A general description of the lavender plant, the secrets of care and planting in the open field, how to properly reproduce, protect against pests and diseases, interesting notes, species and varieties.
Lavender (Lavandula) is referred by botanists to the Lamiaceae family, which has two synonymous names in Latin - Lamiaceae or Labiatae. According to various sources, the genus includes about 25 to 50 different species that grow naturally in the southern regions of Europe, India and Arabia. Such plants are not uncommon in the northern and eastern regions of the African continent and in Australia. If we talk about the cultural forms of lavender, then gardeners are engaged in their cultivation almost all over the world, mainly using only two types of them - broad-leaved lavender (French - Lavanluda latifolia) and narrow-leaved lavender (English - Lavandula angustifolia), which we will talk about in the following sections of the article. To date, there are several bred hybrid forms.
| Family name | Lamiaceae |
| Natural growth cycle | Perennial |
| Growth form | Shrub or semi-shrub |
| Breeding method | Seed or vegetative (dividing a bush, rooting cuttings or cuttings) |
| Time to transplant to a flower bed | End of May or beginning of June |
| Landing rules | The distance between seedlings is at least 30 cm |
| Priming | Dry, well-drained, sandy or loamy |
| Indicators of soil acidity, pH | Neutral soil (6, 5-7) |
| Lighting level | Open sunny location |
| Recommended humidity | Abundant and regular, during dry seasons frequent |
| Special Requirements | Drought tolerant |
| Plant height values | 0.6-1 m |
| Inflorescences or type of flowers | Spicate |
| Flower color | Blue or blue-lilac |
| Flowering period | Second half of summer |
| Decorative time | Spring-summer |
| Application in landscape design | Rockeries and alpine slides, border decoration |
| USDA zone | 4 and more |
There are versions that the scientific name in Latin "lavandula" the plant bears thanks to the word "lava", which translates as "wash". This is due to the fact that in ancient Rome it was customary to take baths with lavender, as it had wonderful aromas and gave a feeling of freshness. You can hear how lavender is called "butterfly" because of the characteristic outlines of flowers, and in Egypt, the nickname "Indian stripes" is found.
On our territory, only in the northern regions of Russia, lavender can be subjected to freezing, in this case the plant is grown as an annual by sowing seeds.
All types of lavender are perennials with shrub growth. The root has a fibrous outline, woody and can go deep into the soil up to two meters. There are a lot of shoots in the bush, in the lower part of the bush they usually become lignified. The height to which they are able to stretch reaches 0, 6–1 m. All stems are covered with oppositely grown leaf plates. Leaves are devoid of petioles (sessile), characterized by a linear shape and silvery-greenish color. At the same time, soft pubescence is present on the surface of the leaf.
When flowering, which occurs in the first or second half of summer, lavender blooms flowers that have a blue or blue-lilac hue. From them, inflorescences are collected, taking the shape of spikelets, the buds of which are arranged whorled, 6-10 pieces in each. The inflorescences usually crown the tops of the leafless stems.
Lavender is considered an excellent honey plant. Seeds that ripen after pollination of flowers by insects (if storage conditions are not violated) can remain viable for many years. The color of the seeds is dark - from grayish to black, the surface is glossy, the size is small. The shape of the seeds of the "butterfly" is oval.
It is best to plant in a subtropical climate zone, but with a little effort, you can get fragrant summer plantings of "Indian stripes" in your garden, following the recommendations below.
Outdoor Secrets of Lavender Care and Planting
- Landing place it is required to choose in accordance with the thermophilicity of the plant. Not every climatic zone is suitable for the cultivation of this perennial. If the area in which lavender is grown does not differ in mild winters, then it is better to plant the bushes in garden pots, and when a cold snap comes, quickly move them to rooms. For this, you can use any varieties and varieties of lavender. For open ground, it is generally customary for us to grow only the two above-mentioned species, since they most persistently endure winters in the middle lane. Since the bushes of "butterflies" love light, they should be planted in the southern location, since they cannot grow in shade. Some gardeners place lavender bushes in the sun itself. The main thing is that the groundwater is far from the location of the "Indian stripes" and the water does not stagnate in the soil after the spring thaw or precipitation. If there is no way out, and such a place cannot be found, then you can build a hill - a small mound or use a drainage layer laid in the hole when planting.
