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Plant Profile Lavender Herb Growing Guide

A detailed look at the Uses, Care and Varieties of Lavendula

© Angela England

Oct 30, 2006
Lavender angustifolia, Angela England
An in-depth profile of a favorite herb plant, Lavender. Learn why this herb is prized in the garden and how to select and care for this popular edible perennial.

With a famous scent, and a delightful, cottage-garden look in the landscape, perennial lavender plants will earn a place in any herb gardeners heart.

Cultivation Information and How to Grow Lavender Plants

Botanical Name - Lavender plant goes by the scientific name, Lavendula spp.

Hardiness Zone - Lavender is hardy in zones 5-10 depending on variety

Bloom Time and Color - The lavender plant will produce long-lasting, fragrant flowers in the summer months. The purple-blue blooms, for which lavender is named, will grow on sturdy stalks up to 4' tall depending on the variety. Lavender flower pollen is mildly allergic to some people although this is rare. Bees and butterflies find the aromatic blooms attractive.

Plant Category Type - Lavender is an herbaceous perennial plant although some varieties are treated as annuals.

Folliage - The foliage of the lavender plant is semi-evergreen and has a fine texture, making it an excellent choice to blend with other plants in a mixed border combination planting. Lavender has silvery-green folliage that is also aromatic.

Growth Habit - Lavender has an upright, bushy growth habit and is usually as wide as it is tall.

Using Lavender Plants in the Garden

Preferred Conditions - Lavender thrives in well-drained soil and full sun. It can handle periods of semi-drought once fully established, making it a nice herb choice for a "water-wise" garden or in arid areas. Lavender tolerates sandy soil conditions as long as the drainage is good.

Maintenance- Very little pruning is needed to keep lavender looking good although the woody-stemmed plant will benefit from gentle shaping, which can be done in the spring. In many herb gardens, lavender is the neglected "wild child" and manages to flourish with this type of care. In fact, in the book Southern Herb Growing the authors make this comment regarding care of the variety Lavender angustifolia, "We recommend planting them in the driest area you have, in full sun, and neglecting them a lot."

Propagation Methods - Lavender can be started from seed indoors and brought outside when it has more than one true stem. It is also propagated through cuttings or layering.

Companion Plants - Choose companion plants for lavender, whose shape and structure contrast nicely such as Allium or Butterfly Weed. Other popular plants to partner with lavenders are scented plants such as Roses, Rosemary or Daylillies.

Uses in the Garden - With outstanding fragrance, beautiful blooms and pleasant silhouette the lavender can be used as a specimen plant, in a large container, or in a variety of other garden situations. A favorite in herb gardens, kitchen, cottage, English heirlooms and cut flower gardens you can also use it anywhere you want to add some scent along a pathway or near an entrance way. Effective in mass plantings or as a low hedge also.

Other Uses of Lavender Herbs

Other Uses - The blooms make great additions to cut flower bouquets where they add fragrance to a vase of flowers you bring in the house. Highly prized for its scent, the entire plant is also used commercially to make essential oils and potpourri. Many home growers choose to use them in their own potpourri blends or in home crafts. If you want to dry the flower stalks for everlasting bouquets, wreaths or other crafts you’ll want to cut the stalks when the flowers show their color, but before the buds are completely opened.

Also used in natural health care products, many homemade! Find a recipe here for a lavender and milk bath sachet.

The blossoms, while usually grown for their fragrance, are edible and make a unique garnish for salads. Often used in jellies, sauces and herb vinegars it is the "secret spice" that gives food in Provence its unusual flavor.

Lavender Cultivars and Varieties for the Garden Landscape

  • Lavendula angustifolia – Common or English Lavender - This is the most common variety of lavender and it grows 2-3’ tall and wide. It is the classic lavender colored blossoms and the easiest to grow for beginners. Hardy to zone 5 it doesn't always fair as well along the Gulf Coast where it must fight the muggy summers.
  • L. angustifolia 'Munstead' – Dwarf English Lavender - This variety has paler color blooms and only grows to 12-18" tall and wide. Great for a miniature garden or in a container. I used mine for edging a more narrow flower bed and had plenty of room to plant other perennials behind it.
  • L. angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ – Hidcote Lavender - The mid-sized lavender this variety has deep purple blooms and grows 18" tall and wide.
  • Lavendula dentata - French Lavender- Suitable for humid southern gardens this Lavender is not as cold hardy and would need to be lifted and brought indoors before a frost. Long-lasting flowers on a plant that seems to be constantly in bloom make this a favorite for warm-climate gardeners.

Whatever variety you choose to plant in your garden you are sure to be pleased with the care-free nature of this plant, and its generous fragrance.


The copyright of the article Plant Profile Lavender Herb Growing Guide in Perennial Plants is owned by Angela England. Permission to republish Plant Profile Lavender Herb Growing Guide in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.


Munstead Lavender: a good container plant choice , Gabrielle Rhodes
French lavender: , Xenomorf of DavesGarden.com
French lavender: beautiful purple fragrant flowers, Xenomorf of DavesGarden.com
   


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Comments
May 11, 2008 8:22 AM
Guest :
So far, this is the most informative... without alot of side-tracking.

But would it be possible to add pictures of each plant? I just bought 3 different kinds of Lavender plants... and one of them doesn't have any tag. I did ask the person who was selling it, but his wife is out having Mother's Day dinner, and she is the person 'in charge' of growing the plants.

Thank you... Cobalt58
Sep 18, 2008 7:25 AM
Guest :
This is great information. However, I was looking to find out if I'm supposed to cut my lavender way back in the fall or just let it be????? Anyone with info on that let me know by adding comment to this site.
Sep 18, 2008 11:00 AM
Angela England :
I tend to let me lavender go during the winter and cut it back in the early fall. Our zone 7 winters tend to be more mild but a couple of my lavenders are on the edge of hardiness and I find leaving the stems standing through the winter helps to protect the plant a little bit better. Angela <><
Nov 15, 2008 11:24 AM
Guest :
Thanks Angela. I was also looking to find out how to care for my lavendar through the North Carolina winter. I gather I will leave it be!
Thanks, Heidi
Dec 31, 2008 12:30 PM
Guest :
I'm just looking for a fragrant lavender plant.
Jan 26, 2009 8:52 AM
Guest :
i think that lavender is purple
Mar 8, 2009 7:49 PM
Guest :
I live in Oklahoma and planted lavender last spring. They are doing great and really took off! Should I trim back the plants now that it is early March or just let them be and grow out?
Mar 8, 2009 7:57 PM
Angela England :
I usually trim my lavender back in early spring - for Oklahoma area March would be a great time to do so. Herb gardeners can just pull out any of the dead twigs or stems of the lavender plant and cut the rest down to about two or three inches. :-)
Apr 5, 2009 9:57 AM
Guest :
I have a number of lavendar plants in front of my home. There are stalks (?) from last year. Do I remove them or let them be?
Apr 5, 2009 10:02 AM
Angela England :
If the stalks from last year's growth are brown and dead I would remove them in early spring. If the plant is still green and growing I might prune the tips but would probably leave the lavender to grow.
10 Comments