How to Grow Lavender Herb Plants

Lavender Herb Plant

About Growing Lavender Plants in Your Herb Garden

As a member of the Mint family, Lavender plants are the most popular aromatic herbs. Since ancient Roman times and before, people have loved Lavender herbs for their beautiful, fresh scent. Gardeners, crafters, homeowners, we all just love growing Lavender! The flowers have many culinary uses.

Lavender is a semi-evergreen plant that is native to the Mediterranean, Middle East, and northern Africa. Wildly popular, this hardy perennial is now grown around the world. In the flower garden or herb garden, Lavender is attractive with its grayish foliage. When in bloom, the sweet scent drifts pleasantly across the yard.

We recommend planting some along with the house under your windows, so the scent can waft inside in the breeze. In addition to flower and herb gardens, these plants also look and grow well in rock gardens, as border edges, and in pots or containers on your patio or deck. Try growing them indoors, too. Just make sure to place them in a sunny window. Most varieties are under 1 1/2 feet. They can grow up to two feet tall.

Are deer a problem in your area? They won’t bother your lavender plants. like most herbs, Deer do not like the strong scent.

Flowers Bloom: Summer

Flower Colors: Lavender purple.

Plant height: 8 to 36 inches tall.

Hardiness Zones: 5 – 9

Perennial, Lavendula

Medicinal and Culinary Uses

Medicinal Uses: 

It is also used as a medicinal herb. Use Lavender extract for the relief of anxiety. And, use the oils to treat wounds and burns.

Culinary Uses:

Lavender is used in baked goods, jellies, and teas.

Aromatic Uses: 

The lavender scent is relaxing. It is called the “scent of tranquility”. Lavender is the most popular scent used in Aromatherapy.

Ancient Romans used Lavender to scent their bathwater. Since ancient times, it was also stored with clothes and linen for a fresh scent.

Lavender is popular in candles, crafts, detergents, hair shampoos, massage oils, perfumes, potpourri, sachets, and as dried flowers. The oils are used to make perfumes.

Lavender Plant Propagation

Grow Lavender from seed. The seeds are difficult to start, requiring a long germination period of up to a month.  It is important to keep the soil moist, but not wet during this period.

We recommend an early start, sowing seeds, indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost. You will want to get these plants in bloom in your yard as early as possible. Place seedlings in a sunny window or use grow lights.

Gardening Tip: For indoor starts, we recommend using a heated germination mat, to increase the speed of germination. And, it, results in a higher germination rate.

You can also directly sow Lavender seeds into your garden. Sow seeds early in the season and cover lightly with soil.

Final Plant Spacing:  Space seedlings or thin plants 18″ apart, in rows 24 inches apart.

Days to Germination: 14 -30 days.

Lavendar Herb Plant

How to Grow Lavender Plants

Plant lavender in a location where it will not be disturbed, and it will reward you for several years. Lavender grows best in full sun. These plants do well in most soils, but well-drained soil is a must. They are tolerant of droughts.

The plants grow best in average soils. And they do not need much fertilizer if any. In poor soils, add a general-purpose fertilizer once or twice during the growing season.

Pick flowers in full bloom and place them in a small vase.

The scent is in leaves, stems, and flowers. Harvest them early in the morning when the oils are at their strongest in the plants. Cut the stems and spread them loosely on a screen to dry.

Ideal pH: 6.5 – 7.5

Insect and Plant Disease Problems

Insect and disease problems are uncommon.

Also see: 

Plant Problems – causes and cures

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