MONTHLY THEME

Lovely Luxurious Lavender

One of my favorite perennial herbs is Lavender genus Lavandula. If you haven’t planted Lavender in your yard, shame on you! Besides being fragrant, there are so many uses for Lavender; the flowers are edible and can be baked in treats or brewed in teas. Other than culinary uses, Lavender is used to make essential oils, medicines, perfumes, cosmetics, and it attracts pollinators to your yard.

Lavender has gray-green foliage and upright flower spikes. It’s a compact herbaceous perennial shrub and an excellent companion plant for many other plants like lovage, bee balm, cornflower, hyssop, and rosemary. Shhhh, rumor has it that deer avoid it, but I wouldn’t promise they won’t eat it.

Lavender flowers keep their fragrance even when dried. To dry flowers, harvest them in the morning as the buds first open. I lightly secure small bundles with a rubber band and hang them upside down in the kitchen.

Lavender plants are relatively simple to grow. They thrive in warm, well-draining soil, and full sun. Like me, they don’t like wet feet – so keep them in drier soil. Since they like it dry, a harsh winter or an extremely wet spring, can result in the loss of plants. A high alkaline soil will enhance the Lavender's aroma. After winter, don't prune them too early; wait until you see new growth at the base of the plant.

Frankly, they do best when you ignore them! You don’t even have to fertilize them. However, like everything else, they won’t last forever - so keep adding new plants to retain your display vibrant and alive. These are several varieties of Lavender. Personally, I have Munstead and Hidcote in my yard. I’d recommend selecting a variety known for cut flowers and another for culinary uses.

SMARTY PLANTS FUN FACTS·

Zones 5-9
Lavender is in the family Lamiaceae
Full sun; well-drained soil (they like dry feet)
20-22” tall

THE MORE YOU GROW

Did you know that Lavender is a member of the mint family, that it repels insects, and mature plants can survive drought? Did you know that the name Lavender is derived from the Latin root lavare, which means “to wash?”

Historically, Lavender was used as a bath additive in Persia, Greece, and Rome. For myself, I love lavender scented soaps, body creams, and oils. By using lavender in my oil diffuser at night, it offers a calming, restful sleep.

Additionally, ancient civilizations believed that Lavender would purify the body and mind. They used Lavender to treat multiple ailments, such as, burns, anxiety, insomnia, depression, nausea, acne, toothaches, skin irritations, muscle pain, headaches, hair loss, and even cancer. In ancient Egypt, Lavender oil was used in the mummification process. Never fail to learn from those who came before us.