Lavandula dentata var. candicans ‘Agadir’

I was lucky enough to be given a plant of Lavandula dentata var. candicans ‘Agadir’ by the original collector in the summer. As I have a coolish greenhouse, it is well-suited to overwintering this tender plant.

It comes rather obviously from near Agadir in Morocco and is a named wild form of L. dentata var. candicans. It was noted to be distinct “in that the plants were extremely pubescent and almost white in appearance…importantly this attractive pubescence was retained throughout the year in cultivation.’*

As part of the ethos of the Plant Guardian scheme I have tried to propagate as many as I can without destroying the original plant, and so far they seem to be doing well (see photo).  I have entered it in the Plant Exchange this year, so that other members can have a chance to grow this lovely plant.

Herbarium standard sheet at RHS Wisley

As it isn’t hardy, it is a plant that gardeners will want to grow, just to see if they can ‘get away’ with it. This means that it can go from numerous to scarce almost overnight if we have a winter like 2010 (when I remember my unheated greenhouse in West Sussex hit -12c). But the more members that grow it, the safer it is.

• p 220. Upson, T. & Andrews, S., The Genus Lavandula. 2004.