Regal Lavender Rules Gardens Coast to Coast

Lavender is the queen of blossoms in my novel: beautiful when young, astounding in adulthood and useful in every phase of growth. From the deepest purples of’Folgate’ into the waving white wands of’Ballerina’, lavenders struck every shade in between.

Lavender flowers can be used for additives, oils and even raw software. In fact, lavender lemonade is a sudden treat on a hot summer afternoon, while pairing the flavor with chicken or pork makes for a delicious fall meal.

If you grow lavender to harvest or for its beauty in your garden, it is going to work well with little care.

Zeterre Landscape Architecture

Botanical name: Lavandula
Common name: Lavender
USDA zones: 5-10
water requirement: Routine water until established; afterward low water demands
Soil requirement: Requires excellent drainage
Sun requirement: Prefers full sun
Mature size: 1 to 3 feet high, 1- to 3-foot spread
Growth rate: Slow. Trim lightly in spring to keep a compact shape (old wood seldom produces new expansion ).
Tolerances: Drought tolerant and deer resistant
Environmental benefits: Attracts birds, hummingbirds and butterflies; makes for a wonderful bathroom and culinary addition.

When designing a garden with lavender, place its environmental demands first. Site it in full sun with good drainage. The quickest way to kill lavender is to overwater it. As soon as you’ve discovered the ideal website, the only question becomes whether you should mass or mix this plant.

Huettl Landscape Architecture

Massing Lavender

For a mass of lavender against a rock wall or fence, plant en masse, leaving space between for the shrubby flowers to grow. You are going to have to deal with clumps of lavender for a couple years until they fill out and make the mass you are interested in.

Huettl Landscape Architecture

Lavender is a plant that you don’t wish to cheat space; when clustered too closely, it is going to grow invisibly and reach for the sun. It is a slow-growing perennial also, so be patient and give those tiny bushes space.

Debra Campbell Design

Your patience will pay off when you’ve got a mass of lavender spikes waving in the breeze every summer without any work in you, the gardener.

Huettl Landscape Architecture

Mixing Lavender Into the Garden

Lavender mixes and it masses, therefore try combining it with other blue-tone plants such as blue fescue, or contrast it with lime- or yellow-foliage evergreens.

Blasen Landscape Architecture

The milder tones of lavender also combine well with lighter shades and wispy plumes of bud.

Carolyn Chadwick

Try mixing several types of lavender, or mix and match lavender along with other spiky purple flowers such as catmint or Russian sage.

Glenna Partridge Garden Design

The truth is, lavender can truly can mix or mass with ease. Just give it some space and make certain its feet stay dry. It will outperform many other herbs for ages.

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