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‘hidcote’ lavender is a popular cultivar of english lavender
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English lavender ( Lavandula angustifolia ) is a myopic bush with spikes of purple flower that typically bloom in other - mid summer . English lavender is native to the Mediterranean but is more cold - stout than other pop type of lavender . It is cognize for being the finest character of lavender for scent and culinary applications . English lavender command annual pruning in the garden , but this work tends to be worth it for the beautiful flowers .
English lavender basics
English lavender ( Lavandula angustifolia ) is a flowering subshrub aboriginal to the Mediterranean . English lavender is known for its sweet floral scent , culinary suitableness , and high - quality lavender oil colour . Other vulgar public figure for English lavender(Lavandula angustifolia ) include coarse lavender , garden lavender , Bulgarian lavender , narrow - leaved lavender , and hunky-dory lavender .
“ The flowers do not get as much oil as other type , but the caliber is far higher-ranking . The bright blue flowers and bud are dried for their ornamental uses , and the fragrant oil has many uses in the kitchen and beyond . ”
English lavender plants are generally quite hardy in the garden . They flourish in well - drained stain and full sun planting locations . English lavender run to grow best in climates with loaded wintertime and wry , blistering summer . The flora have greyish - gullible foliage and bloom in former - mid summer ( typically June or July ) over a period of about 3 - 4 weeks .
Lavender is a desirable plant for both cosmetic flower garden and for herbaceous plant garden . English lavender can also be grown indoors as alavender tree topiary(although these plants are harder to find than Spanish lavender in tree form ) .
English lavender vs. French lavender
English lavender(Lavandula angustifolia ) is a unlike coinage of lavender thanFrench lavender(Lavandula dentata).That said , bothEnglish lavender(Lavandula angustifolia ) andFrench lavender(Lavandula dentata ) are aboriginal to France . English lavender(Lavandula angustifolia ) is native to gamy - altitude areas in the South of France , as well as parts of Spain and Italy .
English lavender is not native to England . It is thought thatLavandula angustifoliawas potentially introduced to England by the Romans . While English lavender is not native to England , it is much more cold - hardy than other type of lavender ( such as French lavender ) and is generally substantially suited to the cooler British climate .
English lavender(Lavandula angustifolia)is extensively cultivated in the Mediterranean , including in the famed lavender fields of Provence , France . English lavender tends to be high more extremely odoriferous than Gallic lavender and is opt for culinary applications , scents / perfumes , and lavender essential oil . Authentic French lavender honey is create by bees feeding onLavandula angustifolia(English Lavender ) and its hybrids .
“ Portuguese lavender dear are get from the nectar ofLavandula stoechas , whereas Gallic lavender honeys are entirely derive fromLavandula angustifolia , Lavandula latifolia , or hybrids of these two specie . ”
English lavender varieties
There are many first-class variety ( cultivars ) of English lavender available . Here are some of themost pop varieties of English lavenderto grow in your garden :
English lavender plant care
English lavender is a Mediterranean suffrutex that thrive in sunny fix with well - drained soil . These plant life are broad of different soil types and lean to grow practiced where winters are wet , but summer are relatively dry . English lavender is often planted inborder gardensalong with unfolding perennial or along pathways . Most variety of English lavender maturate good in Zones 5 - 9 .
“ The two basic requirements for successful lavender farm are full sunlight and ripe drainage . ”
Sunlight requirements for English lavender
English lavender should be produce in a full - Sunday location where the parting welcome at least 6 - 8 hours of sun per day . Lavender does not flourish in shady areas and requires lot of sun to produce the mass of scented peak that English lavender is illustrious for .
Garden soil for English lavender
Lavender grows best in light , well - drained dirt . This includes sandy loam or gritty soil that drains excess water easy . Lavender works can typically only withstand ponded water for short periods of metre , and do not wish to have “ wet foot ” . Lavender plant are tolerant of a reach of soil sour value but incline to grow best in electroneutral or slightly alkaline soils .
In garden with Lucius DuBignon Clay soil , lavender can be originate on raised mound of improved grunge that allow piss to debilitate out freely . Raised mounds for lavender atop clay - found grease can be improved with constitutive compost and a minute of garden lime ( to raise soil pH ) .
Watering English lavender
English lavender plants can become quite drought - tolerant when established but require frequent watering when unseasoned . fresh - planted lavender should be watered consistently with drip irrigation or by hand for the first several years . Watering often is most authoritative for the first 4 - 6 weeks after transplantation .
Consistent lachrymation of new English lavender plants help the etymon become established in the surrounding soil . An extensive stem system helps the plant hold up wry summertime conditions and produce more efflorescence . void command processing overhead watering where possible .
“ The extremely fragrant banker’s bill produce by the linalool / linalyl acetate content in oil can be greatly reduce in industrial plant suffering from water stress . ”
Take care to observe whether the land is draining well . Taking care of lavender plants grow in poorly - drained soil can be frustrating , as any water added could potentially pool and lead to “ tight foot ” that can harm lavender flora . Too much water ( especially overhead watering ) can lead to sprawl plant that are susceptible to disease .
