Lavandula
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Common NameLavender
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CA NativeNon-native
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Plant TypePerennial
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Size2' - 3' x 2' - 4'
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Flower ColorLavender, Purple, Pink, White
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Bloom Time
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Spring
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LeavesSilvery-Gray Small Leaves
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EvergreenEvergreen
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Deer ResistantRarely Damaged
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Wildlife Value
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Attracts Beneficial Insects
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Bees
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Butterfly & Other Insect Nectar
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Growth RateFast
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HardinessHardy
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Adverse Growth FactorsNone
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Special Features
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Erosion Control
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Fragrance
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Low Maintenance
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Water Use
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Drought Tolerant
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Low
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Soil pH7.6-8.5 (alkaline)
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Exposure
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Full Sun
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Soil TypeNot Particular
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DrainageWell Drained
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Description and Cultural Plant Tips
With its incredible fragrance and beautiful blooms, lavender can be used in herb, butterfly and cottage gardens or as a low hedge or in mass plantings. The blooms make a great addition to cut flower bouquets. The leaves and flowers can also be used in dried arrangement or potpourri. Companion plants include; Asclepsia, Daylillies, Rockrose, Yarrow and Rosemary. There are 28 species of lavender including; English, French, Spanish,Yellow, Sweet and Woolly. With the exception of Woolly lavender, these lavenders start to bloom in early to mid-spring. Spanish and Yellow finish up in 4 - 5 weeks, with the others blooming a bit longer. English and Spanish lavenders are the most common lavenders in Marin. English lavenders have long spikes of flowers, range from 2' - 3' tall, are very fragrant and used in both culinary and aromatherapy. Spanish lavender is shorter (18" - 2') and has a pinecone shaped flower. It has no culinary applications
Lavenders thrive in warm, well-drained soil in full sun. If you want highly fragrant plants, put them in a lean, alkaline, chalky soil that will enhance the lavenders fragrance. When you put the plants in, add a handful of compost to the planting hole and water regularly during the first growing season. After that the plants will be very drought tolerant. Remember, wet roots will kill lavender.To keep them well-shaped and to encourage new growth, prune in the early spring before flowers set. The taller varieties can be cut back by about a third and the lower growing varieties can either be pruned back by a couple of inches or cut down to new growth.
Lavender attracts bees and butterflies to the garden. Ants dislike the lavender odor. It can be used as a natural organic ant control.
No serious pests or diseases.
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Master Gardener CommentsN / A
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Varietals
L. angustifolia ' Melissa' - long spikes of pink flowers (English)
L. angustifolia ' Munstead' - long spikes of blue lilac flowers (English)
L. stoechus ' Otto Quast' - red-purple flowers (Spanish)
L. intermedia ' Grosso - 16" - 18" spikes of blue-lavender colored flowers