Where does English lavender grow best?
These fragrant perennials are hardy in Zones 5 to 10 and have a sunny disposition. Give them a spot in full sun for best flowering. The plants prefer well-drained soil year-round, especially in winter. Poorly draining winter soils quickly eliminate English lavender.
How do you care for English lavender?
Plant lavender in full sun and well-drained soil (add organic matter to improve heavy soils). Starting with the proper conditions is essential for successfully growing lavender. Water plants deeply but infrequently, when the soil is almost dry. Prune every year immediately after bloom.
How do you grow English lavender?
Planting Lavender
Plant lavender 2 to 3 feet apart. Plants typically reach between 1 and 3 feet in height. Add mulch (rock or pea gravel work particularly well) to keep weeds to a minimum. Keep the mulch away from the crown of the lavender plant, however, to prevent excess moisture and root rot.
Will English lavender spread?
How much is it likely to spread? Lavender is a small shrub that usually grows 20 to 24 inches tall and wide. The height includes the flower stalks, so when not in bloom, the foliage may be only a foot tall. The plant does not spread as thyme, oregano, and other herbs tend to.
Does lavender grow back every year?
Lavender is a perennial herb that continues to grow each year. Lavender is a woody perennial, so it does continue to grow from year to year, but the stems remain upright through the winter in preparation for new spring growth. With proper care and pruning, lavender will survive in the garden for years to come.
What’s the difference between English lavender and French lavender?
The key difference between French and English lavenders is that English lavenders are more cold hardy, produce a stronger fragrance and live longer however French lavenders can produce flowers for much longer.
Which lavender smells the most?
The most fragrant Lavender plants are the Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia). Several cultivars of English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) are also prized for their delightful scent. Lavandula x intermedia, also called Lavandin, is a hybrid cross between Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula latifolia.
What is the easiest lavender to grow?
English lavenders are the easiest lavenders to grow, with varieties such as ‘Munstead’ and ‘Hidcote’ regarded as the easiest and most versatile lavender varieties as they require minimal maintenance and can survive in both hot and cold climates.
What is the hardiest lavender to grow?
Even Portuguese lavender, which is a warm season lavender, becomes hardy in zone 5 when bred with English lavender. These hybrids are called lavandins and are hardy in zone 5 with increased vigor, size and oil content than their parents. The optimal range for English lavender is zone 5 to 8.
Can lavender grow in pots?
Start with large pots, as lavender plants can grow to the size of small shrubs. Twelve- to 16-inch containers do the job nicely. Fill the bottom inch or two of the container with Styrofoam peanuts or gravel to facilitate swift drainage. Add a tablespoon of lime to the potting mix after filling the container.
Is Lavender easy to grow?
Growing lavender is easy and rewarding. Lavender can be grown in garden beds or in pots. To grow lavender successfully it needs well-drained soil and full sun. In arid climates lavender grows well as a perennial, but in humid climates it is often grown as an annual.
Can lavender be left outside in winter?
Lavender grows best outdoors, but you can also keep these aromatic gems alive over the winter. Plus, lavender is not only pretty, but also brings a sense of calm to every room.
Can lavender survive a freeze?
English lavender species are hardy, so can survive outdoors throughout winter and tolerate frost. Whereas Spanish, French and Italian lavenders are not frost tolerant and will need to be transferred to pots and taken indoors over winter, if they’re in a climate that receives regular frosts.
Does lavender spread in the garden?
Lavenders can spread by foliage growth (as with all plants) and seed dispersal in the late summer. Lavender plants do not spread by self propagation, or any other mechanism (however they are reasonable easy to propagate with some planning).
Should I cover lavender for winter?
Winter lavender protection is important for your Lavandula oil producers. These plants may need a sheet covering the lavender bush during winter ice storms. Most damage occurs when ice coats stems, leaves, and base for several days. Snow will insulate lavender plants only if no ice has accumulated before the snow fall.
What happens if you don’t prune lavender?
An annual pruning is an important step for long-lasting lavender (Lavandula spp. and hybrids) plants. Without it they grow a large, lanky, woody base that can split open — it looks bad and shortens the plant’s lifespan.
How long do lavender plants last?
Lavenders are not long-lived plants. Expect tender varieties to live for about five years. If pruned correctly, hardy types can live for about 15 years (as many as 20 years, in some cases).
What do you do with lavender in the winter?
Lavender is a hardy plant, however winter winds can damage the branches and foliage. You can protect your lavender either by planting your lavender in an area protected from winter winds or you can erect a windbreak around your plants in early winter.
Should I cut back lavender?
Left to their own devices, lavender can become woody and ungainly, so to keep plants compact and attractive, it’s best to trim them annually in late summer, just after flowering has finished. Lavender does not break new growth easily from old stems so don’t cut back into the woody stems.
Can lavender be a houseplant?
With the right light and care, it is possible to grow lavender indoors. With the right light and care, it is possible to grow lavender indoors. Try your hand at growing lavender indoors. While this pretty herb isn’t a traditional houseplant, you can manage to keep it healthy if you do the right things.
David Nilsen is the former editor of Fourth & Sycamore. He is a member of the National Book Critics Circle. You can find more of his writing on his website at davidnilsenwriter.com and follow him on Twitter as @NilsenDavid.