ABOUT GROWING LAVENDER:

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• Lavender is an excellent drought tolerant plant in the landscape and once established will need very little water.

• Lavender is an excellent plant for bees and other pollinators and will also attract the ‘good bugs’ like lady bugs that will help control aphids - one of the reasons why we plant lavender amongst our roses as a natural pest control!

• Lavender loves neutral soil pH –Acidic Soil needs lime or dolomite added and alkaline soil needs additions of sphagnum peat, organic matter or sulfur.

• Lavender grows best in loose sandy loam, similar to their origins in the Mediterranean. Heavy clay soil can be amended with mushroom compost or organic material to help improve the texture of clay soil.

• Plant lavender in full sun – they love warm soil and 8 hours of sunlight a day.

• Lavender thrives in well-drained soil, on a mound or hill and avoiding areas where water pools up so the roots do not sit in the water for an extended amount of time.

• Nutrients: lavender is low maintenance when it comes to fertilizers and in general will not need much.  A light application of nitrogen like feathermeal at planting time is helpful, a sprinkle of bonemeal in the spring will benefit blooms, and a little kelp meal will help with extended drought periods.

• Lavender planted in containers will need a bit more watering and a time-release general fertilizer added to the containers.

• Prune lavender each year – can be in the Fall or early spring.  Hedges will need pruning twice a year.  Pruning keeps a nice shape and helps prevent plant from getting “woody” stems.  Generally taking the plant down to 1/3 to 1/2 the plant size is recommended.

LAVENDER VARIETIES

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Lavandula Angustifolia: also called English Lavender.  This group of lavender offer a wide range of colors, including whites, pinks, and every hue of violet, purple and blue.  They are a smaller, more compact lavender that produce a sweet floral scent.  This lavender is often seen in the landscape or used in a container due to its size and compact shape. The oil is prized for its’ relaxation properties while the buds are coveted for their flavor in culinary recipes.  Angustifolias are wonderful fresh or dried and make many award-winning essential oils. Typically blooms late May through June and some may also be repeat bloomers later in the summer.

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Lavandula x Intermedia: also called French Lavender or Lavandins. These hybrids grow from cuttings (not seed) and are generally large plants with long, straight stems.  They also have more flower spikes and buds and will produce more essential oil than the Angustifolias.  Lavandins are excellent for Dried & Fresh Bouquets, Essential Oils, Sachets, and Crafts. The oil has a stronger fragrance and a higher camphor level compared to the Angustifolias and are used to scent soaps, candles and other products. The blooms start on our farm in July and continue through August.

Lavandula Stoechas:  also called Spanish Lavender.  These cultivars are known for the “bunny ears” that sit on top of their blooming stem.  They are the first to bloom early in spring and are primarily used in the landscape or in a container.  This variety needs a bit more pruning to keep it nice and compact.  This variety is not used for essential oils or culinary, but is a lovely drought tolerant landscape plant that also makes a nice low hedge or border. 

OUR VARIETIES

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Lavandula x Intermedia

• Riverina Alan                    

• Riverina Thomas*                           

• Grosso*                                              

• Super*                

• Grosso Fat Spike*                           

• Impress Purple                

• Gros Bleu          

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Lavandula Angustifolia                

• French Fields                    

• Melissa                                               

• Royal Velvet*                   

• Hidcote Pink*                  

• New Zealand Blue                          

• Pacific Blue                        

• Avice Hill*                                         

• Maillette*

• Peter Pan

• Miss Katherine

• Hidcote,

• Ana Louise

• Betty’s Blue

• Folgate

 
*lavenders with the strongest fragrance

We propagate on a small scale and do not take advanced orders, ship, or wholesale orders on plants at this time.  However, please contact us for availability and we will try our best to accommodate you!