Lavenders offer beauty and fragrance
We may have to travel to the south of France to gaze upon fields of lavender, but we can all grow lavender in our own northern Illinois gardens. They offer beautiful flowers, romantic fragrance for potpourri and a shrubby presence in the garden.
Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) is native to the Mediterranean but commonly called English lavender for its eminent role in formal English gardens. Once established, it is a tough, drought-tolerant perennial ideal for rock gardens, herb gardens or perennial borders.
Depending on the variety, lavenders grow from 1 to 3 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. Their silvery foliage is a beautiful backdrop for their spikes of lavender, purple, pink or white flowers.
Plant lavenders in full sun in very well-drained soil amended with lots of compost. Plants will not survive in wet soils. Yellowing foliage is an indication of poor drainage.
Plants are very drought tolerant once established, but will need regular watering their first season in the garden.
Lavenders require little fertilizer. Bone meal sprinkled around plants in the fall gives roots a boost before winter. Side dress with compost or apply an all-purpose fertilizer as new growth begins in spring.
Proper pruning of lavenders is essential. Lightly prune to shape plants, encourage branching, and remove dead stems as they begin to grow in spring. Deadhead spent blooms to promote continuing flowering. Do not prune after late summer and do not cut plants back before winter.
After the ground freezes in winter, cover plants with a layer of loose mulch or evergreen boughs to reduce damage from drying winter winds.
Lavenders are beautiful used as edging or planted in groupings in perennial borders. Their silvery foliage complements the foliage and flowers of neighbors like black-eyed Susans, geraniums, lamb's ears, sedums or Shasta daisies.
Offering summerlong bloom, lavenders are ideal candidates for containers. Be sure to choose a pot with drainage holes, use a very light potting mix and site the container in full sun. Combine it with other plants with similar cultural requirements like lantanas, euphorbias and succulents.
Independent garden centers carry a wide selection of lavenders. These are just a few to consider.
Big Time Blue has very large purple spikes of flowers and blooms earlier than other English lavenders. It grows up to 15 inches tall and wide. Big Time Blue is an ideal choice for growing in containers.
Blue Cushion is similar in size, but the foliage stays a bit more compact. Deep blue flowers fade to light blue creating a lovely two-toned effect.
French Perfume is grown for its intensely fragrant deep purple blooms. Silver Mist is chosen for its extremely silvery foliage.
Hidcote and Munstead are two of the most popular and hardiest varieties. Hidcote sports deep purple flowers; Munstead boasts lavender-blue flowers.
Phenomenal is aptly named. Phenomenal in both size and performance, it grows more than 2 feet tall and wide. Long stems of purple flower spikes are elegantly presented from June to September. It also displays exceptional winter hardiness.
• Diana Stoll is a horticulturist and the garden center manager at The Planter's Palette, 28W571 Roosevelt Road, Winfield. Call (630) 293-1040, Ext. 2, or visit planterspalette.com.