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Lavender 'Blue Star'
Overview
Lavender Blue Star is a premium English lavender variety renowned for its exceptionally vibrant blue-purple flowers and outstanding garden performance. This robust cultivar produces masses of intensely coloured flower spikes that seem to glow with electric blue intensity, creating one of the most striking displays in the lavender family. Combined with its excellent hardiness, compact growth habit, and powerfully fragrant blooms, Blue Star represents the very best of traditional English lavender with enhanced visual impact that makes it a standout performer in any garden setting.
Key Features
Flower Colour: Intense blue-purple spikes
Foliage: Silver-grey, densely aromatic leaves
Height: 45-60cm (18-24 inches)
Spread: 45-60cm (18-24 inches)
Flowering Period: June to September
Hardiness: Fully hardy (RHS H5)
Fragrance: Powerful, classic lavender scent
Growth Habit: Upright, well-branched mound
Special Feature: Exceptionally vibrant flower colour
Award Status: AGM (Award of Garden Merit) winner
Growing Requirements
Soil Conditions
Blue Star thrives in well-draining, moderately alkaline soil but adapts well to a wide range of soil types provided drainage is adequate. It performs exceptionally in sandy, chalky, or gravelly soils and is remarkably tolerant of poor, low-fertility conditions. Heavy clay or waterlogged soils should be avoided as they will cause root rot. Where drainage is questionable, incorporate plenty of horticultural grit or create raised planting areas.
Light Requirements
Full sun is essential for Blue Star to develop its characteristic intense flower colour and maintain compact, sturdy growth. The plant requires at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. In partial shade, the distinctive blue coloration will be less pronounced, and the plant may develop a loose, sprawling habit with reduced flowering intensity.
Watering Needs
Once established, Blue Star is exceptionally drought-tolerant and requires very little supplemental watering. Water regularly during the first growing season to establish a strong root system, then reduce watering significantly. The plant actually performs better with occasional deep watering rather than frequent light watering, which can encourage shallow root development.
Planting and Care
When to Plant
The ideal planting times are late spring (April to May) or early autumn (September to October). Spring planting allows plants to establish before their first winter, whilst autumn planting takes advantage of cooler temperatures and natural rainfall for easier establishment.
Planting Instructions
Dig a planting hole twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper. In heavier soils, plant slightly raised above the surrounding soil level to improve drainage. Space plants 45-60cm apart to allow for mature spread and ensure good air circulation, which helps prevent disease and promotes healthy growth. Water thoroughly after planting and apply a thin mulch of gravel around the base.
Annual Maintenance
Regular pruning is crucial for maintaining Blue Star's shape and ensuring abundant flowering. Prune annually in early spring (March) or immediately after the main flowering period. Remove all spent flower stems and trim the entire plant back by approximately one-third, avoiding cutting into old woody growth which may not regenerate. This annual pruning maintains the compact habit and encourages vigorous new growth.
Garden Design and Colour Combinations
Blue and Purple Schemes
Blue Star is perfect for creating dramatic blue and purple themed borders. Combine with other blue-flowering plants such as catmint, salvia, or delphiniums for a cohesive, cooling colour scheme that's particularly refreshing during hot summer months.
Complementary Colour Contrasts
The intense blue-purple flowers create stunning contrasts with yellow or orange flowering plants. Try pairing with yellow achillea, hemerocallis, or rudbeckia for vibrant, energising combinations that draw the eye and create focal points in mixed borders.
Mediterranean Style Gardens
Blue Star is ideal for Mediterranean or gravel garden schemes where its drought tolerance and architectural form can be fully appreciated. Combine with other aromatic herbs such as rosemary, thyme, and santolina for an authentic Mediterranean atmosphere.
Traditional Cottage Gardens
Despite its intense modern appeal, Blue Star works beautifully in traditional cottage garden settings where its rich colour and classic form complement roses, hardy geraniums, and other cottage garden favourites.
Versatile Garden Applications
Structural Planting
The upright, well-branched habit makes Blue Star excellent for providing structure in mixed borders. Use as repeated elements to create rhythm and continuity, or plant in groups for maximum visual impact.
Pathway and Edge Planting
Blue Star creates magnificent pathway edging or low informal hedging. The intense flower colour provides strong definition whilst the aromatic foliage releases fragrance when brushed against, creating a multi-sensory garden experience.
Container Excellence
Exceptionally well-suited to container growing, making it perfect for patios, courtyards, or areas with unsuitable soil. The compact growth habit and long flowering period make it valuable for extended seasonal displays in decorative pots or planters.
Cut Flower Production
The strong stems and intense colour make Blue Star excellent for cut flower production. The flowers hold their colour well when cut and the powerful fragrance makes them particularly desirable for indoor arrangements.
Wildlife and Ecological Benefits
Blue Star is a magnet for beneficial insects, with its nectar-rich flowers attracting bees, butterflies, and other pollinators throughout the extended flowering period. The intense blue-purple colour is particularly attractive to bees, who can see blue colours exceptionally well, making this variety especially valuable for supporting pollinator populations.
The plant provides habitat and food for beneficial insects whilst being naturally resistant to deer and rabbits, who are deterred by the strong aromatic oils in the foliage. This makes it ideal for gardens where wildlife-friendly planting is desired but browsing animals are problematic.
Harvesting and Practical Applications
Fresh Cut Flowers
Harvest flower stems just as the buds begin to show colour for the longest vase life and most intense fragrance. Cut stems in early morning when essential oil content is highest. The vibrant blue-purple colour creates striking fresh arrangements.
