Lavandula Bella Toscane may be compact, but it packs a mighty punch in terms of blooming power. With large, dark purple flower panicles with the elegant flags typical for Lavandula stoechas, you’ll find over 20 flowers on even the smallest plants!

What’s different about Lavandula Bella Toscane?

That’s an easy question – it’s a rather adorable compact Lavandula stoechas that pops out flowers like there’s no tomorrow. Best of all, you really don’t have to do much to this plant in order for those blooms to boom! It’s a very low maintenance lavender.

Not only is this plant a feast for pollinators, and so would work well in any wildlife garden (large or compact!), but it’s also, in my opinion, a ‘plant of the future’. In a time when droughts may be becoming more common, this is a climate-proof plant that requires little watering, even during hot weather – ideal for hosepipe bans. If you’ve got a xeriscaped garden, this would make a perfect addition!

How was Lavandula Bella Toscane created?

I got the lowdown on the creation of Bella Toscane from Kwekerij Arends, and the story really shows the company’s commitment to the environment!

Kwekerij Arends began growing and breeding Lavandula stoechas in 2004 because the variety naturally complied with their demands, which are:

• Suitability for their nursery and circumstances (frost-free in the winter and overhead watering)
• Their own breeder’s rights on everything they were to grow in future
• As low energy and low crop protection as possible
• No use of growth retardants
• Early flowering when grown only in Northern Europe
• Suitable for a small pot size (between 6 to 15cm)

Kwekerij Arends’ circumstances with a cold nursery and overhead watering are quite extreme for growing Lavandula stoechas, therefore, breeding is a kind of survival of the fittest, with criteria based on:

• Year-around overhead watering
• Not botrytis sensitive
• Natural compact growth
• Big intense purple flags and flowers
• Perfect transport and shelf performance (and ‘hooligan proof’!)
• Colour-showing buds around week 13

After eleven years of breeding, in around 2015, Bella Toscane appeared as a code in their breeding. It met their criteria year after year, so the numbers increased and they introduced the plant on a small scale in the early 2020s. In comparison, last season, they grew approximately 1,200,000 plants in 12 cm pots.

Here’s a little technical info: An additional advantage from Bella Toscane is that the load factor went up from 30 x 10 to 40 x 10 on a CC-trolley. This is ideal according to the CO2 footprint regulations in the trading chain.

Currently, Kwekerij Arends are continuing their breeding of Lavandula stoechas with a focus on a variety that suits a bigger pot size. And, of course, additional colours would be welcome!

The breeder added, “in the end, by growing Bella Toscane, you grow and buy security in all perspectives”.

Where can you plant Lavandula Bella Toscane?

As I mentioned, Bella Toscane is perfect for xeriscapes (dry gardens) and wildlife gardens, but it’s also very well suited to compact gardens – including patios and balconies – and, of course, works like a dream in containers. For larger gardens, it works well when planted en masse, and can even be used as low growing hedging.

Where can you buy Lavandula Bella Toscane?

Lavandula Bella Toscane will be available soon – watch this space!

Plant of the Month is sponsored by Plantipp, a company based in The Netherlands who handle the introduction of new plants into Europe.

See every Plant of the Month here.

Images courtesy of Plantipp.

Mr Plant Geek

Michael has been involved with gardening and plants since he was just five years old. He is a self-professed Plant Geek, and was listed in the Sunday Times top 20 most influential people in the gardening world, thanks to his plant hunter role at Thompson & Morgan.

Michael was responsible for new plant introductions such as the Egg and Chips plant and the FuchsiaBerry and keeps busy travelling the world in search of new plants as well as lecturing worldwide, including stints in Japan. He is very active on social media – so why not give him a follow at @mr_plantgeek or Facebook – and writes a plant-focused Substack called Grow This, Not That.