Lavender
Lavandula
Lavender blooms from June through August.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Lavender
Plant it in full sun. It prefers low water. It is hardy in USDA zones 5–9. Expect it to reach about 2 ft tall and 2 ft wide at maturity, in roughly 2 years.
When to plant Lavender
Wait until all danger of frost has passed, then plant out Lavender into warm soil; in most zones that means late spring. Planted then, it flowers from June to August.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 7 in April.
Comes in 11 varieties across 4 colors
Same plant, same care - pick the color you are growing.
Good to know about Lavender
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Safety
On the ASPCA toxic list for dogs, cats and horses, though NC State rates severity Low; signs are nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite. Concentrated oil is worse. per ASPCA and NC State
Worth knowing
Wet soil, not cold, usually kills lavender. Sharp drainage is the one lever that fixes both winter survival and root rot, so raise the bed and add grit. per Illinois and Colorado
When to prune
Cold-climate guides say prune in spring once new green shows; NC State says shear right after flowering for a possible second bloom. Both work; never cut into bare wood. per NC State and Colorado
English lavender in the South
English lavender is cold-hardy to zone 9 but hates Southern heat and humidity. In the humid Southeast, grow lavandin, Spanish or French lavender instead. per NC State and Clemson
The fragrance chemistry
GC/MS of English lavender oil finds linalyl acetate near 51 percent and linalool near 30 percent, together about 80 percent of the oil: the source of its scent. per PubMed Central and NC State
Mint family but not invasive
It is in the mint family but does not run and colonize a bed the way true mint does; it grows as a tidy, clumping woody mound. per NC State
Deer and rabbit resistant
The aromatic oils make it one of the more reliably deer- and rabbit-resistant plants, but hungry deer or elk in low-forage areas may still sample it. per NC State and Colorado
What pairs well with Lavender
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Creeping Phlox
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months; lower at 6 in, for the front of the border.
Crocus
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in late winter, before this one opens; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; lower at 4 in, for the front of the border.
Lilac
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; taller at 9.8 ft, for the layer behind it.
Autumn Crocus
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in early fall as this one finishes; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; lower at 6 in, for the front of the border.
Flowering Crabapple
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months.
Bluestar
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; blue sits close to purple on the wheel.
Grape Hyacinth
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in early spring, before this one opens; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; lower at 8 in, for the front of the border.
Sage
Shares full sun and low water; opens in late spring and overlaps into this one's season; both are strong pollinator plants; blue sits close to purple on the wheel.
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