Dried Flower Crafts
For dried flowers, harvest when approximately half the flowers on each spike have opened. The intense colour is largely retained during drying, making Blue Star particularly valuable for wreaths, potpourri, and dried arrangements. Bundle stems loosely and hang in a warm, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight.
Essential Oil Production
Blue Star produces particularly high levels of aromatic oils, making it excellent for homemade lavender oil, sachets, or natural cleaning products. The foliage can be harvested throughout the growing season for various aromatic applications.
Why Choose Lavender Blue Star?
Blue Star represents the pinnacle of English lavender breeding, combining exceptional flower colour intensity with outstanding garden performance and reliability. The vibrant blue-purple blooms create unmatched visual impact whilst retaining all the classic qualities that make lavender such a beloved garden plant.
This variety is particularly valuable for gardeners seeking maximum colour impact from their lavender plantings, or those creating themed colour schemes where intense blue tones are desired. The Award of Garden Merit recognition confirms its exceptional garden worthiness and reliability across a wide range of growing conditions.
Whether you're an experienced gardener looking for premium varieties or a newcomer wanting guaranteed results, Blue Star delivers exceptional performance with minimal maintenance requirements. Its combination of stunning visual appeal, powerful fragrance, and ecological benefits makes it an investment that will enhance your garden for many years to come.
Blue Star proves that when it comes to lavender, sometimes the most traditional choice can also be the most spectacular, offering timeless appeal with contemporary intensity that never fails to impress.
Buying Shrubs from Jacksons Nurseries
At Jacksons Nurseries we sell a variety of shrubs both evergreen and deciduous with a variety of flowering times throughout the year. At certain times of the year our shrubs you buy from us may not look like the images shown on our website when deciduous leaves have fallen, the shrub has finished flowering or has been trimmed back.
Some leaves on evergreen shrubs can be damaged in winter by frost or harsh winds but in spring new leaves will readily replace those damaged. This is quite normal on many evergreen varieties and is preferable to plants grown with excessive protection that show cold shock once planted out and establish less satisfactory initially.
Availability: Stock availability figures are provided as a guide only. There is a delay between orders being placed and the plants being gathered by our pulling team. During this time it may be possible for a member of the public to purchase these plants from our Garden Centre, while this is rare it is a possibility and we will notify you of any problems as soon as possible. This figure may also include plants that have not yet be flagged as unsaleable.
Pre-order: Pre-order times are given as a guide only and may vary dependent on the growing season. Orders containing Pre-ordered products will be shipped as a single order when all items become available. Large orders may be part shipped, please contact us on 01782 502741 or email sales@jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.
* Please Note: Shrubs in 20 litre pots and above might require a pallet delivery starting at £79.99 per pallet. Depending on the exact pot size and height it may be possible to get approximately 5 plants per pallet at no extra cost. The maximum height we can dispatch on a pallet is 2.0m, this includes the height of the pallet and pot.
Shrubs are deciduous or evergreen woody plants, and often provide fragrant flowers, berries and foliage. They are good for structural framework, and they can provide a wonderful shelter and food source for wildlife.
Planting and Conditions
Container grown shrubs can be grown at any time of year. It is a little known fact that shrubs planted in the autumn and winter will be easier to look after than those planted in the spring and summer, because they will have time to establish and become hardy in the cooler months.
Plant the shrub at the same depth as it was in its original pot. Planting too deeply can result in root and stem rot.
One of the biggest causes of death in new shrubs is drought stress, so keep it well watered until it’s established.
Make sure you loosen the soil prior to planting. Most shrubs are tolerant of most soil types as long as it is fairly well draining.
Most shrubs will grow happily in containers, but they will be much more demanding on feeding and watering than shrubs in the ground would be. They will also need potting on every couple of years so that they don’t suffocate or become stunted in their pot.
Aftercare and Pruning
Once established, shrubs generally do not require much water. However, at first they need careful, frequent watering and should not be left to dry out.
Shrubs in the ground are generally not demanding and in most cases, annual feeding with general purpose fertilizer will suffice. Shrubs in containers may need more feeding; usually from early spring until late summer.
Shrubs also benefit from mulching in order to supress weeds, conserve moisture and provide vital nutrients. Mulch also greatly improves soil conditions. Shrubs can be mulched in late winter, after fertiliser has been applied, but it can be mulched through autumn to late spring as long as the ground is damp.
All shrubs benefit from dead-heading once spent flowers become apparent. Rhododendrons and Lilac especially benefit from the removal of dead flowers.
Some shrubs may show signs of reverted growth or ‘sporting’. This is where random shoots of different leaves associated with the plant’s parentage begin to appear. Most commonly this is where plants with variegated leaves sprout pure green growths instead of variegated ones.
To control reversion, remove reverted shoots promptly to discourage them. Reverted shoots are usually much more vigorous than the variegated ones, and thus should be completely pruned out and cut back into wood containing variegated foliage.
Potential Issues
Although shrubs are usually very robust garden plants, they can sometimes start to decline with no apparent or obvious reason.
This will start with browning leaves, which could indicate plant stress due to lack of water or waterlogging, an establishment failure or, in the worst case scenario, honey fungus. Another cause of leaf browning is a high salt content in the soil. This could be a natural occurrence, especially if you live near the ocean, or it could be from over fertilisation.
To remedy a high salt content, cut back on fertiliser and step up your watering regime for the next few weeks. If you live by the ocean, this will be harder to remedy—but stepping up your watering will help to wash some of the salt away all the same.
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