Emma Downey
Gardening Expert
Scented Lavender
Emma Downey
Gardening Expert
Before we ever look at them, we can identify certain plants simply by their aroma. In the Mediterranean region, you'll find a flowering plant with vibrant colors called the lavender plant, one of the most well-known of these plants.
You might think lavender plants are fragile, but did you know they can thrive in conditions of intense heat and dryness? One of their favorite things about those seasons is that they may bask in the sun for extended periods during the dry summer months.
Adding lavender plants to your low-maintenance landscape garden is an absolute must if you are looking for a plant that requires little care but looks beautiful.
Various Applications For Lavender Plants
Not only do lavender plants give a pleasant aroma and splash of color to the yard, but they also draw in pollinators like bees and butterflies (encouraging pollination). In addition to that, they prevent pests.
But the garden isn't the only place lavender is used. Lavender can provide oil, which may be utilized in several industries, including the cosmetics, culinary, and medical industries. The plant known as lavender may be used in various ways, which we will discuss in more detail in the following paragraphs.
Eye Cushions Made Of Lavender Plants
Make a pair of sunglasses by cutting a design onto two separate pieces of cloth. After that, sew them together to make a tiny eye cushion that you can stuff. The mixture should consist of two parts dried lavender, rice, or flaxseed, and one part each. Finish up the stitching, and then have a restful night getting your beauty rest!
lavender-Infused Bath Salts And Epsom Salts
It is possible to enhance the anti-anxiety and stress-relieving qualities of conventional Epsom salt or Himalayan pink salt by incorporating lavender, either in the form of lavender oil or dried lavender buds.
Lavender Potpourri
You may prepare a batch of potpourri using lavender buds and the buds of any other fragrant flower that grows in your yard. This will allow you to conserve the aroma of these flowers for later use, particularly during the winter.
Lavender Soy Candles
You may produce candles out of your lavender plant rather than purchasing them from a store, saving you money. Obtain some soy wax and either dried lavender or essential oil of lavender. That's all you need. You may use either old food jars or mason jars for this purpose. Warm up the wax, including the desired amount of lavender, and then pour it into the container. Remember to put a wick to the candle!
You will need to acquire a drawstring bag or a little cotton sachet to use as a fabric refresher in your laundry. When you have one, fill it with the lavender that has been dried out. The next time you are doing the laundry, place it in the dryer before you start drying the other items.
Because of this, you will finally be able to eliminate the unpleasant smells that have accumulated on your clothing, bedding, towels, and pet beds naturally.
Lavender Spray
Even though you can't just put the room in the drier, you can always make a spray that has a pleasant aroma. A repurposed spray bottle, two tablespoons of witch hazel, one cup of distilled water, and ten drops of lavender essential oil are all needed to make this remedy. You may use the spray in every area in the house, including your room, the office, and virtually any other room.
Decorative Items For The Home
Decorative
Candle holders and wreaths are just two examples of home décor that might benefit from using lavender flowers. To create one at home, all you need to do becomes familiar with a few inventive approaches to carrying out the task.
lavenders in cocktails
Yes, you may use lavenders in cocktails, which is currently one of the most popular components used in fashionable cocktails. A little lavender's heady aroma can enhance any alcoholic beverage, from vodka to cognac to gin. It is hardly surprising that experienced drinkers have taken a particular fancy to it.
Lavender Sugar
You may manufacture lavender sugar by combining regular sugar with dried or fresh lavender in the appropriate proportions. Not only does it impart a delicate "lavender" taste to the baked products and teas you make, but it also has a visually pleasing appearance when stored in a jar. Adding a little something from your garden to handmade lavender sugar makes for an excellent present to give to family and friends.
Lavender Syrup
To prepare lavender syrup, combine dried lavender with water and sugar in a blender or food processor until you have a straightforward yet thick syrup. You may top poached fruits with this syrup, waffles, pancakes, ice cream, and drinks. In addition to that, you may whip cream using it.
