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Lavetera (possible spelling)

• Message 1. 

  Posted by Francedweller (U5509051) on Wednesday, 31st August 2011

  I was given a number of cuttings of this shrub to help establish a new garden. A couple of them have become very large and I would like to know (1) when do I cut it back? (2) Can I cut it back during its growing stage to keep it a little smaller next year ? and (3) How brutal can I be with either of the above,
  Any help will be appreciated. Pam

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by horththit (U13862695) on Sunday, 4th September 2011

  I would give it a light trim next month to keep it tidy and less prone to wind damage in the winter. But next spring, cut it back to a tidy shape. Which variety do you have? I found that the purple ones are far hardier than the lovely white Barnsley. They are a bit willowy, so tread them in to secure them before the winter winds rock them.

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  Posted by jauntycyclist (U14199772) on Sunday, 4th September 2011

  its a trifid when it gets going if a bit winter fragile. Likes full sun, south walls. we used to hack it right down, if necessary, in the spring so the foliage gave it some protection and it would bounce back. can be lost in frost pockets. best site it so you don't have to hack it back.
  
  Lav. Barnsley was found as a sport by John Clarke who was head gardener of Barnsley House at the time. It can easily revert so cut out any reverting stems otherwise they will take over.
  
  looking back he could have made a fortune out of it.

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  Posted by Papa Nopsis (U14479902) on Sunday, 4th September 2011

  Yes they are unpredictable, if you prune them, and unpredictable if you don't, mainly because of the brittleness of the wood, if I remember right. I've just planted two more since I enjoy the long flowering, and they do also provide some concealment in the garden.
  
  The wind can damage them quite easily, and possibly very cold weather, but I may be wrong. I am living on hope for these two. I may have trimmed the old ones I had, right back and been lucky that they grew again in the spring, with some more unchosen wood dying off meantime.

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  Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Sunday, 4th September 2011

  I've a lavetera barnsley but it's been growing in a pot until this year and only planted out in August so it's only about 2-3 ft tall.
  
  I've given mine a trim today and cut back the old flowering stems to a new shoot but cut back the front of it almost to ground level so new shoots will be trained to a trellis in readiness for the winter.
  
  I looked on the internet first to see when to pune but couldn't find anything, mine doesn't need brutal pruning yet but would be inclined to say give it a trim but wait till spring for a major hacking back, it depends how big and established your plant is.

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• Message 6

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  Posted by Blitzern (U14975083) on Sunday, 4th September 2011

  I live in Burgundy and the one in my garden has become a monster! I've taken cuttings and it will be coming out this year, because of wind damage. It survived a winter temperature of -18C

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