Lavender is a plant rich in history and cherished for centuries. Did you know that English lavender is the source of the true oil of lavender, highly valued for its aromatic and therapeutic properties and also as a flavoring?1
This versatile plant is drought-tolerant and attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies, making it a valuable addition to any garden. Ready to transform your garden with this extraordinary plant, and keep deer out? Here’s everything you need to know about growing and caring for English lavender.
Why Choose English Lavender?
English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is cherished for its hardiness and delightful fragrance. Unlike its French or Spanish counterparts, it thrives in cooler climates and can endure a bit more moisture, making it an excellent choice for many gardeners.
Additionally, English lavender is highly versatile and suitable for various uses, including culinary applications and crafts, as well as as a natural air freshener. Its flowers are also known for attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies, which can help improve the health of your garden.
Furthermore, English lavender has a longer blooming season than other varieties, often producing flowers from late spring to early summer and sometimes even into the fall with proper care and pruning. Its evergreen foliage adds year-round interest to your garden, making it a summer beauty and a perennial delight.
Planting English Lavender
- When and Where to Plant: The best time to plant lavender is in the spring, after the last frost has passed and the soil has warmed up. Choose a location that receives full sun—at least six hours daily. Lavender loves the sun and performs best when it gets plenty of it.
- Soil Requirements: Lavender thrives in well-draining soil. Think of its native Mediterranean environment: sandy, slightly alkaline, and not too rich in organic matter. If your garden soil is heavy or clay-like, consider planting lavender in raised beds or amending the soil with sand or gravel to improve drainage. For container gardening, a high-quality potting mix with good drainage will do the trick.
Caring for Your Lavender
- Watering: One of the common pitfalls with lavender is overwatering. While young plants need regular watering to establish roots, mature plants are quite drought-tolerant. Water deeply but infrequently, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. This helps prevent root rot, a common issue with overwatered lavender.
- Pruning: Pruning is essential to keep your lavender healthy and shapely. In early spring, once new growth appears, trim back about one-third of the plant, focusing on the green stems. Avoid cutting into the old, woody stems, as they may not regrow. A second, lighter pruning after the first flush of blooms in midsummer can encourage a second round of flowering.
- Fertilizing: Lavender doesn’t need much fertilization. In fact, too much fertilizer can reduce its aromatic oils and make it leggy. If your soil is particularly poor, a light application of balanced fertilizer in the spring will suffice.
Overwintering Lavender
In colder climates, protecting your lavender during winter is crucial. Apply a layer of mulch, such as straw or evergreen boughs, around the base of the plant after the ground freezes. This helps insulate the roots and prevent the freeze-thaw cycle that can damage plants. Container-grown lavender should be moved to a sheltered location, such as a garage or an unheated room with good light.
If you live in an area with harsh winter winds, consider planting your lavender next to a stone or brick wall, which can provide additional heat and protection. Alternatively, you can use garden fabric or frost cloth to cover the plants during particularly cold spells.
Propagation
Lavender is easy to propagate from cuttings, which is often more reliable than growing from seed. In early summer, take 6-inch cuttings from new growth, dip the cut ends in rooting hormone, and plant them in a potting mix. Keep the cuttings moist and in a shaded area until roots develop.
Popular Varieties
Some popular English lavender varieties include:
- ‘Hidcote’: Known for its dark purple flowers and compact growth, ‘Hidcote’ is perfect for creating neat hedges or borders. Its flowers are highly fragrant and excellent for drying.
- ‘Munstead’: A traditional variety with blue-purple blooms, ‘Munstead’ is known for its robust growth and hardiness. It is one of the earliest to flower and continues to bloom throughout the summer.
- ‘Jean Davis’: Unique for its pale pink flowers, ‘Jean Davis’ is great for a softer color palette. It is slightly more compact than other varieties, making it ideal for container gardening or small spaces.
- ‘Vera’: Another popular variety, ‘Vera’ is known for its strong fragrance and is often used to produce essential oils. It has tall flower spikes and is very drought-tolerant.
- ‘Little Lottie’: A dwarf variety that produces light pink flowers, ‘Little Lottie’ is perfect for small gardens or as an edging plant. Its compact size also makes it a good choice for containers.
Enjoying Your Harvest
Lavender isn’t just for the garden; it has many uses. Harvest the flowers just as they begin to open, and hang them upside down in a cool, dark place to dry. Use dried lavender in sachets, potpourri, or even culinary creations like lavender sugar or tea.
Growing English lavender is a rewarding endeavor that adds beauty, fragrance, and versatility to your garden. With the right conditions and care, your lavender plants will thrive and provide enjoyment for years to come.
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Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.