Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
French lavender . photograph by : Deni Williams / Shutterstock
Fanciers of French lavender make out it for a slew more than its pleasant scent and dainty violet blossom . Many are captivated by the classifiable serrated foliage that looks like it has been clipped with tiny pinking shears . Others appreciate its exceptionally long bloom time , with the efflorescence continuing for months on end , from early summer all the way until fall . And some value French lavender ’s mounded bush - like habit , which get the plant various enough to be used as a fragrant , blue - grow hedge .
Despite its many attributes , French lavender is very specific about its growing condition and is n’t well - suited for some climates , particularly areas with cold wintertime . Here ’s advice on what it take on to keep your French lavender tidy and brimming with bloom .
On this pageboy : Basics|Planting|Care|Frequently inquire Questions
BASICS
Botanical name:
Lavandula dentataand loanblend
Note : Gallic lavender was once classified as a Cuban sandwich - type of Spanish lavender ( Lavandula stoechas ) , but is now considered to be a distinct species . However , Spanish lavender is still sometimes mislabeled as French lavender , so be certain to checker the plant tag to make certain you ’re buyingL. dentata . Most commonly grown is grizzly French lavender ( Lavandula dentatavar.candicans ) which is also a little tough than the true metal money .
Other common names:
Toothed lavender , fringed lavender
Plant type:
Woody perennial / sub - bush
Zones:
Typically 8 - 11 , although some varieties are hardy down to zone 7 .
Native range:
Mediterranean region and the Arabian peninsula
Exposure:
Full sun
Size:
1 to 3 foot tall and up to 5 feet broad
Bloom time:
Early summertime to fall . May bloom year - one shot in climates where frost does n’t come .
Foliage:
Most French lavenders have narrow , grayish immature , delicately - toothed leave of absence , but there ’s also a variety with white diversification . Foliage remains evergreen in quick climates .
Flowers:
Lavender to deep blue - violet , lean with pallid purple bract .
Special attributes:
Toxicity:
All type of lavender hold back a small amount of linalool , a compound that may be toxic to dogs and true cat , according to theASPCA , specially if ingest in large quantities .
PLANTING FRENCH LAVENDER
pic by : Ro . Panaitescu / Shutterstock
When to plant:
In the spring after the grunge has warmed up and the threat of frost has passed . May also be planted in the fall in surface area with mild winters .
Where to plant:
This Mediterranean native call for sunny , red-hot , dry stipulation to fly high . A climate with in high spirits temperature , infrequent rainfall during the growing time of year , and low humidity is ideal . As with all lilac-colored species , flora in a site that receives full sun ( at least 6 hours daily ) . If not given ample sunlight , plants will bloom poorly , want vigor , and be less fragrant .
Soil requirements:
grow best in sandy , nutritive - poor , alkaline grime that provides splendid drainage . obviate planting in heavy clay or in down in the mouth spots prostrate to stand water supply .
How to plant:
It is generally easier to develop French lavender from nursery starts , since the seeds are small and tend to have a slow and fickle germination charge per unit . To control good airwave circulation , place plant 2 to 3 feet aside , depending on their width at maturity . Water right after planting and continue to water every few days until industrial plant become established . Because undecomposed drain is crucial , consider turn your plant in mounds , raised beds , or on slopes .
Growing in containers:
stocky varieties of French lavender ( such as ‘ Linda Ligon ’ ) are perfect for arise in containers , which is a good selection in areas where the plant is n’t hardy because you could move the pots indoors over winter . Be sure to found in a high - quality , fast - draining potting mix in a container with multiple drain holes , so your lavender wo n’t be ride in standing water . Learn to grow lavender in pots .
FRENCH LAVENDER CARE
Gallic lavender foliation . Photo by : Edita Medeina / Shutterstock
Watering:
Established Gallic lavender plants are extremely drought resistant and only need to be water during prolonged ironical spell . To prevent root word rot and fungous diseases , ward off overwatering and keep the leaves teetotal by water at ground level or using drip irrigation . During the winter , when plants are torpid , no supplemental watering is needed .
Amendments and fertilizer:
Because Gallic lavender is native to regions having sandlike or rough soils with scurvy fertility , avoid using amendments that enrich the soil , such as compost or other organic matter . If you have dense clay soil , amend it with red lava rock-and-roll or rice hull to ameliorate drain . Also figure out some lime into the ground if it ’s extremely acidulous ( with a pH below 5.5 ) . French lavender spring up honest in alkaline soils and wo n’t go in territory that is too acidic . ( Learn how totest the pH of your grease . )
Fertilizing French lavender is seldom necessary and may do a surge in leaf growth at the disbursal of flower product . Plants will generally be more robust when grown in hapless territory that is low in nutrients .
Pruning and deadheading:
The best clock time to prune French lavender is in early spring , which will hasten new growth and increase heyday production . you could also crop again in the fall , after the flowers have faded , to remold the plant life and encourage denser , thicker growth . Because Gallic lavender will not grow back from old Sir Henry Joseph Wood , drastically cutting it down to its woody base can kill it , so be trusted to make your pruning cuts just above new foliage growth . Throughout the flowering season , deadhead your flora regularly to encourage the growth of young blooms . See more onpruning lavender .
Overwintering:
In climates where temperature dip below zero degrees Fahrenheit , insulate your plants with a winter mulch of evergreen bough , shredded leafage , or stubble , peculiarly if there ’s a lack of Baron Snow of Leicester cover . right soil drainage is also essential to plant endurance in areas with dusty , mute wintertime .
Propagation:
From seed or by prow cut taken from young maturation in spring , before flower buds shape .
Pests and diseases:
Few pest or disease problems , but is susceptible to root rot andpowdery mildew , especially in damp , humid climate . inadequate air circulation between plant and a lack of pruning can exasperate the trouble .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is French lavender a perennial?
Gallic lavender is a perennial that will live for several years when maturate under optimal conditions . However , it is not as long - lived as English lavender and typically has a lifespan of 4 to 5 days .
Is French lavender edible?
French lavender flowers are not desirable for human consumption . However , you may harvest the blooms for use as cut flowers or to add to potpourris and dried floral bouquets .
Will French lavender survive winter?
If the temperature in your growing zone never drop below freezing , then you wo n’t need to take special measures to keep your French lavender alive during the wintertime months , as long as it is embed in well - run out stain . In areas of the country where French lavender is n’t fearless ( geographical zone 7 and below ) , grow it as an annual or in a container that you could overwinter indoors .
How do French, Spanish, and English lavender differ?
Of thethree vulgar lavender , the French variety is the only one with serrate leaves . It also is larger and longer blooming than its English and Spanish counterparts . Although French lavender do better in hot climate , English lavender is the only specie that will survive coarse freezing temperatures . Do n’t confuse Gallic lavender with fernleaf lavender ( L. mutlifida ) , a similar species with more profoundly lobate , fern - corresponding leaf .
How do I grow French lavender indoors?
French lavender will do quite well uprise in a container indoors if give at least four time of day of direct sunlight daily , ideally from a due south - facing window . Be indisputable to irrigate sparingly throughout the winter months , while the plant is dormant , waitress until the top inch of grime feels dry to the touch . Never give up the roots to sit down in standing water .
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