Lavender 'Grosso' carries silvery, aromatic evergreen foliage that stays good looking through the cooler months, then sends up violet flower spikes in summer that dry beautifully for arrangements and sachets. It's a sturdy, bushy plant that holds its shape well when given room to grow.

In Birmingham the problem is rarely cold; it's our humidity and wet ground. Plant it high in sharp, fast-draining soil, mulch with gravel rather than bark, and leave space around it so air can move through the clump. Put it somewhere sunny where water won't pool after storms.