Imagine your garden suffused with a heady, soothing aroma, its hues of rich purples, blues, and pastels speckling the greenery. Lavender, the charming workhorse of the garden, is a perennial herb that’s as aesthetically pleasing as it is versatile. From its innumerable health benefits and culinary uses to its ability to add tranquil beauty to your home, this wonder plant deserves a place in every gardener’s heart.
Lavender, with its intoxicating scent and versatility, has become a staple for anyone who appreciates gardening, holistic health, or just a beautifully aromatic home. More than just a pretty purple plant, it’s a powerhouse when it comes to benefits and uses. If you’re a gardener or a natural health enthusiast with a hankering to cultivate lavender, you’re in for a treat with this plant in your garden. It’s quickly become one of my favorites in my garden! Read below and you’ll easily understand why!
Understanding Lavender at Its Roots
To grow lavender successfully, let’s understand the core of this plant. Lavender, known botanically as Lavandula, is a member of the mint family. Its characteristic fragrant flowers contain essential oils used in both herbal medicine and aromatherapy. Lavender is also popular in the kitchen, where its floral flavor takes center stage in a variety of dishes. The plant’s versatile nature and hardiness make it a beloved staple in many gardens.
Lavender is a Perennial Plant
Lavender’s perennial status means that, once established, it will return year after year, bringing with it a feast for the senses. With proper care, a lavender plant can potentially live for 10 – 15 years, providing you with a steady supply of blooms.
Lavender’s Lavish Benefits Reviewed
Before you get your hands ‘dirty,’ it’s essential to understand why lavender is such a garden gem. Lavender’s list of benefits isn’t just a pleasant figure of speech – it’s backed by science and centuries of anecdotal evidence. From warding off pesky insects to providing a calming effect, here’s why lavender is the crème de la crème of garden herbs.
Lavender as a Natural Healer
Lavender isn’t just a beautiful flowering plant; it’s a natural powerhouse that has been used for its healing properties for centuries.
The health benefits of lavender are extensive. Lavender has been used for centuries to aid in calming the nervous system, reducing anxiety, and enhancing sleep. It’s also employed as a natural remedy for headaches, minor burns, and skin issues. Its antibacterial and antifungal properties make it an efficient and gentle cleanser and deodorizer. The scent of lavender can reduce anxiety and emotional stress and promote a sense of well-being.
Lavender for Culinary Creativity
Lavender’s uses extend beyond the garden and the medicine cabinet to the kitchen. The delicate flowers of the lavender plant can add a fragrant, floral note to an array of dishes, from baked goods to savory stews and teas.
In the kitchen, lavender’s floral notes add a subtle twist to your culinary creations. From baking to cocktails, it’s a great addition to a variety of dishes. Lavender’s delicate flavor can liven up anything from desserts to savory dishes, but a little goes a long way.
When using lavender in cooking, a light touch goes a long way. Too much can make a dish taste like soap, so use it sparingly to layer in subtle flavor. Lavender pairs wonderfully with honey, lemon, and herbs like thyme and rosemary. Try it in shortbread, tea, lemonade, or a sprinkle atop your favorite roasted vegetables for an unexpected, delightful twist.
Here’s some culinary inspiration from Little Lavender Farm in Newberg, Oregon. They share some great drink, side dish, and main dish recipes using culinary lavender. If you are visiting Willamette Valley wine country, I highly recommend stopping by this lavender farm! It was such a fun experience.
Lavender for Pest Control
Many insects dislike the powerful aroma of lavender, making it a perfect companion plant in your garden to help repel pests naturally. Tuck a few plants in with your vegetables or flowers to discourage visiting critters like moths, fleas, flies, and mosquitoes.
In addition to assisting with pest control, lavender is a wonderful option for attracting bees, butterflies, and other important pollinators.
Learn how gardeners can help pollinators and why they are so important – The Buzz About Pollinators: How Gardeners Can Make a Difference.
Aromatic Uses
The most well-known use of lavender is in its aromatic form. Whether you opt for pure essential oils, sachets, potpourri, or simply the fresh blooms in a vase, lavender’s scent can freshen up any space. It’s a popular choice to ward off musty smells in cupboards, closets, and linens.
Home Cleaning and Craft
For those looking to steer clear of harsh chemicals in home cleaning, lavender can be your best ally. Create your own all-purpose cleaner or make a lavender-infused vinegar for a natural, pleasant-smelling solution. Its antiseptic properties also make it a handy addition to first-aid kits.
