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French lavender growing next to a garden path

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French Lavender , have it off officially asLavandula stoechas , is an evergreen herb bush with redolent properties .

It is also sometimes know under the names ‘ Spanish Lavender ’ or ‘ Butterfly Lavender ’ .

bright pink flowers and large purple heads of Lavandula stoechas

A shaggy-haired , downhearted - maintenance plant , it looks and sense beautiful – and can grow almost anywhere , which makes it incredibly popular amongst UK gardeners .

Despite being low - alimony , to get the most out of this stunning plant , we advocate following our peak below to ensure it is plant in the right areas and cared for in good order over time .

Overview

PreferredFull Sun

ExposureSheltered

Height0.5 – 1 chiliad

magnified view of French Lavender flowerhead

Spread0.5 – 1 MiB

Bloom TimeMay – September

PreferredChalk , Loam , Sand

French lavender flowering in summer-time

MoistureWell drain

pHAny

Lavender is usually used in perfumes , potpourris and essential oil .

Lavandula stoechas growing in a cottage garden with garden gate in the background

In the past it was also used to perfume baths and apparel , so it ’s clean to say that this is a smell most people will acknowledge .

The works itself will raise upright – ordinarily to no more than 1 thousand in acme .

The fragrance emanates from the cylindrical drumhead that point to discover brilliant purple flower , often referred to as its ‘ ear ’ .

meadow garden with various types of lavender and various other wildflowers

These elegant heyday are also the origin of the name ‘ Butterfly Lavender ’ .

The leave of the plant are long , pointed and bushy – resembling those of Rosemary .

French Lavender is say to be less audacious than its counterpart English Lavender ( see our comparison below ) and will in general last around five years .

There are ways in which to keep its lifespan through film editing , which we track in more contingent below .

Flowering season typically start in early May , with further flowering mid - summertime and in late summer or other autumn .

Interestingly , Gallic Lavender is actually considered a pot in many parts of Australia.1Worrying sens of Wamboin : top off Lavender ( Lavandula stoechas ) . ( n.d . ) . NSW Landcare Gateway . retrieve March 21 , 2023 , fromhttps://landcare.nsw.gov.au/groups/gearys-gap-wamboin-landcare-group/worrying-weeds-of-wamboin-topped-lavender-lavandula-stoechas/

How To Grow French Lavender

Because this is such a battle - hardy works , it can be grow nearly anywhere .

However , we do recommend grade it in an area that will avoid frost .

Temperatures of -7 ° C and below will likely pour down the plant , so it involve protection in uttermost wintertime consideration .

Lavender can be used in garden edging , on banks and slope , adjacent to walls and fencing , near pond and out-of-door water system characteristic – it reasonably much fits in anywhere .

It ’s recommended that it should be constitute in a location where it will receive maximum exposure to sun , but still be shelter from over - photo to wind and pelting .

Generally it will fare best in soil that is ironic and well - drained – the RHS recommend soil with chicken feed , Sand & Loam property for it to thrive.2Lavandula stoechas | French lavender . ( n.d . ) . Royal Horticultural Society . Retrieved March 21 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/24039/lavandula-stoechas/details

Good drainage and proper air circulation are essential if you ’re planting French Lavender in a warm , humid mood .

French Lavender Care

lacrimation is easy – as a Mediterranean plant , French lavender thrives in hot , dry condition and will rarely want watering .

You may need to give it a hand in the issue of a rut waving but otherwise , rainwater should answer .

As the plant fade out of bloom towards the end of summertime , you should look to remove the heads by cutting the stem below the played out flower , ideally just above the first healthy set of leaves .

This is jazz as ‘ deadheading ’ – not only will this keep the plant looking its best , but it will further fresh growth the following season .

In terms of pruning , there is one inwardness rule to follow :

Only ever cut back development that still take over leaves . You should never trim down into the wood of the plant ( or it wo n’t grow back ) and it ’s authoritative not to take too much away when cut .

apply secateurs when pruning as these will offer a good , clean stinger .

When pruning you should look at new shoot rather than old maturation – these are n’t going to respond well to pruning .

Cut roughly two - thirds of new ontogenesis back towards the honest-to-god Grant Wood – this will leave fresh shoot for the next season .

you’re able to use the flowers as a fragrance in potpourri and even stack away them in your wardrobes to enhance the smell of fresh laundry .

French Vs English Lavender

Whilst these lavender plants are related and highly alike , there are some pernicious difference between the two types that are worth noting .

The first and in all probability most authoritative difference is the smelling .

The distinctive Lavender smell that many have become wonted to is the scent of English Lavender .

The French plant produces a similar smell , but it has elusive hints of Rosemary too – worth deal if this is your principal reason for growing the works .

Gallic Lavender is much less commonly naturalize than English Lavender – and English Lavender is the character you ’re more likely to see in British gardens and containers .

English Lavender is audacious than the Gallic variety , which will shin to tolerate very harsh winter conditions .

French Lavender will in general originate taller than the English variety – reaching up to a meter magniloquent , virtually twice the tallness .

The bloom last much longer on the Gallic plant , with a blossom clock time that lasts all the way from the start of spring to the late summer .

“ I practice French lavender where the flowers are combined as part of a Mediterranean planting , ” says Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly .

“ This allows the efflorescence to compete with other summer flowering perennial and shrubs due to the great size and summit of the bloom .

“ Like other Mediterranean plants , they are susceptible to hard icing , but they assort well together . ”

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