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Growth Rate
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Moderate; reaches about 20–24 inches tall and 24–30 inches wide at maturity.
Forms a neat, rounded mound with upright flower spikes.
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Colorful leaves
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Flowering
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Yes |
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Bloom Color
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Disease resistant
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Yes |
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Cold Tolerant
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Yes |
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Heat Tolerant
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Yes |
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Drought Tolerant
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Yes |
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Deer Resistant
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Yes |
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Edible
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Yes |
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Wildlife Attraction
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Highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and pollinators.
Deer and rabbit resistant due to aromatic foliage.
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Self-pollinating
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Seasonality
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Blooms in early summer, with potential rebloom later in the season.
Foliage remains attractive year-round in mild climates.
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Ideal For
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– Borders, rock gardens, containers, cottage gardens, pollinator gardens, and fragrant pathways |
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Leaf Description
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Evergreen to semi-evergreen silvery-green leaves with a narrow, linear form.
Aromatic foliage releases a classic lavender scent when brushed or handled.
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Flower Description
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Produces large, deep blue-violet flower spikes on sturdy stems.
Blooms heavily from early to mid-summer, often reblooming with proper deadheading.
Flowers are long-lasting and excellent for cutting or drying.
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Planting Instructions
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Choose a full sun location with well-drained, sandy or gravelly soil.
Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth.
Mix in coarse sand or grit if the soil is heavy; lavender will not tolerate standing water.
Set the crown level with the soil surface, backfill, and water lightly to settle the soil.
Space plants 18–24 inches apart for air circulation and to prevent fungal issues.
Apply a thin layer of gravel or light mulch to retain moisture and improve drainage.
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Pruning & Maintenance
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Prune in early spring, cutting back about one-third of the plant to maintain shape and encourage new shoots.
Deadhead spent blooms through summer to promote continued flowering.
Avoid cutting into old woody stems, as they may not resprout.
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Water Needs
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Water deeply but infrequently during establishment.
Once established, drought tolerant—water only when soil is dry several inches down.
Avoid overwatering; lavender prefers to stay on the dry side.
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Light Needs
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Requires full sun (6+ hours daily) for best flower production and compact growth.
In extremely hot regions, a touch of afternoon shade helps prevent leaf scorch.
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Harvesting
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Harvest flowers just before full bloom for best fragrance and color retention.
Hang bunches upside down in a cool, dry place for drying.
Not grown for fruit—produces minimal seed.
Essential oils can be extracted from flowers for fragrance or aromatherapy use.
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Fertilizing
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Feed sparingly with a light, balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring.
Lavender prefers lean soils—too much nitrogen encourages soft, leggy growth with fewer blooms.
A small amount of compost can be added yearly to maintain soil structure.
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Pollination
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Pollinated by bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects attracted to its highly fragrant blooms.
Self-fertile but rarely sets viable seed; primarily propagated from cuttings.
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Companion Plants
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Perennials: Salvia, Nepeta, Echinacea, Coreopsis, and Gaura for colorful, pollinator-friendly borders.
Shrubs: Rosemary, Santolina, or dwarf conifers for texture contrast.
Groundcovers: Creeping thyme or sedum for dry, sunny spots.
Excellent for pairing with ornamental grasses or planted along pathways for fragrance.
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