Yes, Spanish lavender should be cut back every few years to encourage new growth and enhance the beauty of the plant. To do this, it’s best to prune Spanish lavender right after its first blooming season in spring.
Begin pruning by removing any dead stems, then starting at the oldest stem and working up, look for stems that are thin and weak. Gently prune these stems, cutting them to just above a leaf node, which is a point at the base of the stem where new growth can develop.
Once these thin, weak stems are removed, continue to prune up towards the top of the plant, cutting stems back slightly to encourage new growth and to maintain the desired shape of the Spanish lavender plant.
If you’d like, it’s also possible to prune the entire plant back to a few inches above the soil level. This will encourage numerous new shoots to grow, which should produce a lovely fuller display of Spanish lavender.
When cutting back Spanish lavender, be sure to use sharp gardening shears or pruners and sterilize them between each cut with rubbing alcohol to prevent the spread of disease.
Does Spanish lavender come back every year?
Yes, Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas) is a hardy perennial plant. It grows best in warm, sunny climates, and once it is established, it will come back every year. Spanish lavender is a low maintenance, drought resistant plant that can survive temperatures down to 15 F (-9 C).
It grows to about 2 to 3 feet high (0.6-0.9 m) and produces whorls of fragrant, purple flowers with distinctive bracts. To ensure your Spanish lavender will return year after year, plant it in well-drained soil in a spot that gets full sun and keep it well watered during the summer months.
Pruning the plant after flowering and removing any dead or diseased stems will also help to ensure its survival and encourage a more prolific flowering period.
Will Spanish lavender survive winter?
Most types of Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas) are considered to be hardy in USDA planting zones 8 to 11 and will typically survive the winter. However, in colder climates, winter temperatures can still be too cold for Spanish lavender to survive.
When temperatures drop below 0 degrees Fahrenheit, the plant should be specifically protected or brought indoors so that it can survive through the winter season.
Some tips on preparing Spanish lavender for the winter include cutting back the plants after they have flowered, watering the plants lightly in late fall, and creating a blanket of mulch around the plants’ base.
Make sure that none of the mulch is touching the plant, as this can cause rot. Additionally, prune the tops of the plants to prevent excessive growth and damage from cold temperatures. Spanish lavenders can also benefit from being transplanted to spots in the garden that receive more sun and air circulation, as this can help keep the roots insulated and warm in a cold climate.
Why is my Spanish lavender not blooming?
One possibility is that your plant may not have enough sunlight exposure. Lavender generally grows best in sunny locations and needs at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day to produce blooms.
If your lavender is not in a location where it gets plenty of sun, that can definitely inhibit its blooming.
It’s also possible that your lavender is not receiving enough water. When planted, lavender should be watered regularly for the first few weeks, and then adjusted to being watered deeply once every one or two weeks.
If your soil is shallow or not retaining water well, this could also be a factor impacting blooming.
In addition, lavender needs well-drained soil with a pH of 7 or less. If your soil is too alkaline and not acidic enough, it can cause the blossoms to not appear. You can determine the pH level of your soil by purchasing a soil testing kit or having a professional do the testing.
Finally, trimming your lavender is also important. Removing spent blooms, as well as trimming back any dead/wilted stems, encourages new flowers to grow.
Considering the above factors, if your Spanish lavender is not blooming, it’s possible that it is not getting enough sunlight, water or proper soil conditions or that it has not been trimmed properly.
If this is the case, adjusting these elements to ensure proper growth and blooming can help your lavender reach its full potential.
Can Spanish lavender be grown indoors?
Yes, Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas) can be grown indoors with the right amount of light and care. When grown inside, they require plenty of direct sunlight. Place them in a south- or west-facing window where they can receive at least 6 hours of sunlight a day.
The room temperature should not be higher than 20°C (68°F), with nighttime temperatures no lower than 15°C (59°F). Spanish lavender enjoys a well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Make sure the soil is moist but not saturated, and water your lavender regularly.
They should be fertilized with a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer once a month when the weather allows it, or in winter every other month. In addition, lavender requires a lot of air circulation, so purchase an oscillating or box fan to circulate the air in your home.
With regular watering and plenty of sunlight, you should have beautiful Spanish lavender blooming in no time!.
