BLOOMING GREAT
Aldi launches pretty £3 plant that flowers every week until September and turns your garden into a bee-friendly paradise
The bargain bloom flying off shelves – and it’s cheaper than B&Q or Waitrose
ALDI is launching a blooming great bargain just in time for summer – butterfly lavender for only £3.79 each, in shades of purple, pink and white.
It's available in stores across the UK, including in Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham, from Thursday, June 12.
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Not only will it brighten up your garden, but it’ll also fill the air with a sweet scent for months, attracting bees.
Butterfly lavender, also known as French lavender, is loved for its frilly blooms and aromatic leaves.
It flowers from late spring right through summer and even into autumn if looked after properly.
It will go dormant in winter, and return bigger and bushier next year if maintained properly.
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How to care for lavender
To get the most out of your lavender, plant it in a sunny spot with well-drained soil.
Once it’s settled in, it won’t need much watering – in fact, it prefers to stay on the dry side.
French lavender typically flowers from late spring into early autumn, with a peak bloom period between May and September.
Some varieties, like Lavandula stoechas "Papillon" and "Tiara", are known for their continuous flowering from late spring to early autumn.
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If you're looking to make your lavender grow bigger and bushier faster, a gardener has a 45p hack you can try.
After French lavender flowers, you should trim the spent flower stalks to encourage more blooms and keep the plant compact.
Aldi is selling a cheap $4.49 item that will transform your garden into a colorful summer paradise
You can also prune the plant back in late summer or early spring to rejuvenate it and prevent it from becoming woody.
French lavender is a versatile herb with various culinary and creative applications.
Beyond its beautiful scent and visual appeal, it can be used in many ways.
The Sun has five ways to use your lavender flowers.
And Aldi's plant is a bargain! A quick check at B&Q shows similar lavender plants starting at £12.
The 5 best flowers to help bees to thrive
Nature experts at Faith In Nature have shared the 5 best flowers Brits can plant in their gardens to help bees thrive.
Rebecca Miller, Fabulous' Associate Editor and keen gardener explains why "bees are brilliant".
"They are vital. They pollinate our food and play a crucial role in our ecosystem. But climate change, the increasing use of pesticides and loss of habitat means bees are endangered. No matter how big your garden or outside space is, you can plant a flower or two to help bees."
Lavender
Lavender can thrive in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. It's fragrant and flowers all-summer-long meaning it's a big hit with bees - especially bumble bees.
Sunflowers
This cheery flower giant are bee-magnets. And if you look closely at a sunflower head, the big ‘flowers’ are actually a cluster of small flowers, called an inflorescence which attract pollinators.
Ideally, grow sunflowers in groups to provide nectar and pollen for as many bees as possible. At the end of summer, collect the dried seeds from the sunflower heads to feed the birds or plant next year.
Heather
These abundant, bell-shaped blooms are brimming with nectar and pollen – which is good news for bees.
Cornflowers
A vivid blue wildflower, cornflowers are often planted alongside other meadow blooms, like ox-eye daisies and poppies.
They grow on tall stems and are packed with nectar, making them particularly attractive to bees. Cornflowers bloom for a long time and are simple to grow, so they're perfect for first-time gardeners and experienced alike.
Crocuses (and snowdrops)
Later this summer, when you're starting to plan for your Spring displays, consider crocuses and snowdrops.
They provide bees, such as the queen buff-tailed bumblebee and male hairy-footed flower bees, with vital early pollen as they emerge from their winter hibernation.
Over at Waitrose Garden and Hillier, prices range from £7.99 to £13.99, depending on the size and variety.
This is the latest in a string of green-fingered savings from Aldi.
Earlier this month, rival Lidl launched a range of garden plants starting from just £1.99, undercutting pricier garden centres and online sellers.
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Aldi shoppers are also racing to buy a garden item that you'll get change from a tenner.
If you shop in the middle of Lidl, you can find a £1.99 plant that flowers every week until October and adds instant privacy to your garden.
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