Lavender Sea Salt
If lavender blends well with sugar, it should be no surprise that it works well with salt. Your savory dish will get a different taste level if you combine it with salt first. The meat, potatoes, loaves of bread, crackers, and salads of your choosing are all excellent candidates for rubbing with lavender salt.
Lavender Plant Types
Your garden can benefit from having any one of the many different kinds of lavender plants that are available. The most exciting part? They are all very low-maintenance options. Let's go together and investigate the most interesting ones.
Lavender From England (Lavandula Angustifolia)
Lavender, known as English Lavender, does not originate in England. This kind of lavender, like the vast majority of lavender plants, is native to the Mediterranean.
It is the most common and aromatic kind of lavender that grows there. Its aromatic properties come out if you brush your legs against its blossoms or crush them in your hands. About flowers, the blossoms of the English lavender plant are put to use not only in the kitchen but also in the production of essential oils and potpourri. Blooms come in various hues, including light blue, pastel purple, dusky pink, and violet. It is typical for it to bloom in the early part of summer.
As a semi-evergreen perennial, purple foliage is silver-green in the summer, and during the winter, it will turn a grey or bronze color.
Because it only attains a height of two to three feet, this species is ideal for use as a border or hedge along garden walkways.
English Lavender Plant From The Hidcote Estate
The Hidcote variety has flowers that are deep Purple, and its foliage is a bluish-green color. It may reach a height of 20 inches and 24 inches. Because the color is maintained after drying, they are suitable for use in various decorative and craft applications. It can bloom either late or early in the summer, depending on the temperature. However, the second flush the following season is often much smaller than the first.
2. The English Lavender Plant Named After Jean Davis
Another popular option since 1937 is Rosea Davis, sometimes known as Jean Davis. Growing to a height of 30 inches and a width of up to 36 inches, it has brilliant green leaves and light pink blooms with a lilac undertone. The fact that this cultivar's foliage and flowers both have a delightful aroma is by far our favorite trait about it.
Lavenite, A Little kind Of English lavender
Looking for a rare lavender variety? Levante Petite may be just what you require.
It is widely acknowledged to be one of the lavender plant's most exquisite varieties in terms of appearance. This beautiful plant is distinguished by the thick clusters of light-purple pom-pom-shaped blooms that emit a strong fragrance.
It blooms in the middle to later part of spring and thrives in hardiness zones 5 to 9 in the United States.
Lavender Grown In Spain
There is no requirement for specialized knowledge to recognize Spanish Lavender, also known as Butterfly Lavender.
You can tell this one from others just by looking at the distinctive petals that emerge from the top of its flowering spikes. Under the petal sprouts on top is a body that resembles a pine cone and is surrounded by deep purple blooms.
The protracted blooming periods and prolific flower output that this variety displays throughout the spring and summer are two of our favorite aspects of it.
4. The Anouk Plant, Also known As Spanish Lavender
The Anouk lavender is exceptionally drought-resistant and can even survive the hottest summer days, and it is one of the most drought-resistant types of lavender. Because of this, they thrive in warm areas and are suitable for hardiness zones 6 through 10. Anouk has a head start on French lavender when it comes to flowering, and it usually begins somewhere between the beginning of spring and the middle of spring.
The Anouk's head, also known as the flower bract, is a rich, deep purple-blue color, and the petals above it are brilliant but light violet. It has the potential to reach a height of 2 feet and a width of 2 feet. In addition, it contains silvery leaves that may be cooked with or dried and used to make potpourri.
5. Plant Of Spanish Lavender With A Fathead
The flower bracts of fathead lavender plants are a shorter and more bloated version of the ones you saw in the previous sentence. To be more specific, its round body is deep Purple, and its head has the form of an oval. The uppermost petals have a pinkish-purple hue. This one barely reaches a height of two feet and a width of two feet when fully mature. This makes it an excellent choice for planting in containers or along borders and margins.
