Lavender is a perennial herb in many areas – that is, perennial if it gets really good drainage. Growing in a pot is an ideal way to provide good drainage. However, if the potting mix is extremely fertile, the plant may grow leaves and stems rather than flowering.
What kind of lavender is a perennial?
All Lavender plants are perennials, not annuals. People mistake lavenders for annuals because they often die over winter due to damage from snow and ice, root rot in cold wet soils or simply lavenders that are not cold hardy have been planted in climates that experience frequent winter frosts.
What is the most hardy lavender plant?
The English lavender species (Lavandula angustifolia) are the most hardy of all lavender species, able to tolerate winter frosts, snow, wind and deer and rabbit resistance. English lavenders are hardy to zone 5 and can be grown in a temperate climate.
Is purple lavender a perennial?
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.
Is Blue lavender annual or perennial?
herbaceous perennial
Lavender is an herbaceous perennial plant native to the dry sandy soils and blazing sun of the Mediterranean region. It grows as a perennial in most climates, but sometimes lavender is mistaken for an annual because it will die when exposed to excessively cold temperatures.
What is the longest flowering 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.
Are you supposed to cut lavender back?
Lavender bushes need to be cut back every year to keep them from growing out of control. “Pruning lavender keeps it looking full, encourages new growth and flowering, and gives you lots of fresh tips to harvest throughout the season,” says Amy Fedele, a home gardening expert and Pretty Purple Door blogger.
Which lavender can 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.
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.
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.
How long do lavender plants live?
When sited correctly and pruned judiciously, lavenders should live for five to seven years. Although lavender is fairly drought tolerant, adequate moisture is required throughout the growing season. Most critical are the weeks after planting to ensure that soil around the rootball does not dry out.
What to do with lavender after it blooms?
Lightly prune, harvest, or deadhead blooms throughout the growing season. Then towards the end of summer, prune the shrub into a rounded mound of foliage. Most gardening resources recommend taking off no more than one-third of the plant.
Is lavender toxic to dogs?
The lavender plant contains a compound called linalool, which can be toxic to animals like dogs and cats. However, the plant has such small concentrations of linalool that toxicity is not a common issue. The problem happens when dogs ingest an enormous amount of lavender.
What variety of lavender is 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.
Does lavender need sun or shade?
full sun
Lavender Care. Light/Watering: Lavenders demand full sun, although afternoon shade may be appreciated in the hottest climates. Plants are very drought resistant once established, but will flower better if not allowed to dry out.
Why isn’t my lavender flowering?
Your lavender is in the wrong spot in the garden. Lavender originates in the sunny Mediterranean and needs at least six hours a day of sunlight to produce its fragrant blooms. Don’t plant your lavender under a tree – it will not flower. A very windy location is also not great, as lavender is used to still, hot summers.
What is the longest blooming perennial?
20 Longest Blooming Perennial Flowers For Everlasting Beauty
- Catmint (Nepeta racemosa)
- Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
- Coreopsis ‘Moonbeam’ (Coreopsis verticillata ‘Moonbeam’)
- Geranium ‘Rozanne’/ Cranesbill (Geranium ‘Gerwat’ Rozanne)
- Ice Plant (Delosperma cooperi)
- Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Can lavender bloom twice in one year?
If it’s pruned lightly just after its first flowering, it will likely flower again in late summer. After this second flowering, a full pruning—typically in late August—will prepare it for winter and encourage more blooms in spring.
What lavender plant blooms all summer?
Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk’ (Lavender)
This French Lavender blooms almost continuously from mid-late spring to late summer.
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.
How do you winterize lavender?
If your plant will be inside for the winter, keep it in a cool, non-freezing location with sunlight and air circulation. Slow down watering of plants. Lavender prefers a dry soil, and the amount of rain that naturally falls will be sufficient for the plant.
Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. She has worked in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts.