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English Lavender: How to Grow It for Fragrant Purple Spikes
Herbs

English Lavender: How to Grow It for Fragrant Purple Spikes

Lavandula angustifolia

Growing English lavender: Mediterranean herb with fragrant purple spikes. Full sun, well-drained chalky soil, perfect in borders, pots and low hedges.

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Characteristics

Scientific nameLavandula angustifolia
Height40-80 cm
Sunlightpieno sole
Waterbassa
Soilcalcareo drenante
Toxicitynon tossica
Growthmedia
Temperature-15 a 35 °C
FloweringJun, Jul, Aug
IrrigationWater only during the first months after planting and in very dry summers, letting the soil dry between waterings.

English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is an aromatic Mediterranean shrub with unmistakable highly fragrant purple flower spikes blooming from June to August. Grow it in full sun on chalky, well-drained soil — perfect in borders, pots and low hedges. It tolerates drought and frost down to -15 °C.

Flowering season

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Practical tips

Watering

Water needs: bassa — always check soil moisture before watering.

Position

Prefers pieno sole: provide the right light and rotate the plant for even growth.

Substrate

Recommended soil: calcareo drenante. Refresh the substrate every 1-2 years.

Leaves

Dust the leaves with a damp cloth to support photosynthesis.

Feeding

Feed during the growing season (spring-summer) and stop in winter.

FAQ

When should I prune lavender?
Prune right after flowering, late August to September, shortening flowered stems by about one third without cutting into old wood. A light second trim in March keeps the plant compact.
Is English lavender frost hardy?
Yes, Lavandula angustifolia tolerates frosts down to -15 °C on well-drained soil. Its real enemy is winter waterlogging, which causes root rot and plant loss.

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