Home for the Harvest

Your cart is presently empty !

drop a line by :

Spanish Lavender

‘ballerina’ lavender is a popular cultivar of spanish lavender

| issue :

| Updated :

| In :

Ballerina Lavender Flower

Affiliate disclaimer : I sometimes unite to products . Please assume these links areaffiliate link . If you prefer to corrupt through my inter-group communication , I might get a commission at no cost to you . give thanks you !

Spanish lavender ( Lavandulastoechas ) is a small flowering industrial plant known for its beautiful purple flower blooms with refined bract resembling“rabbit ears . ” Spanish lavender grows well in lovesome climate with hot , ironical summer . This type of lavender can also be used for of the essence oil colour production and as a stunning track flower in fragrance and floral arrangements .

Spanish lavender basics

Spanish lavender ( Lavandulastoechas ) is a flowering subshrub aboriginal to the Mediterranean . Spanish lavender is known for its petal - pinch efflorescence ( often address “ rabbit ’s spike ” ) , unassailable odour , and historical use in lilac-colored oil output , ancient Hellenic medicine , and in the Four Thieves Vinegar of the Middle Ages . Spanish Lavender is native to the Mediterranean region , include Spain , Portugal , Turkey , and North Africa .

“ This efflorescence grow petals at the top of the efflorescence bud . like to French lavender , these flowers are not used for culinary purpose , and the fragrance is moderately “ medicinal ” to many . ”

Spanish lavender plants run togrow taller than most other types of lavender , normally grow to over 3 feet tall . Most Spanish lavender industrial plant in cultivation are eitherLavandula stoechassubsp.stoechasorLavandula stoechassubsp.pedunculataas these type are more compact and suitable for the garden than wild subspecies . The grey-headed - greenish leaves are decorative in the off - time of year while the plant is not flowering . Spanish Lavender is also the most commonly usedtype of lavenderfor makinglavender tree diagram topiaries .

spanish lavender plant - anouk dark purple

Spanish Lavender is a front-runner of good garden pollinators , include bees and butterflies . In warm regions of the USA , even hummingbirds are drawn to the attractive majestic bract atop the dark purple flowers . A stack planting of Spanish Lavender will attract these adorable garden visitor year after twelvemonth !

Spanish lavender vs. French lavender

Spanish lavender ( Lavandulastoechas ) is sometimes refer to as Gallic lavender but is different from the flora most gardeners pertain to asFrench lavender ( Lavandula dentata).French lavender(Lavandula dentata ) was once considered to be a subspecies of Spanish lavender ( Lavandulastoechas ) but the two are now localize in separate botanical sections . Spanish lavender tends to have a stronger scent , while French lavender tends to have a long efflorescence period .

While French lavender is not the same as Spanish lavender , Spanish lavender does retain many connections to the country of France . Lavandulastoechasis named after the Stoechades Islands ( Îles d’Hyères ) off the south of France . Spanish lavendergrows rampantly across the Mediterranean region . Other common names for Spanish lavender ( Lavandulastoechas ) include topped lavender , butterfly lavender , and Italian lavender .

Spanish lavender vs. English lavender

Spanish lavender ( Lavandulastoechas ) is a dissimilar botanic specie thanEnglish lavender(Lavandula angustifolia).While both types were once used for distilling indispensable oil , most high-pitched - quality lavender rock oil is now made from English lavender . English lavender is also the favored variety for specialty foods such as Gallic lavender love . Spanish lavender is now grown mainly as an cosmetic plant due to its beautiful “ bunny ears ” petals at the top of each bloom spike .

“ French lavender honeys can be easy authenticate fromL. stoechassamples or various other origins , thanks to their high content in linear aldehydes , linear alcohols , and phenylacetaldehyde . ”

Spanish lavender varieties

There are many fantabulous varieties of lavender usable . Here are some of the most democratic change of Spanish lavender to grow :

Most commercially available variety ( cultivar ) are cross - pollinatedstoechashybrids , as cultivars of this eccentric pronto hybridize with each other . The accessibility of specific cultivar tends to vary regionally .

Spanish lavender plant care

Spanish lavender is a Mediterranean subshrub that prosper in warm mood , gay locations , and well - drained soil . These plants are patient of of unlike soil types and tend to grow well where winter / springs are wet but summers are relatively wry . Most varieties ofSpanish lavender grow ripe in Zones 8 - 9 .

“ The two canonic requirements for successful lavender develop are full sun and in force drainage . ”

Sunlight requirements forSpanish lavender

Spanish lavender grow good in a full - sunlight placement that receives at least 6 - 8 hr of sunlight per daylight . Lavender does not thrive in suspicious areas and ask lots of sunlight to make the masses of violet blossom bract that make Spanish lavender such a beautiful summation to the garden .

Garden soil forSpanish lavender

Lavender maturate best in light , well - drain soils . This includes arenaceous loam or gritty soil that drains excess water easy . Lavender plants can typically only defy ponded water for short period of time , and do not like to have “ wet feet ” . lilac-colored plants are tolerant of a range of filth acidity values but tend to grow well in achromatic or slightly alkaline soils .

In garden with corpse dirt , lavender can be grow on raised cumulation of improved ground that appropriate weewee to drain out freely . Raised mound for lavender atop clay - found soil can be ameliorate with organic compost and a bite of garden lime ( to raise soil pH ) .

WateringSpanish lavender

Spanish lavender plants can become quite drought - tolerant when established but take frequent watering when immature . freshly planted lavender should be irrigate systematically with drip irrigation or by mitt for the first several years . Watering oft is most important for the first 4 - 6 week after transplanting . Take care to follow whether or not the ground is draining well , as lavender flourish in soil with excellent drain .

logical watering of new lavender plants helps the tooth root become established in the surrounding soil . An encompassing theme system help the flora hold dry summer stipulation and produce more flowers .

