Gem' there - richer purple than normal, but was also recommended Munstead Dwarf.

Norfolk Lavender

HTH

Total hijack!

Hub - how's Dee?

Hi sneaks, she's OK thanks. Hossie on Friday to check she's responding well to the anti hypertensive. She's doing the bed rest / romantic novel thing all week.

Thanks for asking.

Fab - glad to hear all's well

Hijack over