Learn How To Plant, Care and Grow Gorgeous Lavender
Planting Lavender, Growing Lavender, Caring for Lavender
A beloved favorite of Mediterranean gardens, Lavender (Lavandula) is a gifted shrub that is full of talents, including being delightfully scented. Blooming over a long season, it provides attractive evergreen foliage and can be used in a myriad of ways, such as edging, hedging, as an accent plant, or in patio containers. Easy to grow and drought-tolerant, Lavender has fairly limited needs.
What is Lavender?
Lavender is a perennial herb or small aromatic evergreen shrub in the mint family of flowering plants, Lamiaceae. There are 47 species native to the Old World, primarily in the Mediterranean region. Today, lavender is also grown in other parts of the world as an ornamental plant or for its essential oil.
Main types: There are 5 main types of Lavender: English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), French Lavender (Lavandula dentata), Portuguese Lavender (Lavandula latifolia), Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas) and Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia). The most popular and widely cultivated species is Lavandula angustifolia, followed by Lavandula stoechas and Lavandula x intermedia. Learn how to choose the right Lavender.
Hardiness: Most lavenders are hardy from Zones 5 to 9, except Spanish lavender, which is only hardy in Zones 8 to 9.
Flowers: Flowers are available in a wide range of colors, including blue-violet, white, pink, and of course, a wide range of purples! Find your favorite Lavender by flower color.
Blooming season: Blooms occur from late spring to fall, depending on the species and the location. The blooming period can last for several weeks to a few months. Learn more about Lavenders and blooming seasons.
Size: Lavender shrubs range in height from very compact plants that do not grow more than 12 in. (30 cm) to varieties that easily reach 3 ft. high. Dwarf varieties are ideal for containers, while the taller ones are great candidates for hedges.
Pollinators: The richly fragrant flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects to the garden.
Deer: Lavender is not generally a plant that deer or other animals seek out to eat, but if other food sources are scarce, they may come along and make a meal out of your plant.
Toxicity: Lavender is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.
Problems: Lavender tends to be trouble-free if grown in the right conditions.
Guide Information
Plant Type | Shrubs |
---|---|
Plant Family | Lavandula - Lavender |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Water Needs | Low |
Maintenance | Average |
Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy, Evergreen |
Tolerance | Deer, Drought, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
Attracts | Bees |
Landscaping Ideas | Beds and Borders, Edging, Hedges and Screens, Patio and Containers |
Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Cutting Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden |
Yolanta, Shutterstock
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Guide Information
Plant Type | Shrubs |
---|---|
Plant Family | Lavandula - Lavender |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Water Needs | Low |
Maintenance | Average |
Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy, Evergreen |
Tolerance | Deer, Drought, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
Attracts | Bees |
Landscaping Ideas | Beds and Borders, Edging, Hedges and Screens, Patio and Containers |
Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Cutting Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden |