English lavender is cold-hardy but thrives in a mild climate with full sun and well-draining soil.
It takes about three growing seasons to reach its full size.
Warning
When ingested, English lavender is toxic to humans and pets.
The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
Shady locations usually cause the plant to become leggy and produce fewer blooms.
Humus-rich, damp soils frequently cause root rot.
Strive for a soil similar to its native Mediterranean region, where the soil is dry and infertile.
The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
Adding organic material to the soil is not only unnecessary but might cause problems.
Water
Young English lavender plants should be watered every other day for the first week.
Once established, they are quite drought-tolerant, and too much water inhibits their ability to bloom.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Mature plants only need to be watered during periods of dry weather, about once per week.
The plants do poorly in humid climates.
Fertilizer
Do not fertilize English lavender, which may inhibit its ability to flower.
The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
Never cut into the old woody stems.
There is no need to throw away the parts that you have pruned.
Use them to make your own sachets andpotpourri.
Bundle the stems and hang them upside down to dry in a cool, dark, well-ventilated room.
You will know it’s time to repot the plant when you see roots coming out of the bottom.
Preferably, choose a terra-cotta pot that will help wick away excess moisture from the soil.
Keeping the root ball together, move the plant into the new pot with fresh, well-draining soil.
To avoid soil humidity issues, mulch the plants with rock or gravel rather than organic mulch.
In northern locations, potted English lavender plantsshould be winterizedto insulate the roots against the cold.
Common Plant Diseases
English lavender is not affected by many diseases.
However, it is susceptible to leaf spot androot rot.Remove affected leaves succumbing to leaf spot.
Plants with leaf spot might require better air circulation.
What Do English Lavender Blooms Look and Smell Like?
The actual flowers on lavender plants are small, densely packed, and shaped somewhat like pinecones.
Regarding their namesake color, lavender blooms are typically a purple shade.
Both the flowers and the leaves emit the signature fragrance, a combination of woodsy and sweet.
It may send out a second round of blooms.
English lavender has a moderately slow growth rate, growing to its mature size in about three seasons.
French lavenderis not as cold-hardy as English lavender.
The plant is larger and the scent of the flowers is more pungent.
North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension.
