Spanish lavender, or Lavendula stoechas, is just one of about 40 varieties of this fragrant herb. It is native to the hot, dry climate of the Mediterranean region, so it thrives in warmer climates and is hardy to zone 8.
Does Spanish lavender smell?
Spanish lavender forms a compact, dense shrub to about 2ft x 3ft with grayish-green 1in long leaves. This lavender is hardy to about 15°F. The fragrance of this species is kind of between a true lavender scent and a pungent rosemary fragrance.
Which type of lavender is the most fragrant?
Lavandin
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 difference between Spanish lavender and lavender?
Spanish lavender is distinguished from other lavenders by its unusual flower blossoms. It produces an abundance of rich dark purple pine-cone shaped flowers that have dark-purple bracts, or “rabbit ears.” Spanish lavender has strong stems with smooth, light-green foliage and performs best in full sun.
What is Spanish lavender good for?
A popular folk remedy, Spanish lavender has been consumed to alleviate digestive complaints, headaches, asthma, and flu symptoms. It has also been used in the treatment of diabetes, kidney disease, and hyperlipidemia.
Why is my lavender not fragrant?
The reason lavenders do not smell is usually to do with a lack of sunlight or soil that is too fertile. The less sun a lavender receives, the less flowers and oils will be produced which ultimately limits the lavenders smell. Lavenders need full sun and low to medium fertility soils to produce the best fragrance.
How can I make my lavender smell stronger?
Another great tip for keeping your dried lavender plants scented much longer, is to add some lavender essential oil to the flowers to rejuvenate the scent once it starts to fade. You can also squeeze or crush the flowers to release their scent.
What is the prettiest lavender?
The highly fragrant French lavender (Lavandula stoechas, 1-3′) has some of the showiest flowers of all the lavenders. The Mediterranean native was grown by the Romans for its exceptional scent, and its ability to thrive in hot and dry conditions. It is a bit hardier, surviving to USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10.
What is the longest blooming lavender?
A: Two of the longest blooming kinds of lavender are Lavandula angustifolia ‘Irene Doyle’ and the hybrid L. ‘Goodwin Creek Grey. ‘ The best way to have lavender blooming all summer is to plant several different kinds that bloom sequentially.
Should you deadhead Spanish lavender?
Some types of lavender do rebloom, while others don’t, and others bloom continuously for weeks. For example, Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas, USDA zones 7-9) may bloom up to three different times throughout the year, so deadhead it regularly.
Is Spanish lavender invasive?
These plants are very drought resistant so you won’t need to worry about watering them a lot if at all. Spanish lavender tends to be invasive if you don’t keep it maintained. However, it works very well in a container or pot to keep it from spreading all over the garden.
Does Spanish lavender come back every year?
Lavender is a Low-Maintenance Perennial
And this beauty will come back to your garden every year, for about 3-5 years, so it’s a great investment. What is this? Before you make any plant purchases, however, I want to remind you to always choose plants that thrive in your plant hardiness zone.
Is Spanish lavender toxic to dogs?
The lavender plant contains a compound called linalool, which can be toxic to animals like dogs and cats.
How long does Spanish lavender last?
These types of lavenders also tend to be less woody and more sprawling in shape, so they’re often used as a ground cover. Spanish lavender has the shortest lifespan of the three types: About five years.
Is Spanish lavender toxic?
Lavender contains a small amount of linalool, which is toxic to dogs and cats. Mild exposure to lavender is not generally harmful and may help with anxiety, depression, and stress. Lavender poisoning is possible and may cause vomiting, reduced appetite, and other symptoms.
What is the best type of 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.
Why is my Spanish lavender not blooming?
The reasons for lavender not flowering are usually because the plant is stressed. Lavenders are adapted to sandy soils of low fertility. If the soil is too rich and nutrient dense then the lavender will grow leggy and produce fewer flowers.
What happens if you don’t prune lavender?
If you don’t prune lavender, the plant will quickly become leggy and woody, and won’t be able to hold its own weight very well. This means the stems will flop over when heavy with flowers, causing the plant to spread out and exposing more of the old wood in the plant.
Will Spanish lavender survive winter?
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.
How do you take care of Spanish lavender?
Spanish lavender needs sandy, gravely, well-draining soil to grow healthy and lush. These plants prefer slightly moist soil, but any standing water or slow-draining soil will spell disaster for Spanish lavender. If your soil is composed of clay, be sure to amend it with sand or gravel before planting this herb.
Which is more fragrant French or English lavender?
If you’re looking for the characteristic lavender smell, choose English lavender. It produces the strong scent that permeates the air, while French lavender has a much lighter scent, which while nice, is more reminiscent of rosemary.
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