Lavender is a plant that can add both beauty and fragrance to any garden. To care for your lavender plants, it's important to choose a sunny location with well-draining soil and avoid areas with standing water or heavy clay soil. Lavender is drought-tolerant, so it's best to water deeply once a week during hot weather and less frequently during the colder months. Overwatering should be avoided, and yellowing leaves may indicate this problem.
Pruning should be done in the fall or spring, with fall pruning being our preferred time. After the blooms have faded, the plant can be shaped into a dome by cutting two to three inches above the point where the green growth meets the woody base. Hardwood should not be cut as it won't resprout. Lavender doesn't require fertilizer, but a balanced fertilizer can be applied in the spring to promote growth.
While lavender is generally resistant to pests and diseases, root rot can still be a problem. To prevent these issues, it's important to avoid overwatering and plant lavender in well-draining soil.
There are three main cultivars of lavender plants that we grow on our farm:
Lavender Angustifolias: Often referred to as English Lavenders and is very popular among gardeners. It has narrow leaves with long spikes of small, fragrant flowers in shades of purple, blue, pink or white. It is a hardy plant, tolerant to hot and cold weather here in the Pacific Northwest. Commonly used for culinary purposes, aromatherapy, and perfumes.
Lavender Intermedias: Also known as French Lavender in some regions. It has broader leaves and produces slightly larger flower spikes than English Lavender. The flowers are typically a lighter shade of purple and have a stronger scent. French Lavender is more heat-tolerant than English Lavender. French lavenders should not be used for culinary purposes unless you like the taste of soap!
Lavender Stoechas: Typically known as Spanish Lavender in some regions. It has distinctive "rabbit ear" bracts above the flowers, which can be purple, pink, or white. The flowers are small and grow in clusters at the top of the bracts. It is less cold-tolerant than the other two types. Although not as aromatic as the other two lavenders, Stoechas are an excellent choice for any garden because of its long and repeated blooming season.
Consider the climate and intended use when choosing the type of lavender for your garden, but having a variety of cultivars will add texture and interest to any landscape. Here at Willamette Valley Lavender, Our lavender collection is carefully curated to thrive in our zone and region. We only clone specimens from mother plants of trusted origins and never reproduce our plants from seeds or big box nurseries/stores.
We regularly update our inventory to offer a diverse selection of lavender plants. We're happy to help you choose the right lavender plants for your garden. You can schedule a plant pick-up at our farm in Canby or visit us at one of our events. For more tips follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our website.
Comments