6. Lavender Plant From Kew, With The Color Red Spanish
Kew Red Lavender is another variety that flowers for an extended period, beginning in the late spring and continuing into the fall. Those who reside in hardiness zones seven to nine will find it an ideal choice. If your climate permits, you may observe flowers on it throughout the year. The crimson-violet flower bracts highlighted by the pastel pink top petals are something we adore.
Lavadin (Lavandula Intermedia)
Lavandin, a hybrid between English lavender, which can survive in colder climates, and Portuguese lavender, which thrives in warmer temperatures, possesses the most desirable qualities of both types. As a result, it can endure and even thrive in any environment, and the greatest is not even close to being here! This cultivar produces flowers and leaves that are both exceptionally fragrant. When it comes to flowers, the blossoms come in various colors, ranging from pale yellow to deep Purple.
7. Impress Purple Lavandula Intermedia Plant
This cultivar is, without a doubt going to blow you away! Impress Purple has the deepest and most luxurious shade of Purple of all the lavenders that are currently available. Each spike cluster consists of several flowers attached to an elongated stalk. As a result, it is frequently utilized in the role of an accent in fresh-cut flower bouquets.
Impress purple may reach heights of up to three feet and spread out to a width of up to four feet when grown in a garden. As a result, you will need to provide it with more room than you would for other kinds of lavender.
Get ready for its abundant blooms from the middle of summer to the end of the season, and don't forget to remove any flowers that have lost their color to stimulate additional flowering!
The giant Of Hidcote
In the same way as Impress purple, Hidcote Giant is a resident of the bouquet and blooms typically from the middle to the end of summer. As a result of its powerfully scented blossoms and towering flower spikes, it is simple to identify, particularly for the bees and butterflies flying around the garden. Start your very own lavender bee garden as soon as possible!
Grosso lavender plant
The Grosso lavender plant may reach a height of up to 3 feet and develop quickly to be quite tall. In addition, it has enormous flower spikes that may be up to 15 centimeters long. The hue of the blossoms is more subdued. Both the blooms, slender and dark Purple and the leaves of this plant have a strong fragrance.
People adore using them in dried flower bouquets and dried fragrance sachets because they can keep their color and aroma even after drying. Additionally, it works wonderfully for the extraction of lavender oil.
Provence is the lavender
Provence is the lavender ideal for creating a dense, full hedge in your garden. It is a fantastic cultivar of lavender to use for low walls and edging, as well. Because it can withstand high levels of wetness, it is an excellent choice for use in gardens located in regions with high relative humidity.
The following are some other fascinating varieties of lavender that we believe you ought to be aware of. Be wary since some of them are rather attractive.
11. Egyptian Lavender (Lavandula multifida)
The Egyptian lavender is a species of lavender plant distinguished by its unusually hairy and bipinnately compound leaves, which give it the appearance of a fern. Once you have a healthy Egyptian lavender plant planted in your yard, you can neglect it from that point onward. It does not require a great deal of attention and care, but it does require a large amount of space in which to develop.
12. Portuguese Lavender (Lavandula Latifolia)
The Portuguese Lavender plant is known for its understated, teeny-tiny purple bulbs set off against the plant's striking, emerald green stalk. Additionally, it is known by the names Spike Lavender and Broadleaf Lavender. Because it is one of the cultivars that produce the most intensely sweet aroma, it finds widespread application in the culinary arts and beverage industry.
French Lavender
The flowers of French Lavender persist the longest compared to any other kind of lavender. In a location with enough sunlight and warmth, they may live through the fall and throughout the year. The blossoms of this plant emit a soft and sweet fragrance. On the other hand, the leaf has an aroma reminiscent of lavender with a touch of rosemary.
Lavender Plants
Are you interested in purchasing some lavender plants? Any area in your house might benefit from the sweet aroma and cheery appearance of lavender plants grown in pots. You always have the option of planting it in the garden if that's something you wish to do.
The following are the currently most popular potted lavender plants on the market. Isn't it about time you brought one home?
Instructions For Starting A Lavender Garden From Seed
Prepare your seed tray and use fine vermiculite or a light mix since it drains rapidly. This will help your seeds thrive. Try to avoid using the typical potting mix that you have.
