Retailers – Here is your balcony plant for 2018

Lavandula is a genus of 47 known species of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. Photo: Van der Plas.

Selling plants to those with acres to plant in is one thing, but how do you convert visitors to your garden centre into consumers, when the only planting area they have to work with is a balcony? Van der Plas has the answer.

Retail

9 April 2018

Lavender is particularly suitable as a balcony bloomer because the plant can cope well with sun and wind, and is available in sizes ranging from small enough for a window box through to larger specimens which can be displayed solo in a pot. Check out Van der Plas’s range of balcony lavender plants and drive sales in your garden centre this season.

A floral profusion in purple and grey-green

The various shades of lavender are well-suited to a display with a gradation of colour from light to dark. Photo: Van der Plas.

Nothing makes you think of Provence and a sun-drenched summer like lavender (Lavandula). The plant comes in many forms, offers colours ranging from near white and lilac, to deep purple; requires little maintenance and spreads a delectable fragrance. The flowers on all forms of lavender grow straight up, so that they take up little space and still provide plenty of colour and scent.

Origin of Lavender

Lavender is a member of the mint family, and particularly grows in countries around the Mediterranean, although the plant can also do well in the cooler regions of Central and Northern Europe.

Range of lavender balcony plants

There are various species and cultivars of lavender with primarily greyish to green scented foliage bearing blue or lilac flower spikes with lip-shaped flowers.

The most common is L. angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ with narrow grey leaves and violet flowers. It flowers for a long time, lasting through to the end of the September. L. angustifolia ‘Munstead’ flowers briefly but vigorously in the summer with lilac flowers. Both are very hardy.

There are also many cultivars of L. stoechas. This is slightly less hardy, but has comical large violet bracts which have led it to be christened ‘the lavender with the bow’.

Sales and display tips for lavender

Lavender is particularly suitable as a balcony bloomer because the plant can cope well with sun and wind and can be planted in a range of sizes. Photo: Van der Plas.

The various shades of lavender are well-suited to a display with a gradation of colour from light to dark. Don’t place the plants right next to each other – lavender must be able to breathe a bit.

Reinforce the plant’s summery French feel with image material and terracotta pots, and show what lavender can do in the limited space of a balcony with a bistro set. Combining the plant with items such as lavender soap, lavender salt and lavender oil can boost sales.

Care tips for your consumers for Lavender balcony plants

Lavender prefers a light and sunny spots, and needs warmth to flower profusely.
The soil can be slightly damp, but ensure that surplus water can drain away.
Some plant food once a fortnight helps to keep the plant healthy, compact and richly flowering in pots and containers.
Prune back in February or March if required, but leave at least 15 cm.

What to look for when buying Lavender balcony plants

Check the ripeness, hardiness, and the number of flowers per plant: lavender should be showing some colour in the form of buds and flowers at the time of purchase
Lavender requires damp soil but dry leaves. The plants should not be placed together for too long because they are prone to botrytis.
Grey mould is a fungus which develops if lavender has had insufficient ventilation during storage and shipping.
The plants must also be free of pests and diseases such as aphids and spittlebugs.

Lavender trivia

Le Lavandou in the South of France was previously the Roman ‘laundry place’ Lavandula.
The ancient Egyptians were also great fans of lavender. Pharaoh
Tutankhamen was laid in his tomb with a jar of a lavender perfume by his side.
Lavender has been known for its calming properties since antiquity.
Scented bags can be made from the dried flowers.

Again, you can check out Van der Plas’s full range of lavender balcony plants here.