Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
Spanish lavender . pic by : Rose Makin / Shutterstock
prize for its flamboyant flowers and silvery , aromatic foliage , Spanish lavender ( Lavandula stoechas ) is the sporty of thegarden lavenders , with tall petal - similar bracts that rise above plump flower spike like the ear of a rabbit . Compact , bush - comparable , and highly ornamental , this various lavender is a beautiful addition to mixed recurrent beds , herb gardens , mete , stone gardens , and container . It also fly high in hot , ironic conditions , cook it ideal for warmer climates andwaterwise landscapes .
On this Sir Frederick Handley Page : Basics|Planting|Care|Varieties|Harvesting & Preserving
BASICS
Botanical name:
Lavandula stoechas
Common names:
Spanish lavender , butterfly lavender , lapin ’s spike , bract lavender , top lavender . May sometimes be wrong bring up to asFrench lavender , a name that should be reserve forLavandula detata .
Plant type:
woodsy perennial
Native area:
Mediterranean neighborhood and North Africa
Zones:
Typically 7 - 10 , although some cultivars are hardy down to Zone 6
Exposure:
Full sun
Size:
10 to 24 inch tall , 1 to 3 feet wide
Bloom time:
former spring through summertime
Foliage:
Silver or gray - gullible , extremely fragrant leaves are standardized to Rosmarinus officinalis in aroma and show . Foliage remains evergreen in warmer climates .
Flowers:
flush are typically shades of mysterious purple or pinkish , while the bracts may be lavender , unaccented pink , or white , depending on the cultivar .
Special attributes:
Toxicity:
All types of lavender contain a small amount of linalool , a chemical compound that may be toxic to dogs and cats , according to theASPCA , especially if absorb in large quantities .
PLANTING SPANISH LAVENDER
When to plant:
In the spring after the soil has warmed up and the terror of freeze has make it . May also be plant in the gloam as long as you give plants enough time for their root to base before winter .
Where to plant:
In a site that receives full sun ( at least 6 hour daily ) . Plants will blossom ill if not given ample sunlight . An area that incur dependable atmosphere circulation is also significant , specially if originate plant in a humid mood .
How to plant:
It is generally easier to produce Spanish lavender from greenhouse start , spacing plants far enough asunder ( depending on their width at maturity ) to ensure good air circulation .
Soil requirements:
Thrives in arenaceous , silty , or rocky stain that provide excellent drain . Will also execute well in poor soil , but void planting in overweight Henry Clay or in low point prone to stand water . Because good drainage is of the essence , consider growing your plants in mound , raise beds , or on slope .
Growing from seed:
If want to render your hand at arise Spanish lavender from ejaculate , be forewarned that the seeds are small and incline to have a slow and erratic sprouting rate . To get the best results , set forth the cum indoors in early spring , cover them very lightly with a sterile seed starting premix and observe them moist but not mucky until the seedlings emerge . When keep open at a temperature of about 65 ° F , the seeds will germinate in 2 to 3 hebdomad .
Growing in containers:
If your garden soil is gruelling and dense , view grow Spanish lavender in a container in a mellow - lineament potting premix with good drainage . Also , be sure that the pot has multiple drainage hole , so your lavender wo n’t be sitting in standing water . Potted lavender is susceptible to root rot if it the soil remains too moist for an extended period . Learn to grow lavender in pot .
SPANISH LAVENDER CARE
pic by : Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock
Watering:
Although Spanish lavender is drought resistant , you should water young plants regularly until the theme become establish , keep the land equally moist but not soggy . After the first yr , let the soil become almost dry between waterings . To prevent ascendant rotting and fungous disease , avoid overwatering and keep the leaves ironical by watering at earth layer or using drip mold irrigation .
Amendments and fertilizer:
Because Spanish lavender is aboriginal to orbit with sandy or jolty soil , avoid using amendment that enrich the dirt , such as compost or other constitutive matter . However , if you have dense clay soil , you should amend it with inert Timothy Miles Bindon Rice hulls and check that to plant luxuriously and observe watering very carefully .
fertilise Spanish lavender is rarely necessary and may actually inhibit flowering . flora will generally be healthier and longer - hold out when grown in pitiable soil that is low in nutrient .