Place your seed trays on a heat map to start the growing season throughout the winter. You also have the option of positioning them in a warm environment. In around two weeks, you should be able to see the seeds beginning to germinate. After they have developed numerous sets of leaves, you can move them to the spot where they will remain permanently. Take care to do this while avoiding sudden temperature changes.
Even if they do not require much attention from you in watering, you will still need to check on them regularly to ensure that they have not been moved by animals or by excessive precipitation.
Consider yourself exceedingly fortunate if they flower in less than a year after planting them. You can, however, be confident that you will have an abundant supply of lavender in your garden the following year.
Growing Lavender In Pots
Lavender plants grown in pots are pretty simple to tend to and can be moved to any area the owner desires. Even if you decide to relocate, you can still transport them. When it comes to location, the very first thing that you need to think about is the location. To achieve the best results with your lavender plant, you should look for a spot exposed to direct sunshine for at least eight hours every day.
If you have settled on the idea of cultivating your lavender plants in containers, there are a few things you need to keep in mind before you get started. To begin, choose a container for your plants equipped with several drainage holes. If you intend to cultivate the plant inside a planter, select one with a saucer at the bottom to collect excess water. Check that you can remove the saucer easily. Second, ensure that your lavender plant has enough room to grow. The ideal size for the pot is between twelve and sixteen inches. You are improving drainage in the container by placing smaller stones at the bottom of the pool.
After that, fill the container up to three-quarters of the way with dirt that has good drainage. Place the lavender plant in the container, then fill the rest of the space with soil.
Lavender Plant Care
Keeping a lavender plant alive and well is not a difficult task. On the other hand, a few things require your whole focus. The following is a guide for those who want to grow lavender at home.
lavender-soil
As was just said, lavender plants thrive in poor soil that drains well but is otherwise lacking in nutrients. Therefore, you do not require the addition of healthy soil or compost for it to flourish. Because they prefer dry soil, you will have to water them very infrequently, if at all. In areas with a rare chance of rain, you might not even require an umbrella.
On the other hand, you need to ensure that the soil drains adequately since persistently heavy rain might cause the ground to become saturated, which is likely to result in the plant's death.
lavender light
This tenacious plant can thrive in various climates, including wind, sun, and rain. It is not necessary to position it in an area shaded or well-protected from the elements. The lavender plant thrives in bright, direct sunshine; you should place it in this environment for at least eight hours daily.
lavender Temperature
The temperature is crucial in determining whether or not the lavender seeds will germinate. The temperature in your house, greenhouse, or heating pad should ideally fall somewhere between 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (or 18 to 21 degrees Celsius).
Watering Lavender
Because it grows best in dry soil, lavender does not need much water to thrive. If you reside in a dry area, you should wait until the soil has completely drained and dried before watering it. You also have the option of only watering your plants once every two weeks and not at all during winter.
Fertilizer
When you fertilize lavender, you may find that it produces an abundance of leaves but very few or no flowers. Because these plants thrive in poor soil, leave them alone and let them live. They will soon be overrun with aromatic blossoms once spring arrives.
Pruning A Lavender Plant
If lavender is allowed to grow wild, it may produce a lot of overrun. We recommend doing a significant amount of pruning on it at least once or twice every year. Don't be concerned; this should be the only form of maintenance that your lavender plant requires from you. The question now is, how should lavender plants be pruned?
The beginning of spring and the beginning of fall are the most acceptable times to trim your lavender plant.
Pruning stimulates lavender to flourish in full bloom the next year and causes it to become bushier. Lavender is a plant that reacts nicely to being pruned.
Propagation
The stems of lavender plants can be used for straightforward propagation. You can use softwood or hardwood stems, both of which are readily accessible at different times of the year: spring for softwood and fall for hardwood. The branches of softwood trees are pliable, fresh, and sensitive, and it is possible to twist mature hardwood stems without breaking them. Be mindful not to choose cuttings from branches that are blossoming when picking them for your plant to propagate. Why? Because the cutting will direct its energy on growing rather than producing new roots to ensure its existence, it will not have a chance of surviving.
