Fancy Christmas with a difference? Vanda our shaped Lavender 'tree' (it's actually a small shrub) is a tasteful alternative to a typical conifer. Typically an outdoor plant but happy in the home over the festive season, Vanda comes potted up which makes her easy to pop outside when you take your decorations down. She comes with the added advantages of having a strong calming fragrance and is light on watering. You can let her soil dry out almost completely before giving her a drink, but she'll let you know if she's thirsty by wilting. Ideally keep her in a nice bright spot where she can get plenty of light.
This truly magical plant has been used for centuries as a medicinal herb, treating everything from anxiety to insomnia, depression, headaches, hair loss, nausea, and much more. Her first-ever recorded use comes from ancient Egypt, where she was made into oils that were important to the mummification process. Fast forward to ancient Rome, where she was used in bathing rituals because of her antiseptic properties - in fact, her botanical name comes from the Latin 'lavare', which literally means 'to wash'.
After Christmas, we recommend taking your plant out of it's nursery pot (the plastic pot that it comes in), and planting it up directly into a bigger decorative pot with drainage. With some TLC your Lavender 'tree' will bloom in midsummer and tends to stay in flower for 3-4 weeks. After her buds open, trim off a bunch of her stalks and use them in essential oils for some aromatherapy action, or in tea as a sleep aid.
Complete guide to English Lavender care