If you’re feeling creative, dried lavender can be incorporated into a range of crafts, from sachets and potpourri to wreaths and soaps, bringing a touch of natural beauty and fragrance to your home.
Lavender in Beauty Products
Lavender’s anti-inflammatory properties make it a popular addition to many skincare products, such as creams, lotions, and balms. It’s thought to help promote healing and soothe skin irritations.
Cultivating Lavender – From the Beginning
For those starting from scratch, cultivating lavender is a fulfilling yet straightforward process. You can choose to grow lavender from seed, which may require a bit more patience, or via seedlings from a nursery for a quicker start. Here’s how to get your lavender growing.
Best Time of Year to Plant Lavender
The best time to plant lavender depends largely on your region’s climate. In general, it’s ideal to plant lavender in the spring after the last frost, but you may also have success planting in the fall in areas with mild winters. Living in Florida, my growing season is
Growing Lavender from Seed
Growing lavender from seed enables you to select from the broad range of lavender varieties available. Start your seeds indoors about 8-10 weeks before the last expected frost. Lavender seeds need light to germinate, so simply press them lightly into the soil without covering them. Keep the soil moist, and provide bottom heat if possible to encourage germination.
Purchasing from a Nursery
Purchasing lavender seedlings from a nursery is an excellent way to ensure a good start for your plants, particularly if you’re new to gardening. Select healthy-looking plants with good root systems, and gently tease out the roots before planting to encourage outward growth. One thing to note – check the lavender variety is well suited for your area! In Florida, many varieties don’t do well in our humid climate.
The Proper Environment for Lavender
Lavender is a plant that thrives when the conditions are just right. Understanding its preferred environment is crucial for success.
Soil and Sun Requirements
Lavender adores full sun, soaking in a minimum of 6-8 hours a day. It needs well-draining soil to avoid root rot, so consider adding sand or gravel to your planting area if the soil is heavy. A slightly alkaline soil pH between 6.7 and 7.3 is perfect for lavenders’ health. I grow my lavender in pots and containers to control the soil easier.
Watering Lavender
Lavender is drought-tolerant once established, and overwatering is its enemy. Water your lavender deeply but infrequently, allowing the soil to dry out between watering sessions. Growing in pots allows me to easily relocate in times of wetter weather here in Florida to help combat the potential overwatering issue.
Lavender Plant Care
Caring for your lavender ensures a bountiful, beautiful display year after year.
Pruning Lavender
To maintain the shape of your lavender and to encourage bushier growth and more blooms, prune your plants annually. After the first year of growth, cut back about one-third of the plant in the spring, just as new green growth begins.
Fertilizing Lavender
Lavender doesn’t require much fertilizer; in fact, too much can lead to a decrease in oil production and a leggy, unattractive plant. A light application of a balanced fertilizer in the spring is sufficient.
Controlling Pests and Diseases
Lavender is relatively pest and disease resistant, but it can occasionally fall victim to root rot, especially if it’s overwatered. Avoid this by providing well-draining soil and not overwatering your plants. Keep an eye out for aphids, which can be sprayed off with a strong jet of water, or controlled with insecticidal soap if the problem is more severe.
Harvesting and Storing Lavender
Knowing when and how to harvest and store your lavender is the key to preserving its beauty and usefulness.
Harvesting Lavender
Harvest lavender in the morning after the dew has dried but before the full heat of the day sets in. Cut the flower stems just above the leaves, leaving a small portion to encourage regrowth.
Drying and Storing Lavender
Fresh lavender will last a few weeks if stored property. Wrap fresh sprigs in a damp paper towel, place in a resealable plastic storage bag, and keep in the fridge.
To dry lavender, hang small bunches upside down in a cool, dry location with good air circulation. Once dry, remove the flowers from the stems and store them in an airtight container away from light and heat. Your dried lavender will maintain its potency for up to a year.
The Satisfying End to Your Lavender Journey
No matter the scale or the scope, growing lavender is a rewarding endeavor, filled with the promise of sweet scents and a rainbow of blooms. Remember, the key to success with lavender is not just in the initial planting but in the ongoing care and the eventual harvest.
With a bit of patience and a whole lot of love, you can watch your tiny seedling flourish into a fragrant, resilient plant—one that will infuse your days with the tranquility and beauty of nature’s own essential oil.
Is lavender in your garden? What’s your favorite way to incorporate lavender? Leave a comment and share your favorite recipe or way you use lavender!