How To Start A New Lavender Plant From A Cutting
As soon as you have chosen the stem to cut, take a knife and cut it off the plant just below a leaf node once you have chosen the stem to cut. Check that the piece you are missing is at least 10 centimeters long. After slicing the lavender cutting, remove all the leaves on the lowest section of the cutting. After that, cut away a portion of the skin on one side of the bottom of the cutting.
After the section has been clipped, rooting hormones can be applied to it to encourage new root development. If you do not possess root hormones, you are free to skip this stage. The chopping of lavender ought to work out just nicely.
Lavender Plant From A Cutting
It uses dirt that is 2 inches deep. Pot the cuttings. After that, secure it by covering it with soil and pressing it down around it. To create a greenhouse effect, add water to the soil and cover the container with a plastic bag. Cuttings taken from softwood trees will have grown a root system in as little as two to four weeks. On the other hand, the roots of the hardwood cutting won't begin to develop for a while yet.
To ensure accuracy, give the cutting a tiny lift and check for any resistance. If the answer is yes, it has established itself; if the answer is no, it needs more time. After the roots have been established, relocate the plant to a sunny location so it can mature and blossom.
Lavender Up Your Garden
Lavender is a low-maintenance, fragrant beauty you will love cultivating in your yard. Plant one, and you'll soon be able to appreciate its aroma and make a wide variety of valuable things from it.
The remarkable aspect is that lavender may survive up to 15 years without requiring any attention or maintenance. The definition of a low-maintenance plant! In addition to that, exactly like the citronella plant, it is effective in warding off mosquitoes.
Are you prepared to infuse your yard with a sense of awe and mystery by cultivating a lavender plant? We surely do hope that it is. Plant, cut back, and spread the seeds!
Have you cultivated lavender before? What information can you share with us?
You first need to be aware of the symptoms that indicate a lavender plant needs to be preserved before you can save the plant. These symptoms include decaying roots, withering or drooping foliage, skinny stems, brown or yellow leaves, and woody growth with very few or no blossoms. Continue reading to learn more about how to care for lavender plants. It is usual for lavender plants to experience wilting, browning, or yellowing foliage in addition to rotting roots if they have the disease. To save them, you will need to report them in good drainage soil, remove the decaying dirt, and put them in direct sunlight. The presence of many leggy lavender plants is a sign that there is a significant amount of nitrogen in the soil. First, if you are fertilizing your plant, you should stop immediately. You should move the plant from the ground that is too rich to one that is too poor. After that, in the spring or the late fall, you should trim the flexible growths of the plant, but never the woody sections. Lavender plants that have become woody and no longer blossom indicate that their trimming has been neglected for years. Therefore, giving them a severe haircut will stimulate flower production in the coming seasons.
During the winter, lavender plants may go dormant and acquire a silvery or greyish body that gives the impression that they have died. It is best to wait until May before determining whether or not your lavender plant is showing signs of life. In that case, you should dig it up and add it to your compost pile. Burning it is necessary if it is infected to prevent the illness from spreading further.
Drooping and wilting are symptoms of roots decaying due to overwatering on lavender plants. Be careful to give your lavender the appropriate amount of water.
Several factors might contribute to the demise of your lavender plant, including overwatering, inadequate sun exposure, rich soil quality (yes! ), poor planting time, and insufficient container size. If you cannot keep it, investigate the several kinds of lavender available for purchase instead.
In pruning lavender plants, the ideal time to begin is when it is still young, and this will let the plant devote its energy to establishing its roots and stems rather than expanding its leaves. When you prune a plant, you should trim it back so that it is at least one-half or one-third smaller than before, with the outside stems being slightly shorter than the ones in the center. When doing the pruning, you need to search for where the hardwood base meets the softwood at the top of the tree. From that point, add 2 inches to the height above it, which is the point at which you should begin cutting.