Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
Lavender piss a stunning addition to borders and perennial garden , providing wholesale drifts of colouration from former summertime into fall . With its silvery - green foliage , upright flower spikes , and compact shrub - like class , lavender is ideal for creating cozy hedge . you could also reap it for fragrant flowered organization , sachets , and mixed bag , as well as many medicinal and culinary America .
Although all lavender ( Lavandula ) is aboriginal to the Mediterranean , there are many different variety offering a vast selection of prime times , flower forms , and size . And , wayward to the name , not all lavender are purple . Some cross come in other lovely pastel chromaticity such as violet blue , rose , pale pinkish , blank , and even yellow . The foliage can also depart in shape and color . To extend the salad days season , as well as the colour pallet , consider planting several variety .
COMMON TYPES OF LAVENDER
There are four independent type of lavender commonly grown in family gardens — each with unique characteristics in bloom time , bouquet , and mood tolerance . Here ’s how they compare .
Sweet Romance , English lavender . Photo by : Proven Winners .
ENGLISH LAVENDER
botanic name : Lavandula angustifoliaZones:5 - 8Bloom time : June to AugustHeight:2 to 3 feetFlower color : Lavender , cryptical dark - over-embellished , tripping pink , white
Despite its Mediterranean descent , English lavender was so constitute because it grows well in that area ’s cooler climate and has long been a staple in English herb garden . The hoary - green foliage and whorls of tiny bloom make this one of the most attractive lavenders in the garden . It ’s one of the most stale - hardy miscellanea and the best for culinary utilisation because of its low camphor content . Learn and harvesting English lavender .
Pictured : Sweet Romance ® lavenderfrom Proven Winners
Gallic lavender .
FRENCH LAVENDER
Botanical name : Lavandula dentataZones:8 - 11Bloom time : Early summertime to fallHeight:36 column inch and largerFlower colors : lite purple
Also called fringed lavender , this showy form is distinguished by narrow , finely - toothed leaves and compact flower heads topped by purple bracts . While the flush have less fragrance than English lavender , the fleshly leaves are more fragrant , with an intoxicating rosemary - like smell . Learn French lavender .
Spanish lavender .
SPANISH LAVENDER
Botanical name : Lavandula stoechasZones:8 - 11Bloom time : Mid to late summerHeight:18 to 24 inchesFlower color : Deep purple
This miscellanea is jimmy for its unusual pineapple - shaped bloom with colorful bracts , or “ bunny girl ear , ” that emerge from each flower spike . Although the bloom are not especially fragrant , the abstemious - dark-green leaves are very redolent . read Spanish lavender .
Lavandin .
LAVANDIN
botanic name : Lavandula ×intermediaZones:5 - 11Bloom time : Mid to late summerHeight:24 to 30 inchesFlower colors : Dark violet , white
This popular hybrid combine the cold hardiness of English lavender with the heating system tolerance of Portuguese lavender ( L. latifolia ) . It typically starts blossom a few hebdomad later on than most English lavenders and feature long stiletto heel of highly fragrant flowers . Although not regard comestible ( due to high camphor content ) , the flowers and foliage are often add to sachets and potpourris .
HOW TO PLANT LAVENDER
" It ’s a good choice to put right next to a vegetable garden because it attracts pollinator like crazy — honey bees and butterflies — and the more pollinators we can get over to our vegetables the better harvest we ’ll have . " — Laura Leboutillier , Garden Answer
When to plant:
In the spring after the grime has warm up and the scourge of frost has pass . May also be planted in the decline if you give plant enough time for their rootage to establish before wintertime .
Where to plant:
Place these sun lovers in a site that receives sizable sun ( at least 6 hours day by day ) . In umbrageous locating , plant will bloom poorly , lack vigor , and be less fragrant . An sphere that receives undecomposed melodic line circulation is also important , especially if growing plants in a humid clime .
How to plant:
It is generally easygoing to grow lavender from baby’s room commencement , since the seeds are small and lean to have a dense and mercurial germination pace . To see good air circulation , blank space plant 2 to 3 feet apart , count on their width at due date . Water correctly after planting and continue to water every few days until plant become show .
Soil requirements:
Grows best in arenaceous , nutrient - poor , alkaline ground that provide excellent drainage . Avoid planting in big corpse or in low spots prostrate to standing water . Because unspoiled drainage is essential , regard produce your plants in mound , raised bed , or on incline .
Growing from seed:
If want to try your hired hand at growing lavender from seed , start the seeds indoors in early spring , cover them very lightly with a unfertile seed start out mix and keeping them moist but not miry until the seedling emerge . When keep at a temperature of about 65 ° F , the seeds will bourgeon in 2 to 3 week .
Growing in containers:
Compact varieties of lavender are perfect for growing in containers , which is a serious option in areas where the plant is n’t sturdy because you may move the pots indoors over wintertime . Be certain to institute in a gamy - timber , tight - draining potting mix in a container with multiple drainage hole , so your lavender wo n’t be sitting in endure water . Learn to grow lavender in green goddess .
LAVENDER PLANT CARE
Watering : institute lavender plants are extremely drought tolerant and only want to be irrigate during prolong dry spells . To forbid source rot and fungal disease , avoid overwatering and keep the leave-taking dry by watering at ground level or using drip mould irrigation . During the winter , when flora are dormant , no auxiliary lacrimation is needed .
Amendments and fertilizer : Because lavender is native to regions get sandy or rocky soils with low fertility , debar using amendments that enrich the soil , such as compost or other organic subject . If you have dense clay dirt , remedy it with inert rice Kingston-upon Hull to improve drainage .
feed lavender is rarely necessary and may cause a surge in foliation growth at the expense of flower production . Plants will generally be more rich when grow in hapless territory that is low-spirited in nutrients .
overwinter : In climates where temperatures douse below zero degrees Fahrenheit , insulate your plant with a winter mulch of evergreen boughs , sliced leaves , or straw , specially if there ’s a lack of nose candy cover charge . right territory drainage is also of the essence to plant survival in areas with cold , dampen winters .
Propagation : From seminal fluid or by radical newspaper clipping taken from new growth in spring , before flower buds take shape . * See note below on disseminate or disunite patented plant ( check your plant tatter for the ® or ™ symbol by the works name ) .
pest and disease : Lavender has few pest or disease problems , but can be susceptible to root hogwash and powdery mold , especially in damp , humid climates . The best control measures are to avoid overhead lacrimation and provide good zephyr circulation between plant .
HOW TO PRUNE LAVENDER
Pruning lavender is essential for maintaining its health and beauty . Regular pruning help stimulate young growth , maintain the flora ’s shape , and kick upstairs abundant bloom . cardinal pruning times include :
Proper proficiency call for cutting back by one - third , shaping the plant into a dome , avoiding cut into sure-enough wood , and always using sanitized tools . For more details , seeA Beginner ’s Guide to Pruning Lavender .
Deadheading Lavender:
In summation to seasonal pruning , unconstipated deadheading is another important technique to keep your lavender appear its good and boost continuous blooming . Here are a few tips from Sean & Allison of Spoken Garden ’s video , How to Deadhead Lavender
POPULAR LAVENDER VARIETIES
exposure by : Proven achiever
Sweet Romance ® —Buy Now from Proven WinnersL. angustifolia
This variety grows 12 to 18 column inch tall and blooms from early summertime into gloaming . Its grey - green foliage is topped with rich purple flower that are perfect for fresh or dried sweetness .
Phenomenal — Buy Now from Proven WinnersLavandulaxintermedia
Good drainage is critical for this fragrant mid- to recent - summertime blunder . Grows 24 to 30 inches marvellous and 48 to 54 inches all-inclusive . Use in container or garden seam and molding .
‘ Hidcote’L. angustifolia
This stocky cultivar grows 12 to 18 inches tall and feature slender flower spike heel with tightly cluster dark violet - naughty flowers and aromatic silverish foliage . Because of its abject visibility , you may apply it as a hefty hedge plant around herb or perennial garden or alongside walkways .
pic courtesy : W. Atlee Burpee Company .
‘ Grosso’Lavandula’Grosso '
This pop lavandin loan-blend is the most fragrant and the one most often used for scenting perfumes and sachets . It produces an abundance of exceptionally large deep - violet flower spike out that suffer well above the mounded silver - fleeceable foliage . grow to 3 pes tall and wide , this heavy bloomer want copious space to accommodate its vigorous growth drug abuse .
‘ Munstead’L. angustifolia
This early - flowering English lavender is tolerant of tough produce condition , including heat , humidity , and drouth . It originate to a thick elevation of 12 to 18 inches and produces Mass of lilac-colored blue flowers from belated spring well into summertime . usage as a molding accent , in aggregate plantings , and in containers .
Courtesy of lensman Doreen Wynja © for Monrovia .
' Provence’Lavandulaxintermedia
' Provence ' is one of the tallest of the lavandin cultivars and catch its name from the area in southeastern France where it is commercially turn for the scent diligence . It grows to a elevation of 3 metrical unit with heavily odorous flowers and foliation . Pale imperial blooms on upright base appear from June through August .
Photo by : Pressebereich Dehner Garten - Center / Flickr.com .
‘ Thumbelina Leigh’L. angustifolia
True to its name , ‘ Thumbelina Leigh ’ is a dwarf English lavender ideal for containers , low borders , and rock gardens . It produce a cornucopia of powerfully fragrant , purplish - blue flower spikes that will flower continuously from early to mid summer .
Photo courtesy : Kieft Seed .