- Primer for planting lavender. This shrub is completely unassuming and can thrive on the poorest substrate. However, it is best to choose a light and loose soil for it, experts advise using sandy loam, light loamy or lime soil mixture. If the soil is too nutritious or acidic, then it is recommended to add lime and a little wood ash to it before planting. To make the soil loose, it is mixed with river sand and compost.
- Planting lavender. Since plants tend to grow, it is recommended to maintain at least 30 cm between the seedlings, and it is best to leave as much space as the height of the bush will be in the future. If you plan to build a green fence of slender lavender bushes, then this figure is halved - this will ensure the solidity of future plantings. Planting lavender must be done with care, since this operation is difficult for the plant. It is recommended not to destroy the earthen lump surrounding the root system, it should be larger. After planting, the trunk circle is mulched - such a layer will serve as protection against the rapid drying of the soil and the growth of weeds.
- Watering. The plant is characterized by high drought resistance and natural precipitation is enough for it. It is important to remember that a waterlogged substrate will lead to the death of the shrub.
- Fertilizers for lavender must be applied to support the growth and flowering of the shrub. For this, it is recommended to add complete mineral complexes, for example, Kemiru-Universal. They should only be used when flowering is in progress. It is necessary to dissolve 2 tbsp. l. preparation in a bucket of water intended for irrigation. Moisten the soil with such a mixture around the perimeter of lavender plantings. To activate the development of deciduous mass, it is necessary to use nitrogen fertilizers at the very beginning of the growing season. They are used in the same amount as complex drugs. In the second half of summer, it is better not to use such means, since nitrogen will contribute to the extension of the growing season and then the lavender will not have time to prepare for the winter months …Mulch, decomposing throughout the growing season, will become a source of nutrients for the plant.
- Wintering lavender. This representative of the flora can perfectly survive the winter months not only in the European part of the CIS, even Norwegian gardeners are successfully cultivating it. If the planting site is dry (for example, a slope), then winter is not terrible for lavender, but when the flower bed is located in a lowland where water accumulates due to thaws, in this case the plant may die. It is damping-off that becomes the main problem when keeping lavender outdoors in winter, and not frost at all. A series of thaws and frosty days negatively affects the bushes, and excess moisture in spring will also be destructive. When lavender is cultivated in the 4–5 USDA zone, it is recommended to mulch the root area using loose peat crumbs or dry fallen leaves (leaf humus).
- Pruning lavender. Shrub shoots must be cut at the height of the flowering process to collect fragrant flowers. The inflorescences need to be cut off, capturing part of the stems, while forming the outline of a ball at the bush. With the arrival of spring, the tops of the shoots are cut off. The pruning operation is used to rejuvenate lavender plants. The stems should not be cut very low, if you cut off the shoots to their lignified part, then the whole bush may die. Lavender can do without pruning, but then its bush takes on a ragged shape and loses its decorative effect.
- General advice on care. Dense soil is not suitable for lavender, therefore, after each watering or precipitation, it must be loosened so that it is not taken by a crust. It is recommended to regularly weed lavender bushes from weeds.
- The use of lavender in landscape design. Since the plant has exquisite outlines and a refined pleasant aroma, "Indian stripes" have long been loved by flower growers and are used to fill space in rock gardens and rockeries, as well as decorate borders and mixborders.
Read also about planting and caring for auga outdoors.
How to properly reproduce lavender?
To get new lavender plants, you can sow seeds, root cuttings or cuttings, or divide an overgrown bush.
- Propagation of lavender by cuttings. It is best to root cuttings in late May or early summer. The workpieces cut from the shoots take root pretty soon. The length of the branches should be 8–10 cm. The cut shoots are buried into the ground only a few centimeters and a plastic bottle with a cut bottom is placed on top or covered with plastic wrap. During the rooting process, it is important to keep the substrate in a moderately moist state. After the cuttings of lavender take root, the seedlings are transferred to a permanent place of growth.
