Growing tips for this fragrant, easy-care plant that thrives in sunny locations
source: Garden Design
Fragrant purple flowers on tall spikes bloom right from the first year, creating a striking complement to the silvery gray foliage. You will love this plant, as the aroma is wonderfully calming. Ideal for drying and crafts, as well as fresh-cut bouquets. Use edible flowers, which have a sweet floral flavor, for baked goods and lavender lemonade, or serve with berries and citrus. Deer-resistant. (Bonnie Plants)
Lavender, an herb with many culinary uses, also makes a stunning addition to borders and perennial gardens, providing sweeping drifts of color from early summer into fall.
Type Perennial in zones 5 to 7
Planting time After last spring frost
Features Great for use in recipes, drying, and crafts
Light Full sun
Soil Well-drained soil (on the dry side)
Spacing 12 to 18 inches apart
Plant size12 to 14 inches tall by 8 to 10 inches wide, grows well in containers
Garden use Herb gardens, containers, vegetable and flower bed
Culinary use Baking, teas, sugars, jellies, paired with berries or citrus
DESIGN IDEAS FOR LAVENDER
Use lavender along walkways and garden paths where you can enjoy their scent and where they can benefit from the heat reflected off the pavement.
Plant in formal or informal herb gardens, where the cool, gray-green foliage sets off other green herbs and plants.
Create aromatic hedges or borders along fences and garden walls.
Use lavender as a natural pest repellent near patios and porches. The scent deters mosquitoes, flies, fleas, and other problem insects while attracting butterflies and bees.
Plant with drought-tolerant companions such as coneflower, sedum, black-eyed Susan, roses, and Shasta daisies.