SNOW LEOPARD

Snow Leopard is a perennial evergreen semi-shrub 100–110 cm high and 80–90 cm in diameter, obtained as a result of a mutation of the lavandin variety 'Temp' at the Nikita Botanical Garden. The bush has a compact shape, linear leaves, grey-green, sparsely hairy, 6.5 cm long and 0.8 cm wide. Inflorescences are compound, cylindrical, dense, 8.5–9 cm long and 2.3–2.5 cm in diameter, consisting of 8–9 whorls; in each central whorl there are from 14 to 23 flowers (average 19). The corolla is white, the calyx is greenish. Mass flowering begins in the first-second decade of July and lasts 25–30 days.

The plant is distinguished by high decorativeness and long flowering, it is resistant to pests, diseases and drought. Frost-hardy, can withstand frosts down to –20 °C, and the root system penetrates deeper than three meters, which ensures good stability to unfavorable conditions. Snow Leopard is easily propagated by cuttings; with proper care (infrequent watering, open sunny location, well-drained alkaline soil) the plant can live up to 15–20 years.

The variety is suitable for both decorative gardening and landscape design, and for industrial production of essential oil. The yield of above-ground mass is about 84–101 c/ha, essential oil content is 2.7–6.7% of raw mass, and the gross yield of fat oil reaches 229–263 kg/ha. The main components of the oil are linalool (≈58%) and linalyl acetate (≈11%). Thanks to high rooting of cuttings and mechanized harvesting, Snow Leopard is suitable for large-scale production.