- Taxonomy: Lavandula angustifolia
- Other Names: English Lavender, Common Lavender, True Lavender
- Seed Type: Perennial
- Sow Indoors or Outdoors: Sow indoors, 3 to 4 months before the last frost.
- Days to Maturity: 2nd year maturity
- Hardiness Zone: 5 – 9
- Planting Depth: barely cover--light aids in germination.
- Plant Spacing: 24”
- Growth Habit: 18 – 24” tall shrubby upright with an 18 – 24” spread of classic 3” purple English lavender heads
- Soil Preference: Average, medium dry, well-drained
- Light Preference: Full sun
- Diseases/Pests/Troubleshooting: Common English lavender is a vigorous full sun performer and known to tolerate gardens prone to drought and poor soils. Do not overwater since lavender will perform poorly in oversaturated gardens which can lead to root rot, leaf spots, and may not survive perennially over the winter. Trim back plants every 3 years to control size and promote new robust growth. Lavender has no serious pests.
- Color: Classic lavender heads atop light spiked greens
-
Seeds Per Package:
- 500 mg - Approximately 400 Seeds
For the best germination, lavender seed needs cold stratification. Place seed on a moist paper towel, roll and seal in a Ziploc bag. Place in the back of the refrigerator for about one month. Check once a week and moisten the paper towel as needed. You may carefully remove seed as it germinates and plant in a sterile seeding mix. At the end of the stratification period, plant remaining seed and barely cover as light aids in germination. You should see growth in 14 to 30 days. Transplant seedlings when they have two sets of the true leaves using the same seeding mix. Lavender doesn't like to be water-logged so watch your watering carefully and supply a strong light source.
Although commonly known as English lavender, Lavandula angustifolia is actually native to the cool Mediterranean nations of Spain, France, Italy, and Croatia. This “true lavender” variety is commercially planted for harvesting its oils for use in perfumes and essential oils. The species was once classified as Lavandula officinalis, the species name officinalis referring to its medicinal properties. However, the species was reclassified as angustifolia, which is simply translated from Latin meaning “narrow leaf.”