- Reproduction of lavender by layering. This is how the branches of the bush intended for rooting are called. Springtime is the best period for such an operation. It is recommended to select healthy and sufficiently developed shoots at the bottom of the mother plant and bend them to the soil surface. In the place of their contact with the ground, the shoots should be pinned or fixed with a stiff wire and sprinkled with a layer of substrate. Care for layering should be the same as for an adult lavender bush. When a lump of root shoots is formed near the cutter (and usually this happens next spring), the shoot is carefully separated from the adult lavender bush using a sharpened knife. Places of cuts for disinfection are sprinkled with a powder of activated or charcoal. A young plant is quickly transplanted to a prepared place in the garden.
- Reproduction of lavender by division. With the arrival of spring, the old lavender bush must be piled up, this will guarantee its growth over the summer months. With the arrival of autumn, it is carefully dug out with the help of a garden pitchfork, the remnants of soil are shaken off the root system and with a sharp knife they are divided into parts. Then the delenki are immediately planted in a prepared place on a flower bed, so that the plants will adapt and take root before frost.
- Seed propagation of lavender. This method of reproduction is the most difficult, as it requires stratification of the seed - keeping it for several months at a temperature of 4–5 degrees Celsius. For this process, the seeds are mixed with a small amount of river sand, which is poured into a small plastic container. The container is closed with a lid or wrapped in plastic wrap and placed on the last shelf of the refrigerator. There, the seed material spends at least one and a half months or more (35–40 days). With the arrival of February, the seeds are taken out and sown in seedling boxes filled with a peat-sand mixture. Then the containers are covered with plastic wrap or a piece of glass is placed on top to provide greenhouse conditions. In another case, in early spring, seeds are sown in a greenhouse on the street. The seed sowing depth should be 3 mm as they are very shallow. Seedling boxes with crops should be in a well-lit place with heat indicators in the range of 15-21 degrees. Only when the threat of return frosts has passed (late May, early June) can the seedlings be transplanted to a prepared place in the garden. Flowering in lavender seedlings can only be expected after a year. The first growing season will be characterized by the development and growth of the root system in young plants. And only after another year it will be possible to enjoy the opened flowers. You do not have to bother with stratification and sow seeds directly into the ground in the autumn months (approximately in October), then the stratification will turn out to be natural and with the arrival of spring lavender seedlings will appear. However, this method is only suitable for southern regions with warm and mild winters, since when the temperature drops significantly, the sown seeds can die.
See also breeding rules for lemon balm.
Protecting lavender from pests and diseases
When growing "Indian stripes" it is important not to violate the rules of agricultural technology, as it can be affected by fungal diseases. This usually occurs when the soil is waterlogged and warm weather. Of the diseases that lavender suffers from, there are:
- Gray rot (Botrytis cinerea). Usually, the disease is detected at the flowering stage, when not too noticeable spots of brown color appear on the leaves, stamens and petals of flowers, which grow over time. The foliage then falls off and this leads to the death of the plant. At the first signs of the disease, it is possible to carry out treatment with fungicides (Teldor, Skor or Gamair). But if the disease has gone far, it is recommended to dig up the bush and burn it so that the disease is not transferred to other garden plantings.
- Phoma stems, which is caused by the fungus Phoma lavandula Gabotto. In this case, the entire aerial part of the lavender bush (mainly shoots) turns yellow, and then begins to dry out. Their color becomes grayish or gray-brown. The surface of the shoots cracks and curls, on the dried branches you can find a large number of black specks called pycnidia. Drops of moisture on the stems of lavender usually contribute to the disease. If the degree of damage is large, then such bushes die in 2-3 years.
Important
Pycnids can persist on the remains of the plant and its shoots, so it is recommended to burn everything immediately.
Of the pests that can destroy lavender bushes, there are:
- Pennitsa (Philaenus spumarius), laying its eggs, from which the larvae hatch, on the shoots of the plant. To protect the larvae, the pest covers them with a layer of substance that resembles a foam. The general appearance of the plant deteriorates, although such pests do not cause much damage. It is recommended to wash off such foamy formations with a water jet from a garden hose.
- Rainbow beetle (Chrysolina americana) which must be collected manually and then destroyed.
Another natural problem is thyme dodder (Cuscuta epithymum Murr.), which is the highest representative of flowering plants that act as a parasite. With its refined shoots, reaching 1 mm, with a reddish or yellow color scheme, it wraps around the shoots of the victim plant. Dodder shoots are bare, leafless, with a smooth surface, branched, form a large number of pale pink flowers of small sizes, crowning shortened pedicels.
Dense capitate inflorescences of them have 8-12 buds. In places where dodder shoots touch the lavender stems, guastoria begin to form, which germinate into the inner tissues of the shoots. With the help of such "heels", the dodder begins to suck out nutrients and moisture from the plant, which leads to the death of the "butterfly". The source of infection can be the seeds of a parasite plant, which do not lose their germination for 10 years. They remain in soil for only three years.
Interesting notes on lavender and its uses
There is a strong belief among people that lavender is used exclusively in the perfumery industry because of its aroma, but this is not the case. Herbalists have many recipes for teas, which include "butterfly" flowers.
If we talk about when it became known to mankind about the properties of lavender, then these references go back to the times of Ancient Egypt - the data were taken from frescoes that date back to that period. Fragrant flowers were used to fumigate not only temples, but also the dwellings of the palace elite. Also, lavender oil was part of the substance with which the dead were embalmed. In ancient Rome, the plant was actively used in bath procedures, with water to which lavender oil was added, it was customary to carry out ablutions. If there were patients with infectious diseases in the house, then the doctors recommended carrying out lavender fumigation of all rooms.
The first who appreciated ablutions with lavender water were the ancient sorcerers. They noticed that such procedures helped to calm down, relax the body and, in general, set the person up in a peaceful mood. If it was necessary to get rid of insomnia, then it was prescribed to take a bath with lavender. Such ablutions helped to calm the patient, who was in constant nervous tension and exhaustion on the nervous basis to the limit. Such preparations did not take much work, since it was necessary to pour a handful of dried flowers with a glass of boiling water and leave for a couple of hours, and then strain. This broth was poured into a bathroom filled with water.
According to legend, such ablutions helped those people who did not know that they had fallen under the influence of someone else's anger or envious glances - lavender removed any deliberately or unintentionally induced negative. At the same time, the restoration of the energy shell of a person took place.
Lavender was also used for medicinal purposes, for example, it was able not only to put the nervous system in order, but also to calm headaches, normalize blood pressure and acidity of the gastrointestinal tract, and increased appetite. Lavender oil could be dripped onto the corner of a handkerchief to make it work.
The spice "lavender salt" is very popular in cooking, as it has a spicy aroma with a slight bitterness and astringency. This seasoning was used by culinary experts in the preparation of dishes from meat and vegetables. This tool was prepared from 1 tsp. dried lavender flowers, rubbed in a mortar with a half cup of sea salt.
Types of lavender and varieties
Narrow-leaved lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
can also be found under synonymous names Lavender is real, Spike lavender, Spikelet lavender or Spike lavender or English lavender … The natural area of distribution of the plant covers the coastal lands of the Mediterranean in France and Spain, it was also naturalized in almost all European territories, in the North African regions and on the North American continent. In its natural form in Russia, it can be found on the Black Sea coast in the Caucasus.
It is represented by an evergreen dwarf shrub that looks greyish with a fluffy cover. The height of the shoots is in the range of 30-60 cm, but occasionally some specimens reach a meter in size. The plant is characterized by a strong aroma.
The root is presented in the form of a rod, woody, its upper part has branching. In the lower part of the shrub, ligneous branches with multiple lateral branches. Shoots grow uplifting, carrying a large number of young stems. The stems, on which the inflorescences will form, have a tetrahedral surface, while the internode is elongated in the upper part.
Leaf plates grow in opposite order, without petioles, their shape is oblong-linear. Leaves have an edge wrapped on the opposite side. The length of the leaf can vary from 2 to 6 cm. The color of the foliage is green or grayish-green, in the latter case it contributes to pubescence.
During flowering, which lasts from June-July, inflorescences of spike-shaped outlines are formed, made up of false whorls of flowers, crowning straight non-leafy peduncles. The corolla in a flower is characterized by the presence of two lips, its length does not exceed 1 cm. The color of flowers is usually bluish-violet, but there are specimens with pink, whitish and lilac color, flowers also have pubescence. After pollination, the fruits ripen, which are represented by four nuts included in the calyx remaining from the flower.
The winter hardiness of this species begins with the 4th USDA zone, but at the same time, shelter will be needed for the winter period. The plant is of value to both the perfumery and pharmaceutical industries. The most famous varieties are recognized:
- Alba with snow-white inflorescences;
- Rosea with pink shades of flowers;
- Hidcote and Imperial Gem flowers that have a dark purple tone;
- Beechwood Blue and Munstead with beautiful inflorescences of lilac-blue color;
- Little lottie - the plant is characterized by small growth, its shoots do not exceed 30 cm, the color of the inflorescences is pale pinkish;
- Nana alba - dwarf variety with stems reaching 0.3 m and snow-white flowers;
- Melissa lilac differs in the large sizes of flowers of a lilac shade.
Broad-leaved lavender (Lavanluda latifolia)
or Stekhad lavender, Lavandula stoechas, Lavandula spica can also occur under the name French lavender and is characterized by a strong aroma. However, it is not as strong as the English variety and its hybrid forms and varieties. The peduncle of this species has not one, but three inflorescences. The native habitat is in the southwestern regions of Europe. Especially beautiful flowers can take on a variety of shades, which include burgundy and greenish, snow-white, purple, lilac and pink colors. Flowering occurs between April and May and can stretch until mid-summer, but occasionally August can be marked by a second wave of flowering. Winter hardiness of this species is lower, only 6-7 USDA-zone. The most famous varieties are:
- Lavandula spica pedunculata. It is this species that is usually called the "butterfly" (Papillon), since the outlines of its flowers are very reminiscent of this insect. The flowers are crowned with long peduncles and are formed by a large oval head ending in elongated bracts.
- Willow vale the leaves have a greenish-yellow color, and the flowers are dark purple with a raspberry color bracts.
- Regal splendour characterized by flowers of a dark purple color.
- Helmsdale inflorescences are cast in a lilac-burgundy tone.
- Rocky Road. Flowering occurs in July, large flowers have a lilac-blue tint. The plant was recently bred.
- Tiara - the owner of large sizes of blue flowers with cream-colored bracts.
Hybrid lavender (Lavanluda x intermedia)
also called - Lavandin … It is a natural hybrid resulting from the crossing of the above two species. Its distribution falls on the middle and southern regions of the European territory, it is less cold-resistant than English lavender. It is used exclusively for decorative and industrial purposes. The shrub is about two meters long and wide. The foliage is silvery, narrow.
During flowering, large-sized inflorescences of long outlines are formed, which are crowned with elongated bare flower-bearing stems, bending under their weight. The flowering process begins later than that of English lavender - in July. The quality of the oils that are obtained from flowers of this species differ slightly from the product obtained from lavender angustifolia.
The best varieties are:
- Arabian night characterized by blue or dark purple colors.
- Grosso has very large flowers with a lilac-ink color scheme.
Lavender toothed (Lavanluda dentata)
… It is represented by a semi-shrub characterized by thermophilicity. The leaf plates are soft, colored due to pubescence in a silvery shade, with a jagged surface. Quite large flowers bloom in July. The plant is characterized by a strong aroma and high decorativeness. The frost resistance limit is 8-9 USDA-zone, so it can only be grown in southern areas or pots. The most popular variety is recognized Royal crown with flowers of a lilac shade.
Video about growing lavender in the garden:
