Overview

Transform your outdoor space with the delightful aroma and stunning beauty of a French Lavender live plant. This exquisite perennial herb is cherished for its vibrant pink-purple blooms and its soothing, classic fragrance. Our well-rooted plugs are ready to thrive in your garden, offering a touch of Mediterranean charm. French Lavender, scientifically known as Lavandula stoechas, is a popular choice for gardeners due to its distinctive flower shape, often resembling a small pineapple or bunny ears, atop slender stems. Ideal for creating fragrant borders, adding to rock gardens, or simply brightening up a patio in a container, this plant brings both visual appeal and a calming atmosphere. Experience the joy of growing your own lavender, whether it’s for ornamental purposes, attracting beneficial pollinators, or even for culinary and aromatic uses.

Each French Lavender live plant is carefully nurtured to ensure it arrives healthy and ready for planting. These established plugs provide a head start, making it easier for you to enjoy beautiful blooms sooner. Standing approximately 3-6 inches tall, they are at an ideal stage for transplanting into their permanent home. Known for its resilience and relatively low maintenance, French Lavender is a rewarding addition to almost any garden, especially in regions with mild winters. Its unique charm and versatility make it a must-have for both novice and experienced gardeners seeking to infuse their landscape with natural beauty and a captivating scent.

Key Benefits

Adding a French Lavender live plant to your garden offers a multitude of benefits, from aesthetic enhancement to practical uses. These plants are not just beautiful; they contribute positively to the garden ecosystem and can even improve your well-being.

• Fragrant Blooms: Enjoy the iconic, soothing scent of lavender that emanates from the beautiful pink-purple flowers. This natural fragrance can help create a relaxing environment in your garden or patio, and the dried flowers can be used in sachets or potpourri.
• Attracts Pollinators: These vibrant blossoms are a magnet for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators, helping to support local ecosystems and improve the yield of nearby fruits and vegetables.
• Drought Tolerant: Once established, growing lavender outdoors requires minimal watering, making it an excellent choice for xeriscaping or gardens in drier climates. This conserves water and reduces your gardening efforts.
• Deer and Rabbit Resistant: The strong aromatic oils in lavender tend to deter common garden pests like deer and rabbits, protecting your plants naturally without the need for harsh chemicals.
• Versatile Landscaping: Perfect for borders, rock gardens, mass plantings, or container gardening. Its compact size and upright habit make it suitable for various garden designs, adding structure and color.
• Culinary & Medicinal Uses: French Lavender, like other lavender varieties, can be used sparingly in cooking for flavoring desserts, drinks, or savory dishes. It also has traditional uses in aromatherapy and herbal remedies for its calming properties.
• Low Maintenance Perennial: As a perennial, it returns year after year, providing continuous beauty with relatively little fuss once established. Its hardiness makes it a reliable choice for long-term garden enjoyment.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Proper lavender plant care is essential for a thriving and fragrant French Lavender live plant. These resilient plants prefer specific conditions to produce their best blooms and maintain their health. When it comes to sunlight, French Lavender demands full sun exposure, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Plant them in a location that receives ample morning sun, as this helps to dry dew and prevent fungal diseases. In very hot climates, a little afternoon shade can be beneficial, but too much shade will result in leggy growth and fewer flowers. Positioning is key for robust growth and abundant flowering.

Watering should be done sparingly once established, as lavender is highly drought-tolerant. Overwatering is one of the most common causes of lavender plant failure. Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. When you do water, do so deeply to encourage strong root development. The ideal soil type for French Lavender is sandy soil that is well-draining. It thrives in lean to moderately fertile soil. Heavy clay soils should be amended with sand, grit, or organic matter to improve drainage and aeration. Lavender prefers a slightly alkaline to neutral pH (6.5-7.5). These plants are hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9, meaning they can tolerate winter temperatures down to -20°F (-29°C) in zone 5. In colder zones, they can be grown as annuals or in containers brought indoors for winter. Fertilization is generally not necessary and can even be detrimental, leading to excessive foliage growth at the expense of flowers. If your soil is very poor, a light application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in spring can be considered, but avoid high-nitrogen formulas.

Pruning is an important aspect of lavender plant care to maintain a compact shape and encourage continuous blooming. After the first flush of flowers fades, deadhead spent blooms to promote a second bloom. In late summer or early fall, after the main flowering period, prune the plant back by about one-third to prevent it from becoming woody and leggy. Avoid cutting into the old, woody stems, as these may not regenerate. Good air circulation is also important to prevent fungal issues, so ensure plants are spaced appropriately. With these simple tips, your French Lavender live plant will flourish, providing years of beauty and fragrance to your garden.

Size & Details

This offering includes a healthy French Lavender live plant, provided as a well-rooted plug, ready for immediate planting. Each plant typically stands between 3-6 inches tall at the time of shipment, representing a robust young specimen with an established root system. While specific mature dimensions can vary based on growing conditions and pruning habits, French Lavender plants generally mature to a height of 18-24 inches and a similar spread, forming an attractive, mounding shrub. The growth rate is moderate, and you can expect to see significant development and flowering in the first full growing season after planting. These plants are shipped in a manner that protects their delicate roots and foliage, ensuring they arrive in optimal condition for transplanting into your garden beds, patio containers, or herb garden. Expect the first fragrant blooms to appear in late spring to early summer, with subsequent flushes throughout the season if regularly deadheaded. The ‘French’ type refers to the Lavandula stoechas species, known for its distinct ‘bunny ear’ bracts above the flower spikes.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: Your French Lavender live plant will arrive as a 3-6 inch tall well-rooted plug. When mature, it typically grows to about 18-24 inches tall and wide, forming a beautiful, mounding shrub.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: French Lavender is primarily an outdoor plant. It thrives in full sun and is best suited for garden beds, borders, or outdoor containers. While it can be overwintered indoors in very cold climates, it generally prefers outdoor conditions.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: For optimal growth and abundant flowering, growing lavender outdoors requires at least 6-8 hours of direct full sun exposure per day. Adequate sunlight is crucial for healthy development and strong fragrance.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, French Lavender is considered relatively easy to care for once established. It is drought-tolerant and requires minimal fertilization. The most important aspects of lavender plant care are ensuring full sun and well-draining soil.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your lavender plant will be shipped as a healthy, well-rooted plug, carefully packaged to protect it during transit. It will be ready for immediate planting upon arrival.
• Q: Can I use this lavender in cooking? A: Yes, French Lavender can be used sparingly in culinary applications, similar to other lavender varieties. Its floral, slightly piney flavor is wonderful in desserts, beverages, and some savory dishes.
• Q: When is the best time to plant this French Lavender? A: The best time to plant French Lavender is in spring after the last frost, or in early fall in milder climates. This allows the plant to establish its root system before extreme temperatures.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: This French Lavender is hardy in USDA Zones 5-9. If you are in these zones, it should successfully overwinter outdoors. In colder zones, it can be grown as an annual or brought indoors during winter.
• Q: What type of soil does French Lavender prefer? A: French Lavender thrives in well-draining, sandy soil. It prefers lean to moderately fertile conditions and can tolerate slightly alkaline to neutral pH levels. Avoid heavy, water-retentive clay soils.
• Q: Is this a perennial lavender flower? A: Yes, this is a perennial lavender, meaning it will return year after year in appropriate USDA hardiness zones. It will provide beautiful perennial lavender flowers for many seasons.