For the past 35 years, the Dutch-based horticultural organization, Fleuroselect, has been testing and promoting new flower varieties around the world. Each year they trial new varieties in 30 test gardens throughout Europe. The best varieties receive the Fleuroselect Gold Medal Award or the Fleuroselect Quality Award recognizing progress in plant breeding and performance.

One of the 2006 Gold Medal Award winners is a new color of lavender. Lavandula angustifolia ‘Ellagance Sky’ is a light violet-blue variety of Lavandula angustifolia. This perennial lavender is unique because it flowers the first year you plant it. It also has improved growth and performance over the traditional ‘Munstead’ lavender. ‘Ellagance Sky’ grows 18 inches tall but stays compact. It is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9 and produces flowers from June until October. ‘Ellagance Sky’ complements a line of Fleuroselect-winning, first-year-flowering perennial lavenders that includes ‘Ellagance Ice’ (ice-blue flowers) and ‘Blue Scent’ (dark blue flowers).

For more information on this new 2006 award-winning plant, go to: Fleuroselect.