Lavender

Category: medicinal-herbs

Growing

  • 📍 Zone: 5-9 (can be grown as an annual or overwintered indoors in cooler zones)
  • 🌞 Sun: Full sun (6-8+ hours daily)
  • 💧 Water: Low once established; prefers dry conditions and hates wet roots
  • 🌱 Soil: Well-drained, sandy or rocky soil with neutral to slightly alkaline pH (6.5-8)

Planting

  • 📏 Height: 12-36 inches (variety dependent)
  • 📏 Spacing: 18-24 inches apart to allow airflow
  • 📅 When To Plant: Spring after last frost or fall in mild climates
  • 🌱 Propagation: Best by softwood cuttings; seeds are slow and variable in germination
  • ⬇️ Depth: Surface sow seeds or plant cuttings at soil level
  • 🤝 Companion:
    • 0: Roses (deters pests)
    • 1: Fruit trees
    • 2: Cabbage family (helps repel moths)
  • 🚫 Avoid Planting Near:

    Care & Maintenance

    • ✂️ Pruning: Lightly prune after flowering to maintain shape; harder prune in spring to encourage bushiness
    • 🪢 Staking Or Support: May need light support in windy areas or for taller varieties
    • ❄️ Overwintering: Mulch lightly in fall in colder zones; container plants can be moved indoors

    Harvesting & Usage

    • ⏰ When To Harvest: When 1/3 to 1/2 of the flower buds are open for best fragrance and oil content
    • ✋ How To Harvest: Cut stems early in the day after dew has dried; bundle and hang upside down to dry
    • 🥫 Preservation: Air dry in bundles; store dried flowers in airtight containers away from light
    • ⚠️ Edible Or Toxic: Edible in small quantities (culinary lavender); large amounts may cause digestive upset. Essential oil is not for internal use.
    • 🍴 Culinary: Used sparingly in desserts, syrups, teas, and as part of Herbes de Provence blend
    • 💊 Medicinal:
      • Relaxation & Anxiety: Lavender is widely used in aromatherapy to promote calm and reduce stress. Scientific studies support mild sedative effects.
      • Sleep Aid: Often used in sachets or oils to improve sleep quality and ease insomnia.
      • Digestive Health: Traditional use for soothing stomach discomfort; lavender tea is mildly carminative.
      • Skin Support: Lavender oil is applied (diluted) to minor burns, cuts, and insect bites for its antimicrobial and soothing properties.
      • Headache Relief: Inhalation of lavender aroma or applying diluted oil to temples may help relieve tension headaches.
    • 🌸 Aromatic: Strong, sweet, floral scent; valued for perfumes, sachets, and essential oils

    Ecological Info

    • 🐝 Pollinators:
      • 0: Bees
      • 1: Butterflies
      • 2: Hoverflies
    • 🦌 Wildlife Resistance: Deer and rabbits usually avoid lavender due to its strong scent