One important tip to grow French lavender in pots: avoid soil moisture at all costs. Double-check that the pot has a hole. Add a drainage layer made with small gravel or clay pebbles.
Does French lavender do well in pots?
Choose a pot that is 12-16 inches across with drainage holes in the base and preferably terracotta, clay or ceramic. French lavender is not cold hardy and does not tolerate frost.
How do you care for potted French lavender?
Place your container grown lavender plants somewhere they receive full sun (at least eight hours per day) and water them sparingly. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings, but don’t let it get so dry that the plant wilts. Lavender likes heat, and many varieties won’t survive a cold winter.
Does French lavender come back every year?
French lavenders are perennial plants that live for several years. The reason some people mistake French lavenders for annuals is that they grow them in a climate that is too cold for French lavender to survive winter and then have to replace the plant every year.
Does French lavender need full sun?
French lavender plants grow to form a mound that can reach 12 to 36 inches tall and 48 to 60 inches wide. It needs full sun and well-drained, alkaline soil to reach its full potential. Prune French lavender plants at the end of the season to keep them attractive and maintain a manageable size.
Can lavender survive winter in pots?
English lavenders are cold hardy and can survive winter in pots up to USDA zone 4 with the right care and preparation. French and Spanish lavender pots will need protection from Winter cold and should be brought indoors in the Fall before the first frost of Winter. The larger the pot the better.
Is French lavender slow growing?
Most problems growing lavender arise because the soil is poorly drained, leading to root or crown rot. Lavender is not usually bothered by pests and can survive wind, drought and heat. Lavender seeds germinate slowly and the plants grow slowly, so it is easier to buy plants from a garden center.
Is French lavender Hardy?
French lavender is not cold hardy and will not survive frost and cold temperatures. French lavenders need mild winters to survive. Hardy between USDA zones 7-9.
Should you deadhead French lavender?
Deadhead French lavender regularly throughout the summer. This prolongs the flowering and creates new growth the following April/May.
Can French lavender grow indoors?
French lavender (Lavandula dentata) varieties grow well indoors. They’re not as fragrantly potent as English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), but they adapt better to interior conditions.
Why is French lavender dying?
The most likely reason your lavender is dying is because of over watering. Lavenders thrive in the scorching dry summer weather in the Mediterranean region of Europe. Therefore lavenders are exceptionally tolerant to droughts and require relatively little water to be healthy and produce flowers.
How often should you water French lavender?
In the absence of rain, water the plants weekly during the first summer and once every three weeks in subsequent summers. The plants grow best and have the strongest fragrance when the soil is kept dry. Gravel mulch looks natural around lavender plants and helps prevent the soil from retaining too much moisture.
Does French lavender grow in shade?
No, ideally it’s best that all types of lavender are exposed to full sun for most of the day. Hardier varieties (Hidcote and Grosso) may survive but it’s best to find a sunny spot to plant them in.
Is French lavender Evergreen?
Lavender is one of the most popular small garden shrubs. Plants have narrow, oily and aromatic evergreen leaves and bear dense spikes of small tubular flowers in summer. Lavandula stoechas is commonly referred to as French lavender.
Does potted lavender come back?
Lavender is a perennial sub shrub the does come back after Winter and lives for many years with the right care, growing in the appropriate climate and conditions. Spanish and French lavenders may not come back after Winter in cold climates as they not as cold hardy as English lavenders.
How do you overwinter French lavender?
Although they are in a dormant state, French lavenders will need to be in as much sun as possible. Place the lavender in the sunniest window in your house and your plant should be okay until its time to return it outdoors when the temperature warms up.
What is the best lavender for pots?
Lavandula angustifolia ‘Lavenite Petite’ (Lavender)
Compact and dense, extremely fragrant with intense violet flowers, Lavandula angustifolia ‘Lavenite Petite’ is a top choice for containers thanks to its short stems and tight foliage. Good for drying.
What does French lavender need?
Full sun is ideal, although part shade is also acceptable. French Lavender is very tolerant of hot, dry conditions and requires hot summers to grow well. It has low to average water requirements once established. This species does handle some humidity, but wet and humid summers may present a problem.
Which is best English or French lavender?
If you’re looking for the characteristic lavender smell, choose English lavender. It produces the strong scent that permeates the air, while French lavender has a much lighter scent, which while nice, is more reminiscent of rosemary.
Does French lavender smell?
The French Lavender plants are bigger plants (producing more lavender per plant). Aroma is sweet with slightly camphorous scent. The French Lavender scent is used more for its aromatic properties and considered good in cleaning products and products designed to freshen your home.
Which is the strongest smelling lavender?
Lavandula x intermedia ‘Grosso’ (Lavender)
With one of the strongest fragrance among Lavenders, Lavandula x intermedia ‘Grosso’ is a vigorous grower which produces exceptionally large and rich, deep violet flower spikes up to 6 in. long (15 cm), hence its common name of ‘Fat Lavender’!
How long does French lavender live?
How long does lavender live? Lavenders are not long-lived plants. Expect tender varieties to live for about five years. If pruned correctly, hardy types can live for about 15 years (as many as 20 years, in some cases).
Why is my French lavender not flowering?
Your lavender is in the wrong spot in the garden. Lavender originates in the sunny Mediterranean and needs at least six hours a day of sunlight to produce its fragrant blooms. Don’t plant your lavender under a tree – it will not flower. A very windy location is also not great, as lavender is used to still, hot summers.
How do you care for an outdoor lavender plant?
Lavender Care
Plant lavender in full sun and well-drained soil (add organic matter to improve heavy soils). Starting with the proper conditions is essential for successfully growing lavender. Water plants deeply but infrequently, when the soil is almost dry. Prune every year immediately after bloom.
Is lavender toxic to dogs?
Key Takeaways. Lavender contains a small amount of linalool, which is toxic to dogs and cats. Mild exposure to lavender is not generally harmful and may help with anxiety, depression, and stress. Lavender poisoning is possible and may cause vomiting, reduced appetite, and other symptoms.
How long does lavender plants last?
Lavender is a perennial and has been known to survive up to 15 years in home gardens. Longevity can be increase through many methods of lavender growing. Soil preparation, soil amendments, drainage, pruning, winter protection and proper harvesting can result in a life long lavender hedge.
How do you save a potted lavender plant?
The only way to revive lavender that has been in the shade is to transfer it to a pot and place it in the sun as quickly as possible. Lavenders require sun all year round, including during the winter dormancy so plant the lavender in a nice open space that is not under a tree canopy or any other shade.
Should lavender be cut back in the spring?
All lavenders bloom on the stems that grew in the current year. This means pruning can be done in early or mid-spring without sacrificing the current year’s flowers. Pruning in spring can delay flowering—which might be your preference—and it’s a good time to take down dead portions and shorten growth to the buds.
Why do my lavender plants keep dying?
The most common reasons for a Lavender plant dying are improper watering, over-fertilization, acidic soil pH, diseases, pests, or inadequate sunlight. Careful inspection of the plant and growing conditions are essential to help identify and fix the issue.
How long does French lavender bloom?
Popular varieties include ‘Hidcote’ and ‘Munstead’. French Lavender (Lavandula stoechas) is slightly less hardy than English but flowers from May to September if deadheaded. It can cope with short periods of cold weather (-5 to -10 degrees celsius) and should be planted in sheltered borders, containers or path edges.
Is French lavender the same as lavender?
English lavender is typically the most appealing variety when it comes to scent and is similar to rosemary. French lavender has a stronger fragrance with more pine notes, making it a popular choice for cleaning and home products. No smell is “better” than the other, it is largely based on individual preference.
Which lavender can tolerate shade?
These somewhat shade-tolerant varieties of lavender include French lavender (Lavandula dentata), French lace lavender (Lavandula multifida) and Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas). These species grow best under full sun or sun with some clouds, but extreme shade can be detrimental to their growth and flowering.
What can you not plant with lavender?
Lavender Companion Plants and Plants to Avoid!
- Good companion plants that will grow well with lavender are Roses, Alliums, Yarrow, Rosemary, Thyme, and African daisies. …
- You should avoid planting Camellias, Mint, Hosta, and Impatiens with lavender.
What is the easiest lavender to grow?
English lavenders are the easiest lavenders to grow, with varieties such as ‘Munstead’ and ‘Hidcote’ regarded as the easiest and most versatile lavender varieties as they require minimal maintenance and can survive in both hot and cold climates.
What is French lavender called?
Lavandula stoechas also called French Lavender, Spanish Lavender or Butterfly Lavender is recognizable by the conspicuous sterile bracts resembling extravagant ears, on top of the short dense inflorescence. Grown for its silvery aromatic leaves, it is used extensively for essential oils or potpourris.