When autumn arrives and most gardens start fading, Mona Lavender is just hitting its stride. This compact, fast-growing evergreen shrub forms a neat, upright, bushy mound of glossy, dark green leaves with serrated edges, each boasting a dramatic, deep purple to wine-coloured underside. From late summer through autumn and often into winter, it produces an abundance of elegant spikes of tubular, two-lipped lavender flowers, delicately speckled with purple. This spectacular display is triggered by shorter daylight hours, providing a burst of vibrant colour when many other plants are winding down.
Proudly bred at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town during the 1990s, Mona Lavender is perfectly and uniquely suited to local gardens. It thrives in part shade to full shade, making it invaluable for those tricky, darker corners. It appreciates protection from harsh, direct sun, which can scorch its leaves, though a little morning sun encourages the most compact growth. It prefers fertile, well-drained, compost-enriched soil and needs regular watering, especially during dry summer spells, but won’t tolerate waterlogged conditions. It’s sensitive to frost, requiring a sheltered spot in colder inland valleys. Reaching 50–75cm tall and 60–90cm wide, it’s perfect for shaded borders, mass plantings, containers, or as a long-blooming indoor accent.
Key Features:
- Elegant spikes of rich lavender flowers from late summer through autumn and into winter
- Bred at Kirstenbosch—proudly South African and perfectly adapted to local conditions
- Glossy, dark green leaves with dramatic deep purple undersides for year-round interest
- A magnet for bees and butterflies in the shaded autumn garden
Gardening Note: Plant in part shade to full shade in fertile, well-drained soil enriched with compost. Avoid harsh, direct sun, which can scorch leaves. Water regularly to keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Pinch back growing tips regularly during the growing season to encourage a compact, bushy habit. Sensitive to frost; in colder inland areas, plant in a sheltered spot or grow in a movable container. Easily propagated from stem cuttings in spring or summer.
