Already well known for its locally produced wine, cheese and olive oil, Charles Sturt University (CSU) can add lavender to its repertoire. Known as Riverina James, the lavender was bred by Dr Nigel Urwin, a lecturer in animal genetics and gene technologies at the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga. “Riverina James is a garden ornamental bred as a sturdy, fast growing and water-wise plant,” Dr Urwin said. “It emits a strong and pleasant fragrance from its green foliage and is a plant suitable for hedges as well as for cut flowers due to their long vase life.” Riverina James is one of five new lavender varieties bred by Dr Urwin at CSU with four others developed specially for the essential oil industry to be high oil yielding varieties. Riverina James is produced and marketed by Plant Growers Australia and is on sale through Plant Plus in Wagga Wagga and will be available next year from Bunnings as part of their Lavender Patch collection.