Lavender is a cheerful and useful garden plant. It can be used as a low, drought-tolerant hedge, specimen plant, cut flower, and grass that provides an aromatic addition to any garden. As a garden ornamental, lavender features attractive gray-green foliage and eye-catching, long-lasting flowers.
Lavender has many uses. The word “lavender” comes from the Latin word “lavari,” which means “to bathe.” Hence it is closely associated with purification, aromatic pleasure, and burning incense to clean the air. Lavender was used by the Egyptians in mummification, the Romans in their baths, and medieval monks in tonics and sinks.
In terms of its herbal uses, the flower consists of a volatile oil that contains several organic components. Medicinally, these chemicals aid digestion, increase surface circulation, and have been used as antispasmodics and antidepressants. Lavender, with its wonderful, relaxing scent, is also used as a natural sleep aid.
In culinary uses, English lavender flowers are used in herbal teas, cakes, and ice cream, but lavender’s best uses are in cosmetics and perfumes. Lavender is used in aromatherapy, as a relaxant, and as an antiseptic. Its oils are used in soap fragrances, aromatic baths, potpourri and sachets, facial oil, massage oil, flower waters, compresses, perfumes, facial steams, and inhalations.
Speaking of classification, lavender is in the mint family and belongs to the Lavandula genus. Lavender nomenclature describes the shape of the leaf. English lavender, ‘L. angustifolia’, is a narrow-leaved variety while ‘L. latifolia’ is broad-leaved, and ‘L. x intermedia’ is a hybrid between L. angustifolia and L. latifolia, with medium leaf characteristics.
The many English lavender cultivars include dwarf forms (Compacta and Compacta nana), pink-flowered (Jean Davis or Loden Pink), blue-flowered (Graves, Gray Lady and Erin Doyle), and large, purple-flowered varieties (Twickel, Purple Headcoat, Munstead, and Vera ). Lavender Lady is excellent for use in the garden. Hidcote and Royal Velvet hybrids produce flowers with shorter stems but retain an excellent blue color when dried. There are also some variegated lavenders to add visual interest. Temperatures during the drying period have a significant impact on the final color of the flower as high ambient temperatures can cause a bleaching effect.
Lavender is native to the Mediterranean regions of Europe, which experience warm, dry summers and cold, rainy winters. It grows best in full sun in well-drained, gravel soil with low fertility. Excess nitrogen encourages soft, succulent growth causing the plants to fall apart in the center. They will not tolerate wet, poorly drained soil. In slower-draining soil, consider planting on mounds to drain excess water away from the root crown.
However, irrigation is needed in dry areas while plants are established. Drip irrigation systems are recommended, because overhead irrigation tends to loosen plants and promote disease. A soil pH of 6.5 to 7.5 is best.
Prune lavender while harvesting the flower stalk. In the case of a garden, even if you don’t plan to harvest the crop, the best time to prune is right after the plants have finished their flowering cycle.
The most common challenges associated with lavender are related to root and crown rot, which is usually the result of too much water or poor drainage in heavy soil. Excessive watering during the summer months, overhead watering, and excess moisture near the main stem can also cause root, stem, and crown rot. When using drip irrigation, place the emitters several inches from the trunk.
Lavender is not often bothered by insect pests, although it may occasionally attract spit bugs. These insects are not usually a problem unless the plants are grown for cut flowers and the spittle is present in the flower heads.
October is the best planting month of the year in the southern San Joaquin Valley and a great time to plant Mediterranean-adapted plants. Planting several types of lavender will give your garden a long, blooming season with no pests, little water, and vintage beauty.
So put lavender on your shopping list and remember it when planting in the fall. For more information on drought-tolerant gardening and watering tips, visit the MG website listed below.
