I have two of these that seem to be happy where they are growing. I want to keep them that way! Can someone tell me what type it is and do I cut it back in spring to keep its shape? When I pick flowers, do I cut the branch down at the bottom or leave some of the stem intact? I'd like to dry some and hang a few sprigs in the house.
Does this picture help? I'm just looking for the type (English, French, Spanish?) not the cultivar. I've looked at photos and just can't tell which family it belongs in.
I believe that is Spanish lavender. French tends towards a more grey leaf.
Thank you, Betty! I'm very bad at matching things to pictures, because if it doesn't match eggggxactly it doesn't match, period. lol
I found this page that explains the different varieties http://www.greenworldmag.com.au/article.asp?ArticleID=92
Didn't realize the L. stoechas could be invasive. There is a grower nearby and I think I'll check there for something else to try. The scent is too strong for me close up, but I like the plants and their flowers.
kaperc, French and Spanish lavenders tend to have more of that camphor-type smell. English lavender is the "cleaner" smelling lavender. Not sure how it would grow for you in San Diego. I grew English lavender in the Mojave, but it gets a bit cooler at nights than San Diego does. Then, again, it gets a lot hotter during the day than San Diego too.
I agree.. and spanish lavender blooms earlier, with those "bunny ears." Your plant is lovely!
My lavenders generally bloom on longer stalks, and I just cut them about where the leaves begin... it won't hurt to trim back a few branches, though, to get longer flower stems for cutting. (Strip the leaves though if you're putting them in water... underwater foliage gets yucky.)
DeBaggio says to prune lavender in early spring, just before new growth begins in earnest (I watch for tips to start greening up). But I think it's also OK to trim it a little at other times (no more than 1/4 to 1/3 of the length from any branch point) to shape it up and encourage branching. Just don't pinch it back close to when you might expect cold weather, since new growth needs some time to harden up.
OK, now the mystery is unraveling. Years ago my DMIL sent me a set of lavender scented products from the Lake District in England. I had to get them out of the house because I couldn't stop sneezing. Sent them to my mother, who loved them! The plants I have now don't bother me and I wondered why. Guess if I get any of the English type I will put it way out in the garden and enjoy it from afar! I would like to have a white one.
Thanks again for your help.
We cross-posted, Critter. Thanks for that info. I'm going to visit a couple of the many growers around here and see what I can find that I can enjoy. Perhaps there is an English type that won't bother me too much if I don't stick my nose in the plant! lol
I went out to cut a few yesterday to hang in the guest bath, and couldn't detect a scent at all.
Check out http://www.debaggioherbs.com/
Unfortunately, they don't ship (and I don't mean to be a tease), but their web site does have a lot of good information on lavender.
I love their 'shopping list' feature. Here's one of the places I'm thinking of visiting http://www.rustyacres.com/index.htm
