Lovely Lavender
I love Lavender! An attractive little shrub dramatically punctuates rock formations, herb gardens and walkways standing out with the contrast of deep purple, lavender white and even yellow blooms against the silvery gray foliage. Flower spikes rising above the leaves adding delicate color to your garden. It is simply a pretty little plant.
Lavender has such a pleasing reputation, evoking thoughts of lavender infused baths, soaps and lotions. Tinctures and tonics curing ills such as headaches, arthritis pain, muscle sprains and even back ache. Breathing its vapors can aid in relieving respiratory ailments such as cold, flu and asthma. A salve made of its blooms can be applied to the chest and nose to soothe throughout the night.. Lavender is beneficial in healing skin disorders like psoriasis. I can help to heal wounds in a first aid salve and cure lice in a hair tonic. It can. help to relieve depression, lower blood pressure and serve as a delightful sachet placed under your pillow for a restful sleep.
Lavender has a home in the culinary arts as well creating delightful teas, sprinkled in salads and added to ice cream, jams and vinegars! The leaves, petals and flowering tips are alll edible. When harvesting lavender, pick either early in the morning or early in the evening on a dry windless day. The oils are most heavily concentrated in the plant at these moments with the oil concentrated in the glands of the calyx of the flower.
When this herb has found its preferred growing location it will return as dedicated perennial lasting many years in your garden. Mediterranean in origin- it prefers hot sun in dry rocky slopes with well drained soils. Requiring a higher pH, it will not thrive in acidicwet, dense clay soils. Ideally situated on gracefully sloping land in full sun. When the lavender is in bloom, the scenes can be breathtaking.
Lavender belongs to the genus Lavandula and is in the mint family. The most fragrant is a hybrid (Lavandin X Intermedia). They are less cold hearty than English Lavender preferring zones 5-9, but produce more flower spikes than other Lavenders. They bloom typically in July or August and last until late summer. They add stunning floral drama to any garden and make an attractive hedge reaching heights to 4 feet. Producing long flower spikes to 30” high and most often used in sachet bundles and potpourris. The flowers and leaves are both highly aromatic and commercially grown for their oil.
English Lavender~ (Lavandula augustifolia) named for loving the cooler climate the English countryside afforded, is the most cold Harty Lavender. It has gray green leaves with shiny violet blooms and is considered the best Lavender for culinary use. This Lavender produces the highest quality lavender oil. Characteristically a smaller, more. compact plant but can reach up to 2 feet when mature, it is prized for it’s long lasting delightful scent and pretty flowers which contrast strinkingly against the foliage. It is cold Harty to zone 5 but prefers a protected and sheltered location. When planting, remember this plant needs full sun and dry air so allow ample spacing with stone and sand incorporated into the soil to prevent overwatering. An amazing white lavender is available from an online shop called Gardenia~ Lavandula anguvstifolia ‘Nana Alba’!
French Lavender~ Lavendula dentate, prefers a warmer climate in zones 8-11- located in the deep southern half of the country and on the Southern coastal margins. They bloom from early Summer to Fall and can grow to 3 feet in height. They have a more narrow leaf with compact flower heads and are not as aromatic as the nghisl Lavender. They tolerate extremly hot humid climates but require extra spacing when planting. The delicate blooms range from light to dark purple and work well when dried and used for ornamental purposes- as in soaps and perfumes.
Spanish Lavender! Lavendula stoechas- also prefers a warm climate ideally in zones 8-11. It blooms mid-late summer and the plants grow to 2 feet in height. It has unusual deep purple pineapple shaped blooms with colorful rabbit eared ‘bracts’ (a modified leaf often more brightly colored than the true flower) emerging from the flower stalk. Although unusual and striking- the flowers are not as fragrant as the leaves but attract bees and butterflies. It is less cold hardy than other varieties but makes an attractive addition to any Spring garden. It may not survive extremely wet or dry weather. It needs full sun and well drained soil and prefers to be grown in containers that you can bring indoors in the Winter. Water plants deeply but infrequently.
Pruning of Lavender is best done after harvest. It is important to prune again a few months before Winter sets in to avoid frost and snow damage. Regular pruning can prevent the stems from becoming and the center of the plant from flattening out as the Lavender spreads. Keeping the plant pruned encourages fresh growth and continual blooming throughout the season.
Lavender is an insect repellent often ridding an area of mosquitos, flies and ticks. Lavender contains a non- toxic compound called linalool which is used in pest control products. it can even deter spiders, ants and fleas. Understandably, Lavender is not affected by garden pests and except for an occasional bout with aphids (easily removed with a spray of soapy water) Lavender is relatively pest free.
The biggest reason your Lavender plant just died is over-watering. They must have a dry soil to survive. Plants using mounds of sandy gravely soil- create a rock garden placing the Lavender at high sloping peaks and allow a generous amount of space between plants.
This is a plant you can ignore and it will love you for it. Fill your house with the intoxicating aroma, create attractive attractive soaps and gift bundles for friends. Add the aromatic oils to bath bombs . There is nothing more delightful than creating your own little bouquet from Lavender grown in your own garden!