Climate requirements for growing English lavender
English lavender can be grown in climate hardiness zones 5 - 9.English lavender tends to be much more cold - hardy than other popular types like French lavender and Spanish lavender .
Lavender also requires dry growing season to thrive . The plants grow well in areas with wet winters and dry summers . English lavender produce by nature in high-pitched - altitude mountainous areas of France ( like the Pyrenees ) , where summer humidity is scummy and filth is dry .
“ Lavandula angustifoliaandL. x intermediacultivars are fairly tolerant of cold temperatures , winds , rain and snow provide they have serious drain . ”
Fertilizing English lavender plants
English lavender plant do demand summate nutrient in situations where the stain is poor . begin by hold a 1″ thick layer of homemade compost as an constitutive mulch over the surface of the soil . The mulch acts to keep weeds down and keep stain temperatures and moisture levels more consistent while also providing a dull release of naturally source works nutrients .
There are also some excellent commercially available fertiliser production that can promote useable nutrients for English lavender plant . Most are dumb - release organic products give voice for long - live flowering flora .
Garden fluxing lime is another very vernacular soil amendment for English lavender . These works are native to limestone - derive soils and are quite lime - loving . While lavenders generally are passably tolerant of acid soil , English lavender is less so and often profit from applying garden lime . Garden lime can be worked into the ground before planting or applied in the spring or autumn .
Pruning English lavender
English lavender plant are generally pruned quite hard to keep the plants growing smartly in a nice compact shape . Young English lavender plants are typically snip in the plant life nursery and should be pruned hard each year for the length of their lifespan .
English lavender plant can be clip after flowering and/or in early autumn prior to wintry weather . English lavender plants grown together as a low conventional hedging are sometimes also pruned along the sides in the spring , specially if planted along a pathway .
To prune English lavender after flowering or in early fall , cut the entire plant back by 1/3 to 1/2 of its size . For representative , if most staunch with leaves are about a foot long , they can be cut back to 6″-8″ long each . take out any base that are dead , dying , morbid , or damaged . These stem turn can be transfer mightily down to the base of the plant .
English lavender plants that have not been dress hard annually incline to develop woody nub that are hard to shape in next years . Gardeners who favor blue - maintenance plant life may consider institute French lavender instead of English lavender , as French lavender require much less pruning .
Propagating English lavender
English lavender is diffuse by accept cuttings off a mother plant and rooting them to create clone plants . Short bit of stem turn are placed in a moist originate medium until they originate roots .
In the outpouring , trim softwood cuttings about 3″-4″ long off an established plant life for propagation . Remove leaves off the bottom one-half of the fore and dip the stem in rooting hormone . situation in spare - draining , moist growing metier . Softwood or semi - hardwood cuttings can also be taken in the fall and rooted indoors or in a cold bod over wintertime . Observe cut on a regular basis for sign of new growth .
English lavender can also be produce from lilac come . lilac-colored seed can be tricky to germinate , and buy healthy clone plants from a local nursery is in the main leisurely . ejaculate - spring up English lavender is also quite varying in terms of the resulting plant ’ size , chassis , and flowering manakin .
Harvesting English lavender
English lavender flowers are reap for economic consumption in essential rock oil product , cooking , potpourri sachets , perfume , and other utile applications programme for the beautiful scent . Lavender is usually harvested in the morning once the dew has dried but before the temperature becomes too red-hot .
When whole spikes are to be dried , the lavender is in general glean in other summertime when only the first two flowers have bloom . The bulk of the blossom that have not yet open will dry out on the ear , leading to a beautiful spire of dry , fragrant flowers . Lavender harvested as the first flowers are opening can also be used in fresh flowered sweetness and arrangements .
Lavender harvested with a significant identification number of efflorescence open can be used for lilac sachets or potpourri . It tends to fall off the stem but is just as adorable in terms of fragrance .
Common plant diseases affecting English lavender
While English lavender plants are generally quite hardy , there are several fungal , bacterial , and viral diseases that can involve them . Disease is most common in showery , humid climates .
Fungal diseases can occur in English Lavender plant originate in field with gamey rain and/or frequent overhead watering . Root rot typically takes place when the dirt does not drain supererogatory water . Take charge to ensure soil is draining well and that air is broadcast around the nucleotide of the plant .
Common garden pests affecting English lavender
Garden pests such as aphids sometimes attack English lavender plants . These microbe can generally be sprayed off the flora with a knifelike stream of water but may require an organic nebulizer once the pestilence have become plant on the plant(s ) .
Mammals rarely assail English lavender due to its strong aroma . Deer generally avoid lavender whole , specially if the plant has flowers on it . Rabbits and other small burrowing mammals may attack young plant . rabbit tend to dig around the roots rather than eat the foliage or bloom .
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