Lavenders offer plentiful flowers in rich colours, interesting and evergreen foliage, a naturally attractive shape, beautiful scent and the ability to attract and feed a wide range of insects, all wrapped up in a low-maintenance package. Just one plant in full flower can have huge impact, reminiscent of a lazy summer in Provence or Tuscany, even in the middle of a damp British summer. The mass of flowers creates a haze of intense colour that vibrates with bees on a sunny day.
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Of the hardier lavenders, Lavandula angustifolia, despite its common name of English lavender, is actually Mediterranean plant, while other species originate in dry, sunny habitats that range from the Canary Islands to parts of Africa, Asia and India. Lavandula x intermedia, known as lavandin, is a cross between English lavender and Portuguese lavender. The slightly less hardy Lavandula x chaytoriae is a cross between English lavender and Lavandula lanata, also known as woolly lavender thanks to its felty, silver foliage.
Jump to
- How to grow lavender
- When to prune lavender
- How to prune lavender
- When to plant lavender
- The best soil for lavender
- Lavender planting depth and fertilizer
- Propagating lavender
- Lavender pests
- Where to plant lavender
- How to dry lavender
- The best lavender varieties
- Where to see and buy lavender
How to grow lavender
When to prune lavender
Prune in spring to stimulate growth and prune in autumn to retain shape. Make sure you’ve finished pruning by the beginning of October, preferably earlier. Prune hardy lavenders in late summer when flowering finishes. Once the flowering season is over, there is no need to wait. One big advantage is the plant will continue to grow and you’ll spend your winter looking at beautiful silvery grey balls rather than bare branches. Be a bit more careful with Lavandula x intermedia, though, as it is much less hardy.
How to prune lavender
Remove all the old flower stems and 2-3cm of top growth to keep your plants compact. Even with regular pruning, plants might become woody with far fewer blooms over time. The usual advice is not to cut back into old wood because lavender doesn’t re-grow well, but if you can see leafy shoots lower down on woody stems, try cutting back to these in spring to see whether it will surprise you with new growth. If not, simply replace the plant with a new one.
When to plant lavender
Plant lavender in spring when the soil is warming up and roots can grow quickly. If you plant in autumn, do it while the soil is still warm in September. There’s no need to buy large plants; a 9cm pot plant can reach a good size by its second year. Plug plants are excellent value – grow on until the roots fill a 9cm pot, then plant out.
The best soil for lavender
Lavender needs sun and well-drained soil to thrive, as a Mediterranean plant. Ideally the soil will be neutral or slightly alkaline (pH6.5-8), although lavender will grow in slightly acidic soil. On heavy soil, improve drainage by adding plenty of well-rotted compost or horticultural grit to the planting hole.
If you know your soil is soggy in winter, it’s best to grow lavender in containers. Choose pots with large holes for drainage and use a peat-free or loam-based compost with added horticultural grit.
Lavender planting depth and fertilizer
Plant to the same depth as it is in the pot and keep newly planted lavender watered until its roots are established and it is growing well. Lavender grown in containers should be watered so the compost doesn’t completely dry out and fed occasionally with high-potash feed. Plants in the ground become leggy and more prone to diseases if they’re manured or over fertilised, so either don’t feed or use a high-potassium feed.
Propagating lavender
Some cultivars can be grown from seed although the results can be variable. Seeds can take up to six weeks to germinate, so it’s not an easy option. It is easier to propagate plants from cuttings – softwood cuttings taken in spring or ‘heel’ cuttings taken in summer. Pull a side shoot with a small piece of bark attached away from a young main stem that’s not yet flowering. You can also take hardwood cuttings in autumn.
Lavender pests
Few pests bother lavender, although rosemary beetles, with their distinctive purple and green stripes, eat leaves and flowers. They rarely do a lot of damage but if numbers start to build up, remove them by hand. Mild, damp weather can lead to grey mould (botrytis). Remove affected parts of the plant as soon as you see this.
Where to plant lavender
For a more informal look in gravel gardens or cottage garden borders, the larger cultivars work well, including those of Lavandula x intermedia, which throw out a multitude of long flower stems that soften any hard edges. With their ability to attract a wide range of pollinators, they are perfect for wildlife gardens and many cultivars can also be planted as a low hedge. Plus, their love of good drainage makes them excellent candidates for sloping ground and rockeries.
In borders, roses make perfect planting partners for lavender, with a similar flowering time and a matching vibrancy. Roses such as Rosa Rhapsody in Blue (= ‘Frantasia’), with its pink-blue hue, and the pink Rosa Odyssey (= ‘Franski’) would be an ideal match for many lavender flower colours. Hardy geraniums, such as deep- purple Geranium x magnificum or exuberant blue Geranium ‘Orion’, can help create a cottage-garden feel, as can oriental poppies, which enjoy similar growing conditions. Or you could plant lavender in a herb garden with other aromatic plants such as rosemary, oregano and thyme.
How to dry lavender
Dried lavender, if properly dried and cared for, should last at least a year and could last up to three. A top tip to keeping your dried flowers happy is to place them away from sunlight - so their colour doesn't fade - and try to keep them away from water or anywhere humid. See our flower drying guide for more tips.
With their ability to attract a wide range of pollinators, lavenders are perfect for wildlife gardens.
