Where to buy seeds
Some links are affiliate links — Verdantly may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more.
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is a beloved perennial herb that brings both beauty and fragrance to any sunny garden. Growing 18-24 inches tall with silvery-green foliage and purple-blue flowers, this hardy subshrub thrives in zones 5 through 8 and reaches maturity in 130-139 days. Its highly aromatic flowers bloom from June through September, attracting butterflies while resisting deer and rabbits naturally. Deeply drought-tolerant and unfussy about soil, lavender has been cherished for centuries as a culinary, medicinal, and ornamental treasure.
Full Sun
Moderate
5-8
24in H x 24in W
—
High
Hover over chart points for details
English lavender delivers genuine fragrance without fuss, blooming reliably from early summer through fall with showy purple-blue flower spikes held above silvery foliage. The plant handles drought and poor soil with grace, making it one of the easiest perennials to establish once it finds a sunny, well-drained home. Its aromatic intensity comes through in both flowers and foliage, and butterflies visit constantly during bloom season. Deer and rabbits leave it untouched, so you can garden without worry about hungry wildlife.
Lavender serves multiple roles in the kitchen and home. Its flowers and leaves flavor culinary preparations, infuse teas, and add complexity to honey and vinegars. Beyond cooking, dried flowers go into sachets, potpourris, and craft projects, while fresh blooms make stunning cut arrangements. The essential oils and dried plant material feature prominently in aromatherapy and natural remedies, though culinary use remains the primary reason most gardeners plant it.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Transplant seedlings or nursery plants outdoors after the last frost date in your zone, ensuring soil temperature has warmed. Space plants 18 inches apart and water gently to settle soil around roots. Lavender establishes best when given time to develop deep roots before peak summer heat arrives.
Direct sow seeds outdoors in spring after the last frost date in well-prepared, well-drained soil. Press seeds lightly into the surface, as they need light to germinate. Keep soil consistently moist until seedlings establish, then gradually reduce watering as plants mature.
Harvest lavender flowers when they are fully colored but still vibrant; pick entire flower spikes just as they reach peak fragrance. The optimal window typically falls in mid to late summer during the height of bloom. Cut stems in the early morning after dew dries but before peak heat, when essential oil content reaches its peak. Hang bundles upside down in a warm, dry location with good air circulation to dry completely before storing. With consistent deadheading and harvest, plants continue blooming through early fall.
Prune lavender in spring after new leaves appear, cutting plants back to 8 inches to promote bushy growth and remove any winter damage. Perform this hard pruning every three years to maintain plant vigor and prevent the plant from becoming woody and leggy. Throughout the growing season, deadhead spent flower spikes to encourage continuous blooming. Avoid cutting into old wood, as lavender rarely regenerates from severely woody stems.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Lavender's Latin name, Lavandula, traces back to the word 'lavo,' meaning 'I wash,' reflecting its ancient use as an aromatic wash in bathing rituals. The genus encompasses around 30 species of subshrubs, but English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and its hybrid cultivars have become the backbone of modern herb gardens. The specific variety sold today as 'Vera' or English lavender represents generations of selection for reliable hardiness, fragrance intensity, and ornamental appeal, with heirloom strains passed through seed-saving communities and commercial nurseries alike.”