is french lavender hardy in uk

Full Answer

Is French lavender frost hardy?

French lavender specifically L. stoechas is frost - hardy and tolerates temperatures as low as 0°F or -15°C accompanied with good soil drainage. The other French lavender species ( L.dentata) is half-hardy and can withstand temperatures between 23°F or -5°C and good draining soil.

Will French lavender last through winter in the UK?

All lavenders need the correct soil conditions but this is critical for French lavender if it is to last through the UK winter. Not a plant for cooler areas.

What is another name for French lavender?

Lavandula stoechas is commonly referred to as French lavender. It’s an aromatic dwarf shrub with narrow, greyish leaves, and bears dense, oval heads of small purple flowers topped with with a tuft of purple bracts.

What is the hardiest lavender plant?

Hidcote superior is the most cold hardy lavender surviving temperatures as low as -30 °C (-20 °F). English lavender are the only lavender that can reliably live for several years in temperate climates that see frequent winter frosts and can grow successfully up to USDA zone 5. Why English Lavenders are the Hardiest

Can French lavender survive UK winter?

French lavenders are native to the Med where, although it can get cold in winter, it's drier than the UK and the soils are far more free draining. We therefore added lots of grit to the soil before planting and this probably helped them to survive, especially on the heavy clay of our Glasgow garden.

How do you look after French lavender UK?

Sunlight. Preferred. Full Sun. Exposure. Sheltered.Size. Height. 0.5 – 1M. Spread. 0.5 – 1M. Bloom Time. May – September.Soil. Preferred. Chalk, Loam, Sand. Moisture. Well Drained. pH. Any.

Can French lavender survive snow?

French lavender only survives winter in warmer climates (USDA zones 7-9) and will not tolerate winters with cold temperatures, frost, ice and snow.

Is French lavender cold hardy?

Cold hardy lavender does actually exist. The English varieties can withstand temperatures of -20 degrees Fahrenheit (-29 C.) while the French can only withstand temperatures of 10 degrees Fahrenheit (-12 C.) or higher.

Why does my French lavender keep dying?

If you have lavender in pots dying it may be because the plant is over or underwatered, the soil is inconsistent with the plant's needs, the plant is too little, getting too much sunlight, or the plant may need to be fertilized. Again, cold temperatures may affect potted lavender.

What do you do with French lavender in the winter?

Overwintering. To overwinter potted plants in areas that are too cold for French lavender, bring the pot indoors before the first frost. Keep the pot in a cool area with bright light. Water sparingly throughout the winter, only providing enough water to keep the plant alive.

Can French lavender survive frost?

French lavender is vulnerable to harsh freezing, 19°F (-7°C), and can't survive in sustained cold spells. Protect the base with mulch in winter.

How do you look after French lavender in the winter?

French lavender grow very well in pots and containers. Care for French lavender in winter by planting them in well draining soil and do not water them if they are left outside as wet soils in winter will cause fungal disease. Remove leaves and organic material from around them that hold moisture.

Should I deadhead French lavender?

Dead-head French lavenders throughout the summer as they'll flower continuously from May to September. Deadheading will also encourage more flowering through the season.

Do I need to protect lavender from frost?

Types of Lavender English lavender is hardy in Zones 5 and warmer, usually overwintering in the ground outside just fine without any added protection. In an open winter with no snow cover, we may pile a thin layer (1 to 2 inches) of straw or shredded leaves over them for added cover.

Which lavender plant is the hardiest?

The English lavender species (Lavandula angustifolia) are the most hardy of all lavender species, able to tolerate winter frosts, snow, wind and deer and rabbit resistance. English lavenders are hardy to zone 5 and can be grown in a temperate climate.

What is the difference between French and English lavender?

English lavender is typically the most appealing variety when it comes to scent and is similar to rosemary. French lavender has a stronger fragrance with more pine notes, making it a popular choice for cleaning and home products. No smell is “better” than the other, it is largely based on individual preference.

Do I deadhead French lavender?

Deadhead French lavender regularly throughout the summer. This prolongs the flowering and creates new growth the following April/May.

Does French lavender grow back every year?

French lavenders are perennial plants that live for several years. The reason some people mistake French lavenders for annuals is that they grow them in a climate that is too cold for French lavender to survive winter and then have to replace the plant every year.

Why is my French lavender going brown?

Key Takeaways: Lavenders turn brown is because of root rot. The symptoms of root rot are brown, foliage, stems and even flowers. The cause of root rot is because there is too much moisture around the roots of the lavender as a result of slow draining soil or over watering.

How do you grow French lavender in the UK?

