Lavender suggestions

8 years ago

When we had our garden installed 5 years ago, the landscaper edged a path with lavender. We didn't realized they needed to be pruned, and the plants rapidly grew woody and scraggly, almost splitting apart at a woody trunk at the base. I was told that lavender needs to be pruned hard to prevent such heavy woodiness.

Anyway, I am digging out a plant every week, and would like to replace it with lavender again. What are some of your favorite varieties? I love the fragrance and lavender seems to grow well with low water, almost full sun landscaping in that area. Are there any varieties that age better than others?

(Other plants in the vicinity are roses and some lamb's ears, gaura and as the path goes into shadier parts, penstemon.)

(Peninsula bay area, cool mornings, late afternoon warmth, full sun otherwise)

Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

8 years ago

'Provence' is a form of hybrid lavender (lavandin) and probably one of the largest growing culitvars, often extending up to 4' tall in bloom. May not be the best choice for along a walkway because of its impressive size. Similar hybrid culitvars (Lavandula x intermedia) get to be close to that in size. English lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, is a much more restrained shrub and available in very compact or even dwarf forms, like 'Hidcote', 'Munstead', 'Blue Cushion' or 'Thumbelina Leigh' and these very dense, compact growing cultivars might be a better choice for along a walkway.

Spanish lavender, Lavandula stoechas, tends to be less of a rounded, mounding shrub and more of a sprawler. But it has unsual looking flowerheads and tends to be very long blooming.

ALL lavenders need annual pruning to remain looking good but eventually most will also develop that very gnarly, woody interior despite routine pruning and lose their visual appeal. Most lavender growers will replace their plants somewhere in the 5-7 year period.

In your climate, it is not to late to plant now. You just do not get cold enough for that to be a threat to any lavender :-) In my climate, while still very mild in winter, it is best to plant in spring simply because of our heavy winter rainfall and often very wet soils. Good drainage, especially in winter or during the rainy season, is critical!!

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Comments (11)

Josue (Zone 9b, Central, inland California)
8 years ago
I prefer Spanish/French lavender, as opposed to English lavender. They're more compact and have a showier bloom, in my opinion. These are woody plants though, and will break and split with age like you described.
kcandmilo thanked Josue (Zone 9b, Central, inland California)
kcandmilo
Original Author
8 years ago
I suspect that's what i had to start with! Are they more drought tolerant than English too? I guess I should look for slow growing varieties. Thanks, Josue!
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JXBrown (Sunset 24, N San Diego County)
8 years ago
They all tend to become woody, some a little slower than others. I just replace them periodically. I currently have Super Blue and Hidcote Blue. I have also grown Goodwin Creek Gray which doesn't get woody very fast and blooms continuously, but which also doesn't have a very showy bloom.
kcandmilo
Original Author
8 years ago
Oh, thanks for the names, JXBrown. That will be a good starting point for me!
hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
8 years ago
Look for dwarf forms. They last a lot longer because they are shorter. Because they are shorter, they don't split open to and expose the woody unattractive base. I have one that still looks great. It is 17 years old!

On larger lavenders it does help to grab the plant like hair and cut back by half (staying out of the bare wood) after bloom, but I don't always get around to it. I like 'Provence' for the strong sweet fragrance of the foliage and flowers. If you buy them small (4") pots they are not expensive to replace.
kcandmilo thanked hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
uncle molewacker z9b Danville CA (E.SF Bay)
8 years ago
I am not familiar with the many varieties of lavender available. But I do prefer Provence over spanish. I grow Provence in napa as well as danville. it does love full sun and gets woody ; and so i must prune aggressively every year. I love the look, the fragrance... and that it can be dried as well as used with cooking.
kcandmilo thanked uncle molewacker z9b Danville CA (E.SF Bay)
kcandmilo
Original Author
8 years ago
Sounds good! I'll look into Provence too!
User
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I’ll second the Goodwin creek lavender at least so SoCal. It’s currently in my front yard, is watered only by my sprinklers and is doing well. We bought another lavender (French I think from costco) for the backyard and it’s slowly dying back.
kcandmilo thanked User
kcandmilo
Original Author
8 years ago
Do y'all think I lost the window for planting? Should i do it in spring now? The night temperatures are dropping so fast!
kcandmilo
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you, gardengal! Time to tour some local nurseries, and thank you all for a working list of names to look at while i am there (I do hope at least a few varieties are carried locally)

KC