Lavender in brief
What Lavenders are evergreen, aromatic shrubs in the same family (Lamiaceae) as mint. Leaves can be silver-grey or green and flowers are most commonly shades of purple but can also be pink or white. Season Flowering for English lavenders and Lavandula x chaytoriae peaks in June and July and can carry on more sporadically throughout the summer. Lavandula x intermedia peaks slightly later, in July and August and can also carry on into early autumn.
Size Depending on the species and cultivar, the height and spread of a lavender plant can range from a compact 50cm x 50cm to a more robust 1.2m x 1.5m.
Conditions Ideal growing conditions are an open sunny site and light, well-drained soil that is neutral to slightly alkaline (pH6.5-8), though they can be grown on soil
that is slightly acidic.
Origins Despite its name, English lavender is a Mediterranean plant while other species originate in dry, sunny habitats that range from the Canary Islands to parts of Africa, Asia and India. Hardiness Varies depending on species. There are tender species, but the ones featured here are reliably cold hardy in most parts of the UK with an RHS hardiness rating of H4-H5, and, depending on species, suitable for gardens in USDA zones 5a to 10b.
The best lavender varieties
Lavandula angustifolia Melissa Lilac (= ‘Dow4’)
One of the most successful modern lavenders. Its silver- green, aromatic leaves are swamped by poker-straight stems, each topped by a chubby spike of large, lilac-blue flowers. Flowers are also scented and long lasting. Height and spread: 70cm x 90cm. RHS H5, USDA 5a-9b†.
Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’
This classic, deep-purple English lavender produces a glorious display of colour, and makes a stunning low hedge. It can be in full flower for up to two months. 50cm x 70cm. AGM*. RHS H5, USDA 5a-9
Lavandula angustifolia ‘Arctic Snow’
A compact cultivar with a neatly domed shape and pristine white flowers that stand out brilliantly against grey-green leaves. It has a strong, sweet lavender fragrance. 60cm x 75cm. RHS H5, USDA 5a-9b.
Lavandula x intermedia ‘Edelweiss’
Throws out its flower stems with abandon. Each one is tipped with a lengthy head of white flowers and the effect is spectacular. Leaves start green-grey and mature into silver. 75cm x 90cm. RHS H5, USDA 5a-9b.
Lavandula x intermedia Anniversary Bouquet (= ‘Dowannibouq’)
Bred and introduced in the UK by Downderry Nursery, this sturdy lavender grows tall with an even, rounded shape. Flowers have an intense, blue-purple colour that oozes Mediterranean vibes. 90cm x 1.1m. RHS H5, USDA 5a-9b
Lavandula x chaytoriae ‘Bridehead Blue’
A striking lavender with silver-green leaves. Long flower stems hold the elongated heads of sweetly scented, deep-purple flowers. Reaches its peak later than other cultivars of English lavender. 75cm x 1m. RHS H4, USDA 7a-10b.
Lavandula x intermedia Heavenly Scent (= ‘Dowphscent’)
One of the Heavenly Series bred in the UK, this strongly scented lavender was introduced in 2014. Though short for a lavandin, its flower spikes are long and showy. 55cm x 70cm. RHS H5, USDA 5a-9
Lavandula x intermedia ‘Provence’
Even for a lavandin this is a large lavender, with an unusual combination of green foliage and flowers of pale, blue grey. Both stems and flowers are highly aromatic. 1m x 1.2m. RHS H5, USDA 5a-9b
Lavandula angustifolia ‘Imperial Gem’
A 1980s introduction with a mild scent but intense colour. Compact and bushy, it’s a versatile cultivar that would suit a range of different situations. 60cm x 75cm. AGM. RHS H5, USDA 5a-9b
Lavandula angustifolia ‘Lullaby Blue’
A New Zealand selection introduced to Britain in 2011. This compact, lavender with vibrant, blue flowers and green-grey foliage has a luminous quality. 60cm x 75cm. RHS H5, USDA 5a-9b
Lavandula x chaytoriae ‘Richard Gray’
Forms a neat cushion of soft, silver-grey foliage, from which long flower stems spray outwards, holding vivid-blue flowers well above the leaves. 50cm x 70cm. AGM. RHS H4, USDA 7a-10b
Lavandula x intermedia ‘Sussex’
The flowerheads of this large lavender are some of the longest and most elegant you’ll see, and are held aloft on sturdy stems. Vibrant, pale-purple flowers mass to make a stunning display. 90cm x 1.1m. AGM. RHS H5, USDA 5a-9b.
Lavandula x intermedia ‘Fragrant Memories'
With pale, lilac-blue flowers and grey foliage, this is a classy lavender. The foliage is aromatic and the flowers are also strongly scented, so it’s a good choice if you want to cut and use the stems. 75cm x 90cm. RHS H5, USDA 5a-9b.
*Holds an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. †Hardiness ratings given where available.
Janice Shipp is a gardener and garden writer, and a member of the RHS Herbaceous Committee.
Where to see and buy lavender
- Fairweather’s Plant Shop, Hilltop, Beaulieu, Hampshire SO42 7YR. Tel 01590 612307, fairweathersplantshop.co.uk
- Long Barn Lavender Growers The Old Sheep Fair, Bishops Sutton Road, Alresford, Hampshire SO24 9EJ. Holds National Collection of Lavandula x intermedia cultivars. Tel 01962 738684, longbarn.co.uk
- Norfolk Lavender, Caley Mill, Lynn Road, Heacham, Norfolk
PE31 7JE. Tel 01485 570384, norfolk-lavender.co.uk