Planting French lavender We recommend planting it in fall, but you can plant in spring without any problems. Water a bit at the beginning and then keep from watering as much as possible. No need to add fertilizer. French lavender grows well in chalky soil, but won't be happy in acidic soil.

What is a French lavender?

Lavandula stoechas is commonly referred to as French lavender. It’s an aromatic dwarf shrub with narrow, greyish leaves, and bears dense, oval heads of small purple flowers topped with with a tuft of purple bracts. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM). For best results, grow Lavandula stoechas in ...

What are the characteristics of lavender?

Key features: Aromatic foliage. Flowers. Scented flowers. Lavender is one of the most popular small garden shrubs. Plants have narrow, oily and aromatic evergreen leaves and bear dense spikes of small tubular flowers in summer. Lavandula stoechas is commonly referred to as French lavender.

Which lavender is more hardy?

If you’re new to growing Lavender, we recommend starting with the English variety which lives longer, is more hardy and forgiving, grows taller, wider and is more fragrant.

How big does French lavender grow?

French Lavender, which grows up to 60cm high and 40cm wide is more compact but does bloom earlier. French lavender is perfect for sunny areas sheltered from frosts and winds, it also performs well in pots and troughs where it can be moved to a more protected area of the garden for the winter. You can expect French Lavender to live for between 5 ...

What is the difference between French lavender and English lavender?

You’ll find there are some important differences between the more common English Lavender and its French counterpart. English Lavender has a stronger aroma and is often grown commercially for its oil.

How to grow French lavender in containers?

For French Lavender grown in containers, mix 75% compost with 25% grit and perlite and make sure the container has large holes at the base and is preferably raised off the floor slightly .

How much sun does French lavender need?

French Lavender will perform best in a very sunny spot, ideally with at least 6 hours of sunshine per summer day. Avoid shaded areas of the garden.

Why do we grow lavender?

We chose Lavender for several reasons: 1 We have a slightly elevated flowerbed at the end of the garden that drains very well and the soil is quite dry – perfect for Lavender. 2 This part of the garden is very sunny, with full sun from morning until early evening. 3 Attracting more wildlife to our garden is something we care about and bees just love all Lavenders. 4 Our garden is quite small so the compact French Lavender is more suitable than the larger English one (height:60cm and width:40cm compared to height:1m and width:1.5m for the English Lavender). 5 To save money we wanted plants that were easy to propagate and they don’t come much easier than French Lavender which can also be split every few years. 6 The aroma!

Why do we use French lavender?

We chose Lavender for several reasons: We have a slightly elevated flowerbed at the end of the garden that drains very well and the soil is quite dry – perfect for Lavender. This part of the garden is very sunny, with full sun from morning until early evening.

Where does lavender come from?

Lavender originates from the warm climates of Southern Europe and it is best suited to ground which drains easily and is slightly low in nutrients. It does best on soil which is slightly alkaline to neutral, chalky and / or stony ground is best.

How long does lavender flower?

Flowers are produced for about 6 weeks during from early June to mid August, the exact timing depends on the variety.

How tall do lavenders grow?

Lavenders are evergreen shrubs growing to between 35cm / 1m (14in to 3ft) high and a slightly larger spread. They are grown for their flowers, foliage and scent. Their ability to resist drought make them ideal for dry parts of the garden.

Why does lavender grow so weak?

This is caused by either the soil containing too many nutrients or too much water. Lavenders naturally grow in dry ground which has low levels of nutrients, and when these conditions are reversed, they can grow too much weak and leafy growth. The solution is to do nothing! Do not feed and do not water.

What is the colour of lavender?

The foliage is from silver grey to dark green and the flowers are generally shades of lavender colour although there are white and pink flowered varieties. FRENCH LAVENDER .

What shrubs are easy to care for?

Other "easy-care" shrubs in this series include Choisya, Hebes, Mock Orange, Lilacs , Potentilla and Rose of Sharon (hibiscus syriacus). Click the link below for the full list of shrubs we have reviewed.

Can you kill a lavender bush?

It's difficult to kill an established lavender bush through neglect but they last longer, and look at their best, with a good annual prune. Use the checklist below to decide if Lavender is the correct plant for you and your garden: English lavender is hardy down to -12°C.

What is French lavender?

French lavender. RHS Plants for Pollinators plants. This plant will provide nectar and pollen for bees and the many other types of pollinating insects. It is included in an evolving list of plants carefully researched and chosen by RHS experts.

What is a lavandula?

Genus Lavandula are small aromatic evergreen shrubs with usually narrow, simple, entire, toothed or lobed leaves and small tubular flowers in dense spikes in summer. Details L. stoechas is a bushy, upright evergreen shrub, to 60cm high and 40cm wide. Foliage is aromatic and grey-green.

