You have a busy life and want a low maintenance landscape that looks great. Lavender is a great choice. Here're some reasons why.

Lavandula angustifolia 'Buena Vista'
Item # 63109 		Lavandula angustifolia 'Buena Vista'
Buena Vista English Lavender

each $7.99
3 to 6 plants $7.79
7 or more $7.59
Lavandula x intermedia 'Provence'
Item # 63155 		Lavandula intermedia 'Provence'
Provence French Lavender

each $7.99
3 or more $7.79
Lavandula intermedia 'Grosso'
Item # 63152 		Lavandula intermedia 'Grosso'
Fat Bud French hybrid Lavender

each $7.99
3 or more $7.79
Lavandula angustifolia 'Sharon Roberts'
Item # 63113 		Lavandula angustifolia 'Sharon Roberts'
Sharon Roberts English Lavender

each $7.99
3 or more $7.79
Lavandula x intermedia 'Hidcote Giant'
Item # 63153 		Lavandula intermedia 'Hidcote Giant'
Hidcote Giant French hybrid Lavender

each $7.99
3 or more $7.79
Lavandula x 'Silver Frost'
Item # 63195 		Lavandula 'Silver Frost'
Silver Frost hybrid Lavender

each $7.99
3 or more $7.79

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You have a busy life and want a low maintenance landscape that looks great. Lavender is a great choice. Here’re some reasons why.

  • Drought tolerant—Lavender plants thrive in dry conditions and don’t need to much watering once the plants are established
  • Neat and tidy shape—Lavender maintains a nice rounded shape and requires only minimal pruning; in spring and after blooming.
  • Low fertility soil conditions—Lavender thrive in low fertility, alkaline, limey or limestone derived soils that are well-drained.
  • Fertilization—Lavender needs only a light application of organic fertilizer, such as Yum Yum® Mix. Apply in mid to late fall.
  • Fragrance—One of the characteristics of Lavender that makes it so popular is its delightful fragrance. The flowers can be harvested and used for culinary purposes, bouquets, dried for potpourris, or made into bath and beauty products.

Extend Bloom Time by Combining Varieties

Be sure to plant both English and French Hybrid types to extend the blooming season and give your garden several months of flowering lavenders.

English Lavenders

As Lavender cultivars developed, those with English origins were referred to Lavandula angustifolia. These English species are typically the most cold-hardy, being suitable for USDA zones 5 through 10. Late spring/early summer bloomers, English Lavenders planted in a colder climate will typically not get as big as the same variety will in a climate with warmer winters. Two varieties, Lavandula angustifolia ‘Buena Vista’ and Lavandula angustifolia ‘Sharon Roberts’ will actually bloom twice a season if promptly deadheaded after first flowering. Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote Superior’ and Lavandula angustifolia ‘Mitcham Gray’ are the most deeply colored with dark violet-blue spikes. ‘Graves’ is the best cut flower variety as it has the longest flower stems.

French Hybrid Lavenders

In less severe winter USDA zone 6 through 10 climates, the Lavandula intermedia hybrids, sometimes referred to as French lavender, are wonderful summer bloomers. Larger than the English varieties, they have longer flowers and flower stems. In France, many of these varieties are grown commercially for oil and flowers. Lavandula x intermedia ‘Provence’ is the variety most often used for culinary purposes. Lavandula x intermedia ‘Grosso’ is the most cold-hardy intermedia type and has the darkest colored flower spikes. Lavandula x intermedia ‘Hidcote Giant’ is the longest blooming with very long graceful, compound flower spikes.

Special Lavender Hybrids

Two little known non-intermedia hybrid varieties we highly recommend. Lavendula x ‘Silver Frost’ is a super fragrant, summer-long bloomer with silver foliage and incredible dry-heat tolerance. ‘England’ is a tidy, compact, sweetly fragrant, summer blooming beauty with dark blue flower spikes.

Ways to Use Lavender in Low Maintenance Landscapes

  • Mix lavender into a border with other highly fragrant plants to create a garden of sensory delights. A fragrant genus of companion plants for Lavender is Agastache. Both Agastache rupestris and Agastache neomexicana are perfect matches. Other fragrant plant companions can be found in our Xeric Aroma Garden.
  • Combine Lavender with other plants from the Mediterranean region such as Santolina, Rosemary, or Stachys to recreate a look found at villas in southern France or Italy. Select the Cold Hardy Mediterranean Pre-planned Garden to mix in with the various Lavenders or choose just a few of the plants as companions.

Regional Notes for Planting Lavender Varieties

  • Western US; all the Lavender plants are at their very best as our arid climates, cool to cold winters, and dry summer heat match their native habitat.
  • Texas and the Southeast; if you want to grow them in hot, humid summer climates with mild winters it’s best to grow Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas) and French Lavender (Lavandula dentata).
  • Mid-West and New England; when growing Lavender in these areas, stick with the English Lavenders as they are the most cold-hardy.
  • In cold, wet winter climates like the Midwest and New England, the lavenders must be grown in sandy soils in the sunniest, hottest location possible. Plant in the spring to get them well established before winter. Cold hardiness is not just about cold winter temperatures. Protection from soggy soils and freeze/thaw cycles in the winter and early spring is important. Check with local herb growers in your area to ask them about growing and over-wintering lavender.

Relax and Enjoy

Whatever variety of lavender you choose, make sure you have a place to sit nearby. There’s nothing like taking a break from your busyness and have a few minutes of tranquility next to some fragrant lavender.