Lavender
By Pat Voss, U. C. Master Gardener
Lavender
Lavender grows well in Napa Valley's Mediterranean climate, so I was elated to see cultivars ranging from white to pink, light blue, violet and deep purple. This highly scented plant has an eclectic and versatile personality. There are small, medium and large cultivars. They can be part of an herb, ornamental or vegetable garden and will draw beneficial insects. You can use them as a border or hedge, plant them on a hillside or in a rock garden. Many people grow lavender for crafts, such as sachets, and the camphor-free sweet lavenders, such as the angustifolias, can be used as a culinary herb, although some find it too strong for food.
In our climate, lavender will thrive if you follow a few guidelines. Place the plant in an area that gets four to six hours of sun per day. Lavender needs excellent drainage; the most common failing is root rot from standing water. In their natural habitat, lavenders grow in limestone-based soils. You can add lime in autumn or incorporate it into the soil before planting. If you have clay soil, work in a good planting mix to lighten it.
Excessive fertilizing may actually be detrimental. It may cause the plant to be more vulnerable to fungal attack or to produce tender growth that succumbs to early frost. When it comes to fertilizer, lavenders are amazingly self-reliant.
When choosing cultivars, consider color, ultimate size and intended use. The following are among my favorites:
White lavender:
Lavandula angustifolia 'Nana Alba:' Bushy and small, reaching approximately one foot in height with six-inch spikes and dense gray-green foliage. Flowers are white; calyx and buds are green. This cultivar would be suitable for a border or small hedge.
L. x intermedia 'Alba' (or 'Hidcote White'): Bushy and large, reach three to four feet in height. Stalks are green and 10 to 14 inches long. Flowers are white, long and narrow.
Pink lavender:
L. angustifolia 'Melissa:' Reaching three to four feet in height, with an upright, bushy habit and dense gray-green foliage. Flowers are soft lavender-pink. Suitable for ornamental or hedging purposes.
L. angustifolia 'Little Lottie:' A small, bushy plant reaching a little over one foot in height, with dense gray-green foliage. Its pink flowers are fuller than 'Melissa.' Can be used in containers or as an ornamental.
L. angustifolia 'Jean Davis:' Reaching two to three feet in height with dense gray-green foliage. Flowers are lavender-pink with shades of mauve-pink.
Purple lavender:
L. angustifolia 'Munstead' (or 'Dwarf Munstead'): Habit is bushy, with dense green foliage. Reaches two to three feet in height, with a semi-upright habit. Flowers are dark lavender-violet.
L. angustifolia 'Royal Velvet:' Reaches two to three-and-a-half feet in height. Growth is semi-upright. Spikes are four to six inches long. Flowers are bright violet-blue and the calyx is dark violet. Colorful and suitable for feature planting or for crafts.
L. angustifolia 'Twickel Purple:' Beautifully shaped lavender, spherical and semi-tall at approximately three and a half feet with open green to gray-green foliage. Spikes are long. Flowers are bright violet blue fading to a dark lavender violet. The calyx is dark violet. Buds are a brighter violet. Appropriate for a hedge where a sprawling effect is desired. Also suitable as an ornamental or fragrant craft plant. This lavender must be pruned regularly to maintain its appearance.
Napa Valley nurseries carry a wide variety of lavender. Other good sources include Morningsun Herb Farm in Vacaville and Goodwin Creek Gardens in Oregon . Goodwin Creek Gardens carries approximately 70 varieties and accepts mail orders.
With good drainage, lavenders can be a fall planting project. The winter rains will get them off to a good start.