‘ Ellagance Ice’L. angustifolia
Silvery ashen blooms with a promiscuous - blue blush distinguish this attractive English lavender cultivar . The large aromatic flower spikes blossom all summer and attract butterflies . A compact shaggy-haired form makes it an first-class choice for containers .
photograph by : Ngordon99 | Dreamstime.com .
‘ Melissa’L. angustifolia
Here ’s an unusual pink - flowering English lavender that harmonizes attractively with royal - flowering varieties . It has silvery foliage like other English lavender but produces fine perfumed light - pink flowers that gradually melt to whiten . It can uprise to a stature of 27 inches and bloom from recent spring to early summer .
picture by : HighCountryGardens.com .
' Buena Vista’L. angustifolia
This rare double - flower English lavender cultivar bloom in late spring and again in September , with a few flower ear appearing in mid - summer . It produces bi - one-sided purple and thick blue flowers on stems that buff out around the plant , so the shape is not as respectable as some other cultivar . Grows to a height of 18 to 24 inches with a interchangeable spread .
Photo by : Matt Purciel / Alamy Stock Photo .
' Royal Velvet’L. angustifolia
' Royal Velvet ' English lavender is a genuine showstopper , producing velvety , richly colored navy and empurpled blossom spikes on tall 2 to 2.5 foot bow . It blossom from late spring to early summertime and is one of the best choices for use in dry out arrangements because the flowers retain their gorgeous vividness .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is lavender a perennial?
While lavender is often sell as a perennial , it ’s actually an evergreen semi - arboreous shrub that will generate twelvemonth after year if grown in the appropriate climate . However , some type of lavender wo n’t survive winter when exposed to excessively dusty temperature . Gallic and Spanish lavenders are especially susceptible to ice damage and should be grown as annuals north of geographical zone 7 or in container that you may bring indoors during the winter months .
What is the best lavender for cold climates?
English lavendersand their hybrids are the best varieties for colder climates since they are hardy to zone 5 , where winter temperatures can dribble as low as -10 ° F to -20 ° F. Some of the intercrossed lavandins ( L.xintermedia ) can also tolerate cold conditions . If your winters are particularly harsh , it ’s effective to uprise flora in a protected location to prevent damage .
What is the best lavender for hot and humid climates?
BothSpanish lavenderandFrench lavenderare fantabulous performers in southern gardens with extremely hot , humid climates . However , be sure to grow plant life in well - drain soil and infinite them far enough apart to permit good air circulation . Although English lavender will endure summertime heat , it grows poorly in climates that have extremely live , humid summers , choose more temperate conditions .
How do I fix leggy or woody lavender plants?
Leggy lavender works , with long woody stanch and thin growth , are often the result of improper pruning ( see “ How to Prune Lavender ” ) . However , plant can also get long-shanked if they receive insufficient sunlight or are set in overly fat soil . To rejuvenate their shaggy show , start by cut your plant in the spring , cutting back to the lowest emerging bud . In midsummer , prune again to shape your plants into nice , symmetrical mounds , which will help keep them goodly and reduce straggly emergence . Be cognizant that rejuvenating woody lavender can take clip , so have patience and give your plants several months to retrieve between prunings .
How do I harvest and preserve lavender flowers?
Cut the flowers when the bud are just beginning to show colour , but before they amply open . If you harvest the blooms when they are in early bud , they should last at least two weeks in a vase . This is also when the essential oils are at their crown .
If harvest for dry flowers , link the cut peak stalks into cluster and hang them upside down in a dry , well - ventilate space out of direct sunlight . Once wry , you could strip off the efflorescence to apply for sachet and potpourri or produce a dry out nosegay by leaving the flush on the shank and arrange them upright in a vase .
DESIGN IDEAS FOR LAVENDER
Sweet Romance ® Lavender . Photo by : Proven Winners .
IDEAS FOR USING LAVENDER IN THE KITCHEN
A member of the mint family , lavender has been used for centuries as a versatile , unexpected flavoring in both sweet and savory food . English lavender are the good varieties for culinary purposes , and both the bud and leaves can be used fresh or dried . Because the smell is secure , apply it sparingly so it wo n’t overpower your dishes . The bud are best harvested right before they full undefended , when the of the essence rock oil are most stiff .
- REGARDING generation : When it come to propagating patented plants , there are strict rule in place disallow reproduction or multiplication of these plants in any way . This entail you ca n’t reproduce them ( even for use in your own garden ) , betray them , or work them into the nation without license . The jurisprudence does not make exception for what some might regard minor infraction . Any wildcat use of patent plants is considered an infringement .
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anne Balogh is a longtime horticulture writer and editor for Garden Design , with over 20 years of experience cover everything from container planting to landscape movement . She draws inspiration from her own Zone 5 garden in Illinois , where she try out with unfearing perennial and efflorescence annuals .
RELATED READING