Where are the seeds in Spanish lavender?
The seeds of Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas) can be found within the flowers of the plant, located at the tip of the stems. Specifically, these flowers have fuzzy bracts which contain the seeds and can be easily identified by their unique shape, such as a flag or the head of a fly.
The seeds are tiny, oval-shaped, and dark brown in color. When ripe, they will easily break away from the flower and will drop to the ground or be blown away by wind. Collecting the seeds is fairly easy; they can be lightly raked up, or if necessary, the flower heads can be cut and gently shaken so the seeds fall out.
Can you use Spanish Lavender for tea?
Yes, it is possible to use Spanish Lavender for tea. Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas) is a type of lavender that has been used for centuries for culinary and medicinal purposes. It is a fragrant herb that is known for its calming and soothing effects.
It has been used to help treat insomnia and reduce stress and anxiety. Spanish Lavender has a mild, sweet flavor that pairs well with other herbs and spices. To prepare a tea, you can either steep the flowering buds of Spanish Lavender in hot water or add freshly chopped leaves to your tea blend.
The tea can be enjoyed both hot and iced and can be sweetened with honey or your favorite sweetener. For those who wish to add additional aromatics, a pinch of cinnamon or a few drops of lemon juice can also be added.
What is the difference between lavender and Spanish Lavender?
The main difference between lavender and Spanish lavender is the type of plant. Lavender (Lavandula) is a genus of 47 known species of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae, while Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas) is just one of those species.
Lavender plants have many different uses, such as for aromatherapy, medicinal purposes, baking, medicines, and crafts. Spanish lavender is known for its vibrant purple flowers and its sweet flavor, and is often used in cooking and as a garnish.
Whereas Lavender is an evergreen shrub with small narrow leaves and small, fragrant purple, pink, or white flowers, Spanish Lavender is a bushy, aromatic subshrub with very narrow, greyish-green leaves.
Its distinctive bright purple flowers with large decorative bracts are arranged in terminal spikes. Spanish lavender has a sweeter scent than other varieties of Lavender, making it an ideal ingredient for bath products, candles, and potpourris.
In terms of hardiness and climate requirements, Lavender is generally more tolerant of cold temperatures and prefers a sunny location, while Spanish lavender is more tolerant of heat, humidity, and can tolerate some shade.
Both plants require well-drained soil and should not be over-watered.
Which is the strongest smelling lavender?
The type of lavender that typically has the strongest smell is Lavandula angustifolia, which is sometimes known as English Lavender, True Lavender, or Lavender Officinalis. This species is native to the Mediterranean areas, although it is cultivated all around the world, and is particularly well known for its beautiful purple flowers and calming scent.
It is used in aromatherapy, and its essential oil is particularly concentrated, with the highest levels of linalool, which is thought to be the main contributor to lavender’s pleasant scent. This oil has a slightly different scent than other types of lavender due to its high levels of linalool, leading people to find it to be especially soothing, calming, and restorative.
Additionally, the scent is slightly sharper and more floral than other types of lavender, which are known for their sweeter and more herbal notes.
Which type of lavender is best?
The type of lavender that is best really depends on what you’re wanting to use it for. Generally, English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is better for culinary purposes and its oil is great for soaps, perfumes, and other beauty products.
French lavender (Lavandula dentata) is best for drying and is also great for crafting. Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas) is great for adding an extra burst of colour to your garden, and its sweet scent makes it great for all-around use.
In terms of essential oil, it is believed that the hybrid lavender (Lavandula x intermedia) produces a more aromatic oil. However, some users report that the English lavender oil has a stronger aroma.
All lavender varieties do well in warm, sunny areas with well-drained soil but require some pruning to maintain a healthy, compact size and to promote more blooms. Ultimately, the type of lavender that is best depends on what purpose you are wanting to use it for.
How do I know if I have English lavender?
If you are wondering if you have English lavender on your property, you will want to look for certain characteristics. English lavender is a small shrub that has slender grey-green leaves and blooms from late spring to late summer.
It has long, slim spikes of flowers and blooms in shades of purple and violet. When crushed, it gives off a distinct aroma, which is described as ‘very sweet and pleasant’. If you want to be sure what type of lavender you have, you can also look for its scientific name, Lavandula angustifolia.