Halifax Herb Lavender

Common Name: Lavender

Scientific Name: Lavandula angustifolia

Life Cycle: Perennial

Description Detail: A hardy, fragrant perennial herb prized for its silvery-green foliage and delicate purple flowers. Lavender adds beautiful colour and a rich, calming fragrance to herb gardens, perennial borders, containers and garden edging. It can also be grown as a low aromatic hedge.

Days to Germinate: 14–21 days

Bloom / Harvest: Blooms in summer. Harvest flowering stems when the flower buds are beginning to open for drying, culinary use or fragrant arrangements.

Germination Needs: Sow seeds on the surface of moist, well-drained seed-starting mix and press gently into the soil. Do not cover deeply, as light can aid germination. Keep the growing medium lightly moist and provide good air circulation.

Lighting: Full sun

Watering Needs: Keep soil lightly moist during germination and establishment. Once established, lavender prefers drier conditions and should not be overwatered. Allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings.

Starting Instructions: Start indoors in late winter or early spring. Press seeds gently onto the surface of moist seed-starting mix and provide bright light. Transplant outdoors after the danger of frost has passed, spacing plants approximately 45-60 cm (18-24") apart. Seeds can also be direct sown outdoors, although germination may be slower.

Care Instructions: Plant in well-drained soil and provide full sun. Avoid heavy, consistently wet soil. Prune lightly after flowering to maintain a compact shape, but avoid cutting deeply into old woody stems. Allow plants several years to reach full maturity.

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Garden Benefits: Attracts bees and other pollinators, provides fragrant flowers and foliage, and adds year-round structure to gardens. Excellent for herb gardens, borders, rock gardens, containers and dried-flower arrangements.

Special Notes: Halifax Seed lists lavender as a hardy perennial growing approximately 60-90 cm (24-36") tall. The plants are suitable for containers and can be used to create an aromatic hedge or garden edging. Halifax Seed notes that lavender takes several years to reach maturity.

Tips For Success: Be patient during germination, provide plenty of light, and avoid keeping the soil overly wet. Good drainage is especially important for established plants. Harvest flowers just as they begin to open for the strongest fragrance and best drying results.

Companion Plants: Rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano, catnip, yarrow, salvia and other sun-loving, well-drained-soil plants.