The distinctive look of its flowers and its highly aromatic silvery foliage make it a wonderful addition to the garden. In winter and spring, pale purple-blue flowers appear in clusters on tall stems. It can turn whole fields into oases of peace and beauty; it is the all time favorite of pollinators, and this alone makes her special among plants, It creates seas of beauty and color and, well placed in your garden, it can turn it into a hazy but glittering dream, Maybe it is thanks to its intoxicating scent, maybe that galaxy of purple flowers, with lavender, really, the divide between waking and sleeping becomes blurred, and with her, we all slip off into a fantastic, light and peaceful world of dreams, After moving to Washington, to be with grandchildren and great grandchildren I have been trying to grow lavender. 8 Plants that Look Like Lavender But are Not - Garden Tips for All Thank you for your feedback! They also need potassium-rich fertilizer at least once a month to ensure healthy leaves and flowers. In a garden setting, however, it can be trained to grow taller. The plants are widely cultivated for their essential oils, which are used to scent a variety of products. The deep purple hue of the blooms combined with the calming scent that fills the air must have been an amazing experience. If the plant is planted in a container, it may need to be repotted into a larger one as it grows taller. It was named by a Russian botanist after a Russian governor (Perovskia). Fertilize your lavender plants once a month during the growing season with a balanced fertilizer. Despite being ha strong plant, its habit is quite elegant, with many long stems growing side by side but in a fairly sparse way, so as never to give the idea of a crammed shrub, which will add a touch of elegance and harmony to your garden. Stay tuned for the first newsletter straight to your inbox. Dye Depending on the mordant, is produces pinkish colours. This strongly scented selection provides a stunning effect when planted in large groupings in herb gardens, along borders, and in rock gardens. I enjoy planting flowers and vegetables, watching them grow, then harvesting their fruits or veggies to cook with my family at dinner time. I've read the Terms and understand I can unsubscribe at anytime. Amend compacted or clay soil with compost or aged manure to improve drainage. Portuguese Lavender (Lavandula latifolia), 17. Someday Ill have a big row of it grown from seed! Plant at least 12 inches apart to avoid overcrowding. Grow it in your garden, in pots, or on your terrace and you too can have that Mediterranean sunny peace typical of Provence that only lavender can create. It is characterized by ribbed, or toothed leaves, which makes it very attractive for its foliage. Butterfly Lavender Papillon (Lavandula pedunculata subsp. Plants grown in soils with higher levels of nitrogen will produce flowers with a brighter, more vibrant purple hue. Hi Amber, Divide these plants in the fall. As mentioned above, lavenderthrives in most soil qualities, from poor to moderately fertile. It grows best in sandy soil that isn't too rich in nutrients. I will make a list of my favorites to plant around my home. Broadleaved lavender, spiked lavender or Lavandula latifolia is also known as Portuguese lavender. If you are looking to add some wild lavender to your garden, make sure you buy a perennial variety and give it plenty of space to spread its roots. Leave on waxed paper to set You are on our newsletter list! If you want a dense, rich and luxurious effect in your garden, have a look at Phenomenal lavandin, which, on top of most fragrant lavender plant, will give you a deep vibrant violet purple hue and a thick shrub with many flower spikes. Sounds amazing (love the smell of lavender, and shortbread cookies are my favorite). Are there any special care requirements for wild lavender? 23 Lavender Varieties for a Fragrant Garden Wherever You Live When grown in the wild, wild lavender tends to stay close to the ground, often forming large mats. Despite its many names, it is one species only.It is a type of lavender that comes from the Mediterranean, known for its scent and aromatic properties, but if you grow it, keep it separate from English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). Growing lavender from seed is the slowest, but the cheapest way to propagate this plant. This variety is popular because it stays compact, displays violet-purple flowers, and shows off attractive silvery foliage. It also has several medicinal uses, labeled a tonic herb good for improving concentration, memory and stress levels. Experts fear . One of the larger English lavenders, you can grow 'Royal Purple' as a stunning low, informal hedge. Not only is wild lavender a beautiful addition to any outdoor space, but it is also relatively easy to care for. Wild lavender is adapted to dry, sunny environments and will struggle in wet, cold climates. It features dark-blue flowers and gray-green foliage. How tall does wild lavender typically grow? Buy It: 'Melissa' English Lavender ($7, Richters). It grows to around 25 inches tall and half as wide. Many cats enjoy nibbling on catmint, but dont love it as much as catnip. ), In colder growing areas, plants may need extra winter protection. On the other hand, lavender is resistant to drought, dry soil and rocky soil. Thanks for helping me remember the name of my 3 big Provence plants out front. Its flower stems are extra long, making this selection good for cut flowers and for use in projects, such as lavender wands. Russian Sage can be used as a replacement for lavender in the garden lined along a pathway or in a flower bed along the border. Love the article and I was going to follow the page but I see no where to do that. Unlike lavenders, perennial basils need plenty of water. Lavender Growth Stages: How Fast Does Lavender Grow? - All About Gardening The flowering stems can be harvested while in bloom or snipped off after the flowers fade to keep the planttidy. Im hooked now? Insert bare stem into potting soil. For edibles I use lavender flowers when creaming butter for shortbread cookies, I e used the blooms in lemon muffins, or any muffins, really. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Add mulch (rock or pea gravel work particularly well) to keep weeds to a minimum. This is necessary for two reasons: What are the characteristics of Portuguese lavender? Unlocking the Secrets to Perfectly Caring for French Lavender, How to Grow Lavender in the Shade: A Guide to Thriving in Partial Sunlight. If the wild lavender is planted in an area that receives a lot of direct sunlight, the flowers will tend to be a darker purple hue. If you brush past it in the garden, rosemary releases an aromatic fragrance, as does lavender. It makes sturdy herbal skewers for meat and vegetables, goes well with chicken and lamb, and adds flavor to roasting vegetables. bake 15 to 18 min-(check in 10 min) Of all the different types of lavender, this variety's blooms hold their color well after drying. I like my lavender cookies a bit firmer and crispier. Interestingly, the name lavender comes from the Latin root lavare, which means to wash, because it was used in baths to purify the body and spirit. It also does not come from Russia but is native to Afghanistan, and is also found in Iran, Pakistan and Tibet. The Best Soil for Blue Spruce: A Guide to Growing Healthy and Vibrant Trees, Understanding and Controlling Fungus on Blue Spruce Trees. Munstead English Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia Munstead), 4. Fill a small pot (4 inches or so) with potting mix. Lavender is a wonderful herb for drying. Plant instead of lavender, or plant a few with lavender, for a spectacular show of foliage and flowers that are also great pollinator attractors. It is quote varied; you can find different heights and colors, mostly white, pink, violet and blue (and lavender, of course). Humidity:Lavender does not like humid atmosphere; it likes dry regions, and, if summers get wet, it may become moldy and lose fragrance. Russian sage has similar uses in the household as lavender. Im pretty good at growing stuff from seed, but had tried lavenders about 6 times. 8 oz dark chocolate for dipping, Beat butter and sugar til light Lavender makes only one demand of soil: It must drain well. With its bright purple flowers, it is sure to add a beautiful pop of color to your garden. Soil:Lavender is very particular about soil: Pruning:Your lavender will bloom more vigorously of you prune it back in the spring. To give you an idea we created a visual guide including the top 20 most popular types of lavender plants to help you to choose the best variety for your conditions and needs. Give the wild lavender plenty of room to spread its roots. One of the tallest of the lavandins, 'Provence' gets its name from the area in France where it's grown commercially for the perfume industry. Read more about winter care of lavender plants, Learn more about the health benefits of lavender, Vegetable Garden Plan: Layout Diagram with Plant List, Misshapen/yellow leaves; distorted flowers; leaf drop; sticky honeydew (excretion) on leaves; sooty, black mold, Knock off with water spray; apply insecticidal soap; inspect new plants carefully; use slow-release fertilizers; avoid excess nitrogen; encourage lacewings, lady beetles/bugs, spiders, Plants wilt (sometimes one-sided) in daytime; later, entire plant wilts/dies; stunting; yellow leaves; poor flowering; roots rot; stem cross-section reveals brown discoloration, Destroy infected plants/ roots/surrounding soil (do not compost); remove plant debris regularly; disinfect tools; resistant varieties; avoid excess nitrogen; in acidic soils, raise pH to 7.0; weed; 3- to 5-year rotation, Varies; water-soaked rust/black leaf spots between veins later dry/fall out, leaving holes; leaves yellow/distort/wilt/die; stem cankers, Destroy infected parts/severely infected plants (do not compost); remove plant debris regularly; disinfect tools; prevent plant stress/injury; good air circulation; avoid overhead watering, Leaves discolor/wilt; dieback; oozing cankers near base; reddish brown discoloration of inner bark/wood; roots rot; plants slow-growing/ stunted/die, Destroy infectedplants/surrounding soil (do not compost); prune out branch cankers; for woody plants, remove soil near infected crown to dry tissue/replaceafterward; remove plant debris regularly; resistant varieties; prevent plant stress/injury; provide good drainage/do not overwater, Plants stunted/yellow/may wilt in day but recover at night/die; dieback; stem bases brown/blacken; crown rot; root tips die; outer root tissue easily pulls off, Destroy infected parts/ plants/surrounding soil (do not compost); remove plant debris regularly; disinfect tools; solarize soil; avoid overhead watering; provide good drainage/do not overwater, Yellow/brown leaves; reddish brown lesions/sunken cankers on lower stem/roots; roots rot; plants wilt in day and recover at night/stunted/die, Destroy infected plants (do not compost); good air circulation; prevent plant stress/injury; provide good drainage, Typically, roots knotty or galled; plants stunted/yellow/ wilted/weakened; leaves and other parts may distort or die; poor flowering, Destroy infested plant debris after flowering season, including roots (do not compost); disinfect tools; choose resistant varieties; solarize soil, if possible; plant French marigolds as a trap crop, Stunted plant growth; stippling; leaf drop, Knock off with water spray; use sticky traps; shakefoliage/flowers; clip off unopened/infested buds and shoot tips; submerge in mixture of 7 parts water to 1 part isopropyl alcohol and discard; plant resistant cultivars and those adapted to local conditions; water adequately, avoid excess nitrogen; deadhead flowers, Varies; leaves with yellow/light green mottling or rings; distorted leaves/stems/flowers; flowers streaked; stunting, Destroy infected plants (do not compost); remove plant debris regularly; disinfect tools; resistant varieties/certified virus-free plants; control sap-sucking insects; weed, All stages suck sap on leaf undersides; leave sticky honeydew (excrement), sooty, black mold; yellow/silver areas on leaves; wilted/stunted plants; adults fly if disturbed; some species transmit viruses, Remove infested leaves/ plants; use handheld vacuum to remove pests; knock off leaf undersides with water spray in morning/evening; set yellow sticky traps; apply insecticidal soap; invite beneficial insects and hummingbirds with native plants; weed; reflective mulch.