What is the difference between French lavender and English lavender?

Size. French lavender is large and will grow from about 2 to 3 feet (61-91 cm.) tall and wide, while English lavender stays much smaller and more compact, ...

When does French lavender bloom?

The flowers on these plants are similar in size, but they last much longer on French lavender. This variety has one of the longest bloom times, starting in spring and continuing to produce flowers throughout the summer. Scent. If you’re looking for the characteristic lavender smell, choose English lavender.

Is Spanish lavender a hybrid?

You’ll also see Spanish lavender, which like French lavender has a softer scent and is used more for landscaping than for producing the scented oil. Lavandin is a hybrid cultivar that was developed to produce even more oil than English lavender, so it has a very potent aroma.

Is French lavender the same as English lavender?

French and English lavender varieties are both great plants, but they are not the same. Along with the other types of lavender, you have plenty of options to choose the right variety for your home or garden. Printer Friendly Version. This article was last updated on 04/08/21. Read more about Lavender.

Are English and French Lavender Different?

French lavender is Lavendula dentata and it is not actually that commonly cultivated, although we often think of France when picturing fields of lavender. English lavender is Lavendula angustifolia. This variety is much more commonly cultivated and is typical in gardens and containers. Here are some other important differences:

Which lavender is the most hardy?

The English lavender species ( Lavandula angustifolia) are the most hardy of all lavender species, able to tolerate winter frosts, snow, wind and deer and rabbit resistance.

Where do English lavenders live?

English lavenders can live in relatively rainy areas although the soil must be amended with plenty of sand so that it drains very quickly and does not retain much moisture. English lavenders has specifically adapted to grow in the low fertility sandy soils of the Mediterranean region of southern Europe.

How cold can Hidcote Superior tolerate?

The small variety Hidcote Superior can tolerate temperatures as low as -30 °C (-20 °F). Non English lavender species generally are not winter hardy and will die in the first frost of winter. All lavender species will struggle to grow successfully in climates of higher humidity as they are more suited to a dryer climate.

Why are English lavenders prone to disease?

English lavenders are not particularity prone to disease, however this is true of all lavender species. The most common threat is root rot which occurs because of soil that doesn’t drain quickly enough or lavenders that are over watered, so with some soil preparation this can be easily avoided.

What is the best lavender for a hedge?

Vera. Hidcote superior are the best choice for compact decorative or hedge lavenders in cold climates and they are thought to be perhaps the most cold hardy variety, tolerating temperatures as low as – 30 °C (-20 °F).

What is the most common lavender?

The Munstead and Hidcote varieties are the most common English lavenders cultivars that are valued for their long last flowers and intense aromas hence their popularity with gardeners.

How cold can lavender survive?

Hidcote superior is the most cold hardy lavender surviving temperatures as low as -30 °C (-20 °F). English lavender are the only lavender that can reliably live for several years in temperate climates that see frequent winter frosts and can grow successfully up to USDA zone 5.

What is the name of the French lavender?

But before I begin, you need to understand that French lavender stands for two species ( Lavandula stoechas (in Uk) or Lavandula dentate (in Australia, the US, Newzealand). English lavender is always known as Lavandula angustifolia. Let’s get into it!

What is the difference between French lavender and English lavender?

The only difference is that English lavender leaves are covered in a silvery-white sheen (white dust – like wax) whereas L. stoechas has deeper green leaves with a less white coating.

How tall does lavender grow?

English lavender is a large lavender variety that grows to a height of approximately 1 to 2 meters (3 to 6 feet tall). French lavender, L. stoechas is a medium-sized lavender and grows to a height of about 1 to 3 feet (30 cm to 60 cm). L. dentata on the other hand is a small variety and is usually 8 to 24 inches (20 to 50 cm) tall.

How long does lavender last?

As mentioned earlier English lavender is cold hardy and has a longer lifespan of about 15 years as compared to the French lavender (not cold tolerant) that lives for only about 5 years.

Which flower has long petals?

French Lavender (Lavandula stoechas and Lavandula dentata) on the other hand, has petals at the flower tip with L. stoechas having very long petals at the tip and L. dentata having short but distinct petals at the flower tip.

Which lavender is the strongest?

Moreover, the two are scented lavender varieties with French lavender being the strong scented and the English lavender with the softest but most appealing fragrance.

Which lavender has the longest bloom?

The flowers on both the English and French lavenders are similar in size, but the bloom lasts much longer on the French lavender. This lavender variety has one of the longest bloom time (starts to bloom in spring and continues flower throughout the summer)