What is the difference between lavender and French lavender?
Both French and English lavender produce purple flowers and green foliage, but English lavender sprouts the traditional dark purple flowers with long stalks of tiny clusters, while French lavender produces lighter pink-purple blooms. It flowers in mid June, displaying blooms for only about four weeks, making it a shorter bloom time than French lavender. However, English lavender has a stronger, sweeter fragrance than the French variety. English lavender has long clusters of cone shaped petals at the top of the stem but no petals at the tips.About the French Lavender Lavender is best known for its sensuous, calming fragrance, but it also can be used in herbal teas, attracts butterflies, and repels rabbits, mice, ticks and mosquitoes. Flowers are edible and make excellent dried flowers.Dead-head French lavenders throughout the summer as they’ll flower continuously from May to September. Deadheading will also encourage more flowering through the season.Others appreciate its exceptionally long bloom time, with the flowers continuing for months on end, from early summer all the way until fall. And some value French lavender’s mounded shrub-like habit, which makes the plant versatile enough to be used as a fragrant, low-growing hedge.The flowering season for Lavender is through spring and summer, so planting in the early spring gives the plant plenty of time to settle. Soto loves to grow Lavender along pathways in front gardens, in pots on patios and balconies and at the front of raised beds or borders.
What is French lavender good for?
Because of their high camphor content, French Lavender may help with sinus and snoring issues. It is believed that essential oil from French Lavender should not be used by pregnant women in the first trimester nor by individuals with epilepsy. Once established, lavender is very low-maintenance and requires minimal watering or pruning. If the stems become woody as the plant matures, prune it back by about half its height in the spring to promote fresh new growth and robust flowering.Dead-head French lavenders throughout the summer as they’ll flower continuously from May to September. Deadheading will also encourage more flowering through the season.Both French and English lavender produce purple flowers and green foliage, but English lavender sprouts the traditional dark purple flowers with long stalks of tiny clusters, while French lavender produces lighter pink-purple blooms.French lavender has similar medicinal properties to common lavender (L. It yields more essential oil than that species but is of inferior quality[254]. The flowers, and the essential oil derived from them, are antiasthmatic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, digestive and expectorant[4, 44, 61, 238].
Where is the best place to plant French lavender?
Plant in fast-draining, nutrient-poor, alkaline soil. French lavender thrives in sunny, hot, dry conditions. It is extremely drought-tolerant. French Lavender (Lavandula dentata): USDA Hardiness Zone: 8-11. Growing Conditions: Full sun, sandy soil. Uses: Valued for its ornamental value, French lavender is perfect for borders and landscaping.Pot-grown French Lavender plants are available from March, allowing you to bring a hint of Provence to your outdoor spaces with ease. For more advice on caring for your plants, see our detailed lavender planting guide.Lavender is a slow growing perennial that may bloom in its first year but takes three or more years to fully mature. Their growth rate will largely depend on the variety, and most varieties will take roughly three years to become fully mature plants.For herbaceous propagation, remove only the tender tips of young lavender shoots. Strip the leaves and dip the cuttings briefly in plant hormones (auxins and cytokinins) to stimulate root growth. Place the cuttings in moist cups of substrate (sand and perlite) and water daily.
What is the lifespan of a lavender plant?
With proper care, lavender plants will survive for 10- 15 years. Lavender should be pruned every year after flowering. Shear back the plants to half its size to stimulate new growth and a bushier vibrant plant. Lavender is happiest with full sun. It is NOT tolerant of shade or overcrowding from other plants. It is an easy keeper and does not need fertilizing, staking or mulching. Mature lavender plants are drought tolerant and can develop root rot and fungal disease with overwatering.Mulching: Since lavender is drought tolerant, it shouldn’t need mulch to conserve soil moisture, other than extreme cases. If you do mulch, use small sized bark or gravel, and be sure to leave several inches clear around the plant crown, or your Lavender may rot.By cutting back your lavender at least once a year, you will stimulate the growth of lush new foliage and flowers and help to maintain your plant’s shape and fullness.Growing a lavender plant indoors can be a rewarding experience, allowing you to enjoy its delightful fragrance, beautiful blooms, and culinary uses year-round. While lavender typically thrives in outdoor gardens, with the right conditions and care, it can flourish inside your home.
How do you overwinter French lavender?
Overwintering French lavender A bright spot with temperatures between 5 °C and 10 °C is ideal. Unheated rooms or a conservatory are good places for overwintering French lavender during the winter months. If you live in a region with very mild winters, you can also overwinter French lavender outdoors. With the proper conditions and attention, you should be able to enjoy the calming aromas of lavender indoors all year long.Lavender should be picked when about one-third to one-half of the flowers on each stem have opened. This is when the essential oils are at their peak, offering the strongest fragrance and best quality for both fresh use and drying.When it comes to watering French lavender, less is often more. Overwatering can cause root rot, which can be fatal to the plant. Instead, water your French lavender only when the top layer of soil is dry to the touch. During the growing season, water it once a week, and in the winter, cut that back to every 2-3 weeks.The best time to prune French lavender is early spring. As soon as it starts to spread, half to two thirds of the shoot length should be cut off with a sharp pair of hedge shears.
Which is the strongest smelling lavender?
English lavender is widely acknowledged to have the best and strongest scent, with the top three being Folgate, Munstead and Hidcote lavenders; all cultivated especially for their oil. If you’re looking for the characteristic lavender smell, choose English lavender. It produces the strong scent that permeates the air, while French lavender has a much lighter scent, which while nice, is more reminiscent of rosemary.Both French and English lavender produce purple flowers and green foliage, but English lavender sprouts the traditional dark purple flowers with long stalks of tiny clusters, while French lavender produces lighter pink-purple blooms.English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) The most cold-hardy species, and the most popular in the High Country Gardens selection. These typically bloom in late spring and early summer.While it will flourish without much care, one way to ensure a successful harvest is by growing lavender next to companion plants. Sowing lavender in tandem with other garden staples—like marigolds, rosemary, garlic, or sage—creates a plot full of plants that mutually benefit each other.