Augusta Lavender heliotrope is a backyard winner

• Augusta Lavender heliotrope is a resilient perennial that may survive harsh climate situations.
• This award-winning plant is thought for attracting all kinds of butterflies.
• It thrives in well-drained soil and will be paired with many different backyard crops.

This rising season marks the sixth 12 months that Augusta Lavender heliotrope has been at house in my backyard. This isn’t dangerous for a plant first predicted to be hardy to zone 9. For people who won’t know, I’m in Georgia zone 8.

The first few years it appeared like Augusta Lavender was not an annual or perennial however an everlasting. I suppose it nonetheless is likely to be however in saying that I used to be referring to its bloom season. I’ve bought photos of it blooming nearly each month. But after the 2025 season it makes me suppose it has some energy of reasoning. I’m actually kidding however let me clarify.

Last 12 months was my hardest 12 months for gardening. We got here out of a tough winter to an excellent spring. Then the water shut off, in additional methods than one. Drought got here like I haven’t had since transferring to Georgia after which to make issues worse I had irrigation system points that hung round many of the summer season too. The white-haired backyard man dragged water hoses till I used to be able to cry uncle. It grew to become like water rationing for my crops together with some that didn’t get what they wanted.

The Augusta Lavender heliotrope disappeared. I assumed to myself how may I try this to one in all my most beloved crops to come back out in a decade? After we bought into soccer season, surprisingly all of the clumps returned. Even after one Arctic Blast after one other they’re nonetheless there and most are displaying some colour.

Usually when you think about a plant with such a behavior your thought could also be: Is it aggressive? This is just not the case. After six years, it’s a mild-mannered, tough-as-nails perennial in my zone 8 backyard.

Since the final time I wrote about Augusta Lavender heliotrope it has continued successful extra awards, from Canada to the University of Florida. The awards additionally embody Perfect Scores at University of Missouri and Oklahoma State University.

In these 6 years evidently there isn’t any butterfly that it may well’t entice. You will discover all the big swallowtails right down to the dainty-looking fiery skipper. So plan to incorporate the Augusta Lavender heliotrope into your pollinator gardens.

This previous 12 months I used it in a brand new mixture that includes Limelight Prime hydrangea paniculata with white blooms and extra colour coming from different perennials. I additionally used Luminary Ultraviolet tall backyard phlox, and Serendipity decorative onion on this aspect yard planting.

In the yard that has bigger beds I used Augusta Lavender with Meant to Bee Queen Nectaraine and Meant to Bee Royal Raspberry agastache. The mattress additionally included Heat it Up Yellow blanket flower and Rockin Blue Suede Shoes salvia. It can be a pure enjoyment of combined containers.

Augusta Lavender heliotrope doesn’t appear persnickety over soil kind whether it is well-drained. Boggy soil and tight compacted clay aren’t your buddy. I’m all the time wishing for a little bit extra solar, however it seems as if I’m in a contented place.

The tag reads as much as 24 inches vast with a possible unfold of three toes. Usually, I’m a little bit bigger than the tag, however on this case, I’m just a bit smaller which is simply high quality. On the opposite hand, since it’s perennial for me, I’ve taken the freedom of digging a small sprout or two and inserting them across the backyard.

Maintenance is straightforward.  I wish to feed these in containers with dilute water-soluble fertilizer each two to a few weeks.  Those in beds incorporate controlled-release granules at planting and about each 6 to eight weeks or per your formulation suggestion. At any time that the plant behavior appears unfastened or open, be at liberty to chop again by one-fourth to form up.

If you haven’t tried the award-winning Augusta Lavender heliotrope, make 2026 the 12 months you do. I’m constructive you may be giving it an award too.

Follow me on Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy for extra photographs and backyard inspiration.