Michigan State University Extension
Ornamental Plants plus Version 2.0 - 00000835
01/01/98
Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9 Height: 2 ft Spread: 18 in Type: herbaceous evergreen perennial Flowers: Purple
Comments: Lavender produces gray foliage and purple flowers. Most plants are 2 to 3 feet tall but some varieties are shorter. The plants tolerate clipping and grow best in a sunny location in a dry somewhat infertile soil. Protect the crowns during the winter. Plants are more susceptible to winter injury when grown in wet, heavy soil. Shear the plants back in the spring to promote growth and remove winter-killed branch tips. The dried flowers retain their fragrance for a long time.
Propagation: Lavender may be propagated by cuttings or seed. Softwood cuttings can be taken in the spring. Gardeners with a cold frame may take cuttings from side shoots in late summer and fall and root them in the cold frame. The seed germinates in 8 to 12 days at temperatures between 70 and 75 degrees.
Cultivars:
'Dwarf Blue' - Dark, lavender-blue flowers on plant 12
inches tall and 18 inches wide.
'Hidcote Blue' - Dark purple flowers are produced by
compact, 1-foot tall plants.
X intermedia 'Grosso' - Very fragrant, dark violet
flowers.
X intermedia 'Provence' - These 3-foot tall plants
produce mauve flowers.
'Jean Davis' - Pale pink flowers on plants 15 inches
tall.
'Munstead Strain' - Lavender flowers, plants to 18
inches tall.
'Rosea' - Pink flowers on plants about 15 inches tall.
References for Cultivars: Walters Gardens 1997, Monrovia Nursery Company 1997, Lake County Nursery 1997, Bailey Nurseries 1997, Ray Wiegand's Nursery 1997.