French lavender
Lavandula stoechas Common Name: French lavender
I copied this from the RHS site. I know they prefer to be on the dry side - could they have got too cold?
Genus: Lavandula
Species: stoechas
Skill Level: Experienced
Exposure: Full sun
Hardiness: Hardy
Soil type: Well-drained/light, Chalky/alkaline, Dry, Sandy
Height: 60cm
Spread: 60cm
Time to plant seeds: March to May
Time to take cuttings: April to August
An attractive and unusual lavender from hot, dry Mediterranean regions, and best grown in a warm position, sheltered from cold winds and frost. It is not fully hardy, but survives well in a sunny corner or against a warm wall, and makes an excellent container plant that can be brought under cover in winter. It has been cultivated for more than 400 years, and a favourite both for its intense fragrance and also the short dense flower spikes topped with a flourish of conspicuous rich violet bracts, rather like a set of extravagant ears. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its Award of Garden Merit (AGM).