Lavandula angustifolia Sweet Romance® (Lavender)

Sweet Romance® Lavender combines the timeless charm of English lavender with modern breeding advancements, resulting in a plant that is both beautiful and functional. Its compact size, extended blooming period, and resilience to many common garden challenges make it a favored choice among gardeners seeking to add a touch of romance and fragrance to their landscapes.

English Lavender – Sweet Romance®: An In-depth Look

Lavandula angustifolia Sweet Romance® is a cultivar of English lavender prized for its compact growth habit, beautifully scented flowers, and extended blooming period. It features dense, fragrant flower spikes that range in color from soft lavender to deep purple.

Native: This cultivar, like its species Lavandula angustifolia, is native to the Mediterranean region but has been specifically bred to excel in garden performance. Lavender belongs to the mint, deadnettle, or sage family, Lamiaceae.

Plant Type and Habit: Sweet Romance® is a shrub with a bushy, mounded habit, showcasing the classic English lavender silhouette with a refined, compact form.

Size: It typically reaches a height and spread of 12 to 18 inches (30-45 cm), making it suitable for both garden beds and containers.

Flowers: This lavender plant produces richly fragrant flower spikes that are highly attractive to pollinators. The blooms have a vibrant purple color that can add a splash of elegance to any setting. Sweet Romance® begins flowering in early summer and can continue into early fall, offering a longer blooming season than many other lavenders.

Foliage: The foliage is silvery-green, aromatic, and evergreen in milder climates, adding year-round interest to the garden.

Hardiness: This cultivar is hardy in USDA zones 5-9, making it a resilient choice for a variety of climates.

Award: Recognized as a top performer by Michigan State University for its garden performance and beauty.

Uses: It’s ideal for use in borders, herb gardens, rock gardens, containers, and as a fragrant ground cover. Additionally, it’s excellent for cut flowers, dried floral arrangements, and culinary uses.

Wildlife: The flowers are a magnet for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, enhancing biodiversity in the garden.

Deer and Rabbits: Lavender is deer and rabbit resistant, owing to its fragrant foliage, making it an excellent choice for gardens plagued by these pests.

Drought Tolerance: This lavender is highly drought-tolerant once established, requiring minimal watering and thriving in dry conditions.

Toxicity: Lavender contains compounds toxic to dogs, cats, and horses if ingested in large quantities, leading to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and lethargy. Use caution around pets.

Invasiveness: English lavender is not considered invasive. It grows well where planted without spreading aggressively.

How to Grow and Care for English Lavender

Light: Full sun (6+ hours of direct sunlight daily).

Soil: Well-drained, sandy, or gravelly soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH. Excellent drainage and air circulation are essential, specifically in hot, humid climates. Lavender tolerates dry soils.

Water: Allow soil to dry out between watering. Established plants are drought-tolerant.

Fertilizer: Minimal fertilization is needed. Apply a light, slow-release fertilizer in early spring, if at all.

Pruning: Prune lightly in early spring to shape and again after flowering to encourage dense growth.

Propagation: Best propagated by cuttings in summer.

English Lavender – Pests, Diseases, and Common Problems

English Lavender is relatively low-maintenance but can encounter some pests, diseases, and common problems

Pests

• Aphids: These insects can cause curling and distortion of the leaves and stems, as well as the production of sticky honeydew.
• Spider mites: These tiny pests can cause yellowing and stippling of the leaves, as well as the formation of webbing.
• Whiteflies: Whiteflies are small, sap-sucking insects often found on the undersides of leaves, where they feed on plant sap and excrete sticky honeydew.
• Thrips: These insects feed on the plant’s flowers, causing them to become deformed and discolored.

Diseases

• Septoria leaf spot: This fungal disease can cause small, dark spots on the leaves, which can eventually cause them to turn yellow and drop off.
• Root rot: Overwatering and poorly-draining soil can lead to root rot, which can cause the plant to wilt and die.
• Powdery mildew: This fungal disease can create a powdery white coating on the leaves, causing them to turn yellow and fall off.

Common Problems

Woody Growth: Lavender becomes woody with age. Regular pruning can delay this, but plants may need replacing every few years.
Insufficient Blooming: Often due to too much nitrogen or insufficient sunlight. Ensure full sun and avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers.
Legginess: Caused by inadequate light. Plant in a location that receives full sun to promote compact growth.