Worth knowing:
The English Lavender is already mentioned as an important medicinal plant in ancient Egypt and is used since ancient times as fragrant bathing essence. The dwarf shrub grows 40 to 90 cm tall and produces striking bluish violet coloured inflorescences. The plant is a magnet for butterflies and almost all of its parts contain essential oil and exhale an aromatic fragrance.
Natural Location:
Originally, the English Lavender comes from the higher coastal areas of the Mediterranean region, such as the Alpes de Haut-Provence in France.
Cultivation:
Seed propagation indoors is possible throughout the year. However, a pre-cultivation in February and planting out later on, would be ideal. Seeding directly outdoors is possible as well, but should only be done after the last frost nights. Spread the fine seeds onto moist potting compost and put just a little compost earth on top. Cover the seed container with clear film to prevent the earth from drying out, but don’t forget to make some holes in the clear film and take it every second or third day completely off for about 2 hours. That way you avoid mold formation on your potting compost. Place the seed container somewhere bright and warm with a temperature between 20°C and 25°Celsius and keep the earth moist, but not wet. It will take four to eight weeks until germination.
Place:
The English Lavender prospers nicely in a sunny location with permeable, limy and preferably low-nutrient soil.
Care:
Lavender only needs fertilizing once a year with compost or light NPC fertilizer. In pot or tub cultivation, however, you should fertilize more often. Water the plant only, when the earth has dried out almost completely since too much moisture might cause the roots to rot. In late spring, you may prune the sprouts back properly, and slightly cutting the plant back by a third after blossoming can keep the Lavender sprouting until late summer.
During the winter:
The English Lavender is only limited frost-hard, so the root area of the plant should be protected during winter with mulch or straw.
Picture credits:
- © © Michal Osmenda - CC-BY-SA-2.0 - http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0
- © Frank Laue - © Saflax - http://www.saflax.de/copyright
- © Frank Laue - © Saflax - http://www.saflax.de/copyright
- © Michal Osmenda - CC-BY-SA-2.0 - http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0
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