Pruning and deadheading:
Prune back Spanish lavender in spring after the first peak of blooms disappearance to stimulate new growth and encourage repeat unfolding , lopping off about one - third of the top and sides . Because lavender will not grow back from older wood , drastically cutting an older plant down to its woody base can kill it , so be sure to make your pruning cuts just above unexampled leaf increase . Give your lavender another luminosity pruning in late summer to reshape the plant and boost denser , thicker growth . See more onpruning lavender .
Propagation:
From stalk cuttings assume from new growth in saltation , before flower buds form .
Pests and diseases:
Few pest or disease problems , but is susceptible to Phytophthora radical and crown rot , particularly if the soil around the nucleotide of the plant stay on pie-eyed for tenacious menstruation of time .
SPANISH LAVENDER VARIETIES
Photo by : tommiimages / Shutterstock
' Anouk '
Zones:6 - 10
Height and spread:1 to 2 feet tall and wide of the mark
Dark plum - colored prime are stressed pallid lavender bracts that fade to pink as they mature . Blooms nearly continuously from springtime through summer , providing a long time of year of involvement . For the expert results , shear back in midsummer to encourage bushier growth and another flush of blooms in fall .
exposure by : UC Davis Arboretum
' Madrid Blue '
Zones:7 - 10
Height and spread:18 to 24 inches tall and wide
An strange bicolored lavender with disconsolate blue - purpleness flower spike heel topped by vivid white-hot bunny ears . A full , rounded drug abuse make it idealistic for use as a low - growing hedge or in mass plantings .
Photo by : nahhana / Shutterstock
' Ballerina '
Zones:8 - 10
Height and spread:2 to 2 - 1/2 feet tall , 1 to 2 feet wide
Dense purple flower spikes support feathery blanched bracts that seem to dance in the tip , evolve a pretty pinkish bloom as they mature . A recipient of the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society for its vigor and long bloom season .
Photo by : Rock Giguere / Millette Photomedia
' Bandera Pink '
Height and spread:7 to 9 inches tall , 10 to 12 inches extensive
A compounding of thick rose bloom and soft pink bract cover up tidy pitcher’s mound of fragrant , silvery green foliage . Under a fundament tall , this variety is just the correct sizing for patio planters or border a sunny walkway .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is Spanish lavender a perennial?
While Spanish lavender is often sell as a perennial , it ’s actually an evergreen semi - arboreous bush . That means you should never trim back it back to the ground when clip . When shaping is needed , remove no more than one-half of the works ’s sizing .
Is Spanish lavender edible?
Spanish lavender is edible but tends to be bitter and antiseptic in taste because of its high camphor mental object . English Lavender(Lavandula angustifolia ) is a better pick for culinary use and has a slightly sweet , flowered flavor .
Will Spanish lavender survive winter?
Spanish lavender will return twelvemonth after yr if develop in the appropriate mood . However , it is less intrepid than its English cousin and may not survive harsh winters where temperature drop down below 10 ° F. If you live north of Zone 7 , uprise Spanish lavender as an one-year or plant it in a pot that you’re able to bring indoors or move to a protected location during the wintertime months .
Can Spanish lavender be grown indoors?
Spanish lavender will do quite well grow in a container indoors if given at least four hours of unmediated sunshine daily , ideally from a south - face window . This is a great option if you survive in a dusty mood because it will assure survival of the fittest of your plant until you may move it outdoors in the spring , after all danger of frost has passed . irrigate your container - grown lavender when the top of the land is ironical to the cutaneous senses , make certain the roots never sit down in stand water .
When should I harvest Spanish lavender for fresh flowers?
Because of its showy bract - topped salad days , Spanish lavender hit a endearing cut bloom . If you harvest the blooms when they are in former bud , they should last at least two week in a vase . If you want to dry the flowers , attach the cut stem into bunches and hang them upside down in a teetotal , well - give vent quad out of direct sunlight .