“ The extremely fragrant notes produce by the linalool / linalyl acetate rayon content in crude can be greatly reduced in plants suffer from water stress . ”

Spanish Lavender Flower

Climate requirements for growingSpanish lavender

Spanish lavender is well - accommodate to strong climate and can be grown as a perennial industrial plant in Zones 8 - 9 . This character of lavender is not cold - hardy in areas with insensate winters . Spanish lavender leafage should be protected from frost out of doors and must be overwintered indoors where temperature regularly miss below freeze .

Spanish lavender is moderately more tolerant of humid climates than English lavender or French lavender . That ready it a secure choice for regions without dry Mediterranean - vogue summer . That say , lavender should always be grown in areas with safe air circulation . Be particularly thrifty about air circulation if embed Spanish lavender in a humid mood .

FertilizingSpanish lavender plants

Spanish lavender industrial plant get in poor soil may benefit from fertilizer applications . start out by enforce a 1″ duncish bed of homemade compost as an organic mulch over the open of the stain . The mulch acts to keep weeds down and keep stain temperatures and moisture levels more consistent , while also provide a slow outlet of course sourced industrial plant food .

Spanish lavender is more resistant of acidulous soil than most other types of lavender . That said , lime hydrate is often bring to acidulent soils to help the plant life thrive . It can be worked into the filth prior to planting or applied in the spring or in fall .

PruningSpanish lavender

Spanish lavender plants are typically cut back once or twice per yr to discourage too much woody ontogeny from developing at the base of the plant . with child , woody industrial plant tend to break up as they age and are not long - live . Spanish lavender should be given a concentrated prune once a year , even when youthful , to avoid the evolution of a sprawling woody base .

Spanish lavender plant can be pruned after flowering and again in early autumn prior to frosty atmospheric condition . The first pruning ( right after flowering ) is typically only short prune to head off spurring the industrial plant to bring out too many more flowers in an endeavor to rebloom . The annual difficult prune is typically done in mid - fall .

To prune English lavender in mid - fall , cut the entire plant back by 1/3 to 1/2 of its size . For instance , if most stems with leaves are about a foot long , they can be cut back to 6″-8″ long each . Remove any stems that are beat , dying , pathologic , or damaged . These stem can be removed right down to the base of the plant life . nurseryman who prefer lower - maintenance flora may believe planting Gallic lavender instead of Spanish lavender , as Gallic lavender requires much less pruning .

Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas)

PropagatingSpanish lavender

Spanish lavender is circulate by take aim cuttings off a mother plant life and root them to make clone plants . brusk mo of stems are placed in a moist growing medium until they develop base .

In the spring , prune deal cuttings about 3″-4″ long off an established plant for extension . Remove get out off the bottom half of the stem and dunk the stem in rooting internal secretion . position in gratis - draining , moist rise medium . Softwood or semi - hardwood cutting can also be take in the fall and rooted indoors or in a stale frame over winter . Observe press clipping regularly for signs of new growth .

Spanish lavender can also be develop from lavender seed . Lavender seeds can be dodgy to germinate , and it is generally easier to purchase small plant life from a local glasshouse . Seed - farm lavender is quite variable in terms of the size , shape , and inflorescence kind of the result plant .

propagating lavender

Harvesting Spanish lavender

Spanish lavender flowers are harvest for use in of the essence oil production , potpourri sachets , essence , and other useful applications . Lavender is usually harvest in the morning once the dew has dried but before the temperature becomes too hot .

When whole spikes are to be dry , the lavender is generally harvested in early summer when only the first two blossom have blossom . The majority of the flower that have not yet opened will dry out on the spindle , lead to a beautiful steeple of dried fragrant flowers . Lavender glean as the first flowers are open can also be used in fresh floral bouquets and arrangements . Lavender harvested with a substantial figure of flowers opened can be used for lilac sachets or mixed bag .

Common plant diseases affecting Spanish lavender

Spanish Lavender plant are generally quite hardy but can fall dupe to several plebeian fungal , bacterial , and viral plant diseases . Disease is most rough-cut in rainy , humid climates .

Fungal disease , particularly leafspot fungi ( Septoria lavandulae ) and root rot caused byPhytophthoramold , can occur in lilac plants grow in orbit with mellow rainfall and/or frequent overhead lachrymation . Root rot typically also occurs where soil does not drain out extra water system . Take care to ensure soil is draining well and that air is diffuse around the infrastructure of the works .

Lavender plants are sometimes affected by Alfalfa Mosaic Virus , which creates a yellow “ mosaic ” shape on the leaves of affected plants . This computer virus is thought to be spread by aphids and also by non - unimaginative pruning tools .

Spanish Lavender Growing in Garden

Common garden pests affecting Spanish lavender

Spanish Lavender plants are sometimes attacked by garden pests such as Spittle Bugs , Mealy Bugs , and Aphids . These hemipterous insect can by and large be spray off the plant with a sharp stream of water but may require a natural insect powder spray if the flora is truly infest .

Lavender is seldom assail by mammals due to its strong odor . It is one of the most reliable deer - resistant plant . Deer broadly speaking avoid Spanish Lavender all , especially if the plant has flowers on it . Young plants may be attacked by rabbits and other small burrowing mammals . Rabbits be given to grok around the roots rather than eat the leaf or flower .

Recent posts

How to grow cosmos

How to grow zinnias

How to grow ranunculus

How to grow vegetable seedlings

15 wildflower border garden ideas

How to plant basil seeds

20+ best seed companies to order from

Planting peony roots

For multitude who just want to mature things

Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas)