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. Light: Lavender needs full sun and well-drained soil to grow best. In hot summer climates, afternoon shade may help them thrive. Soil: Lavender grows best in low to moderately-fertile soils, so don’t amend the soil with organic matter before planting. Lavender performs best in neutral to slightly alkaline soils.When to plant. Lavender is best planted in April or May as the soil naturally warms up and when many fresh plants become available in garden centres. Lavender should never be planted in winter when young plants are vulnerable to rotting in cold, wet soils.Lavender is a perennial plant which means it comes up every year. Lavender loves the sun and requires well-drained soil. There are many different types of lavender, this guide will help you choose. Once established, lavender doesn’t require a lot of care.French Lavender will grow to be about 32 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front.French lavender thrives on 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily; anything less can hinder its growth. Poor soil conditions can also be a culprit. Heavy, waterlogged soils often lead to root rot, which stifles blooming.
Is French lavender fast growing?
Provence’ is the French lavender that most people think of and one variety I’ve used extensively over the years. Provence’ quickly grows to 3’x5′ with larger, softer foliage has looks like it has little ‘teeth’ along the edges. Growers in Zones 1 to 6 should wait until after the last frost of the spring to plant lavender. They should transplant it in late spring or early summer. Zones 7 to 10 growers should plant in the fall, giving them enough time to establish before winter.Lavender also grows quite well in containers. In the Deep South, it actually does better in pots, as it benefits from improved drainage and air circulation. While the plants thrive in arid Western climates, they are usually considered annuals in the South.Make sure your lavenders are watered regularly, but that they never get soggy. The soil should drain very well to avoid standing water. They also need full sun to bloom, so always plant lavender seedlings, cuttings or young plants in areas where they will get six to eight hours of sunlight.French lavender is a perennial that will live for several years when grown under optimal conditions. However, it is not as long-lived as English lavender and typically has a lifespan of 4 to 5 years.
What is French lavender good for?
The bright purple buds are potent and a little goes a long way. Lavender flowers can be added to herbal blends like Herbes de Provence or Lemon Herb Pepper for a floral note in the mix. They also make a wonderful addition to desserts and beverages, like ice cream, shortbread, and lemonade. 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.The Short Answer. 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.Lavender is a hardy plant that prefers a Mediterranean-like climate — dry, sunny, and with good air circulation. Most lavender plants don’t thrive in very humid or colder climates (although English lavender can tolerate some colder weather). Most varieties are hardy from Zones 5-9.Not all plants pair well with lavender. Here are some combinations to avoid: Mint requires rich, evenly moist soil and will not thrive next to lavender. Camellia has different growing needs than lavender, preferring partial shade and regular water.
Does French lavender come back every year?
Whether or not lavender comes back every year depends on where you live and the variety you choose. English lavenders are hardy in zones 5 through 8, while French lavender cultivars can only grow in the warmer climates of zones 7 though 10. The best time to prune is late August to early September, just after the lavender has finished flowering. This gives the plant enough time to heal before the chill of winter sets in – so if you haven’t done it yet, now’s your moment!A lack of flowers, wilted foliage, slow growth, or an unruly growth habit are common issues that gardeners face when growing lavender.Because lavender is a semi-woody shrub, it has a tendency to develop elongated, woody stems if plants aren’t pruned regularly. Not only do these scraggly stems produce fewer blooms, they eventually sprawl outward, leaving an ugly hole in the middle of your plant.Carry out lavender pruning in late August, just after flowering has finished. Don’t leave it too late, as any re-growth will need time to harden up before the first frosts. You can also trim your lavenders in April, but this will delay flowering slightly.
Where is the best place to plant lavender?
Keep in mind that lavender prefers to live in the garden or in a pot outdoors. Requiring significant sunlight, it is nearly impossible for them to thrive as a houseplant. So, it is best to find a sunny, well-draining location in the garden, or a pot, for your lavender. If you’re growing potted lavender, you should water when the soil is bone dry. When you water, you want to water thoroughly so that the roots are saturated, then let the soil dry out between watering. For established plants, you only need to water every two weeks.Types of Plants Not to Pair with Lavender Water-loving plants: Herbs and plants that prefer moist soil, like mint, begonias, fuchsias, and impatiens, are unlikely to thrive alongside lavender, says Betz.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.Every spring, apply a slow-release, microbial, mineral-rich feed such as seaweed/kelp, shellfish, blood meal, or bone meal, which will provide all the fertilization lavender needs. Excess fertilizer can become toxic to the lavender’s root system.
Which smells better, English or French lavender?
How Do They Smell? Both lavender varieties have a lovely scent, but to a well trained nose, it’s easy to spot the difference. English lavender is much lighter and sweeter than French lavender because it has less camphor, a chemical with a piney, woody scent. 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.