My Lavender Garden

Lavender, is in full bloom and the epicenter of action in the garden this time of year. Did you know there are 47 species of lavender and 450 varieties? Visit Gardrningchores.com, to learn more about 20 Types of Lavender and How to Grow Them.

I grow four types of lavender in my garden:

1. Pinnata lavender for the hummingbirds;
2. Spanish lavender, woody and unruly, beloved by the bees;
3. French lavender, to pretend I’m in Provence;
4. English Munstead lavender, stays small and makes beautiful sachets.

Lavender grows best in poor rocky soils. I have excellent soil and plant my lavender in holes filled with lava rocks, soil and mulch to mimic lavender’s preferred growing conditions. 

Once established, lavender is quite a resilient plant that requires little care apart from a good prune now and then. However, lavender is quite a delicate when transplanted and can go into shock. Try no to disturb roots when transplanting from a pot to the ground. Furthermore, although lavender is drought tolerant you must water it quite frequently for a few weeks after transplanting or risk losing the plant while it works to establish roots. 

Pinnata Lavender

Also known as lace lavender, hummingbirds go crazy for this lavender I grow it around my garden’s birdbath in front of my kitchen window. I love watching the hummingbirds on my pinnata lavender throughout the day. 

Key Observations

• Less drought tolerant
• Does well in partial sun
• Hardy to 20’F
• No need to trim
• Height: 24”-36”
• Spread: 36”-48”
• Not very bushy 

Pinnata lavender does quite well in containers.

Spanish Lavender “Lavanda”

It seems as though our Spanish lavender is always full of bees 🐝. I love the bow like blooms at the top of this woody lavender. The lavender is bushy and stocky. It looks beautiful planted next to rose bushes. It is really drought tolerant.

French Lavander “Lavande” 

I love how dreamy the long elegant stems of French lavender look as they sway in the wind. It is drought tolerant and deer resistant. I went a little overboard planting it as a boarder in my garden a few years ago. My husband can’t stand it, as it does have a large spread, but he leaves it alone since the bees 🐝 flock to it. 

When I return to France 🇫🇷  I plan on walking through a lavender field in Provence. 

English Lavender “Munstead”

This petite lavender is what most people imagine when they think of lavender. English lavender is tidy and makes beautiful lavender bouquets, is perfect for tea, lavender cookies, lavender milk and lavender sachets. 

I hope you get to stop and smell the lavender, 

Laura