What plant likes the same growing conditions as Lavender, and makes a nice companion?
companion plant for lavender?
I like red lantana with it - in my zone lantana not a perennial, however it is easy to replace each season with small 4 inch pots that grow very quickly. The kind I get don't get so high as much as spread sideways. I imagine yellow would look good too.
Bluebunn, I've always heard that roses are great and attractive companion plants to lavender, also many salvias. I've row of Munstead lavender growing in front of a Portugese laurel hedge. The grey foliage of the lavender has a pleasing contrast to dark green of the laurel. In front of the lavender is candytuft white. This planting area has only been in the ground about a year so it's still seems sparse.
A few years ago I saw one of my favorite uses of lavender in a garden design. It was planted as a border hedge overspilling one side of a walkway that lead to a welcoming cottage style little teahouse. The aroma of lavender filled the air, and was instantly relaxing. While writing this I decided I'll plant more lavender.
Kristin
HI ya...
I LIVE in lavender country! It grows like weeds here and we have lavender farms upon lavender farms...AND... a huge lavender festival annually.
One of my favorite yards here combines CA poppies with the lavender. CA poppies grow with water or NO WATER. As you probably already know lavender likes to be WELL DRAINED...and never soggy. I have lavender starts pop up in the cracks of my sidewalks!
Anyhow... I grow the "Becky" variety Shasta Daisies because the ocean breeze does NOT break them over...no matter what! That was their big selling point when they came out as plant of the year several years back. SO... lavender, Becky's and CA poppies are my fav. Also... to get that beautiful purple blue back in the fall people often companion plant those purple bush asters with them. It repeats the same color combo as the lavender in bloom.
Here's a link to our 2009 festival
http://www.lavenderfestival.com/
Stunning!
This message was edited Feb 17, 2009 8:52 PM
Highmtn, thank you for your bit of info on using CA poppies. I do have poppy seeds this year and will plant them near the lavender.
Kristin
I'm going to try butterfly weed, Asclepias tuberosa next to my lavender. Orange and purple flowers for a big contrast. Another possibility, with a really lovely pink smoky seed head would be Prairie Smoke, Geum triflorium.
I forgot about the geum - I have near lavender - looks great...a hot orange.. Mrs. Bradshaw
This message was edited Feb 28, 2009 11:49 AM
I wish I lived in lavender country!
Your welcome Kristin!
But...you can't be shy. CA poppies are pushy...but after they bloom you can pull them out in the fall and they reseed. I wish I had taken pictures of the one yard that convinced me to try them... it was just amazing!
There are some people who hate them, but I've never EVER been sorry for planting them.
You can grow any of the Mediterranean herbs with lavender, tricolor Sage or variegated oregano or thyme for example. Chives offer the lovely pink seed heads and the grassy leaves offer a nice contrast.
Irises, particularly the ones with the variegated leaves (lovely season long green and white stripes), the chives are pretty with these also. I also have grown the lavender with sedum "Misty Morn" which also has a green and white variegated leaves and lovely white flowers that form long lasting rusty seed heads, nice winter contrast to the silvery lavender leaves.
Verbena canadensis also works well.
I can't find the photo I have with the irises among the lavender but this photo shows them in a similar hot dry area next to the asphalt. It also shows the lovely pink flowers of the Geum triflorium and another plant that likes it sandy and dry birdsfoot violet.
Highmtn,
I just reread your post suggesting bush asters with lavender for an extended season of purple blooms.That sounds good to me. What asters are you referring to?
I always get a repeat bloom at the end of the summer if I cut the lavender flowers quickly after the first bloom, this would extend the season even further.
Well...there are MANY varieties. Some are darker purple (leaning to blueish - which I prefer) then others ( leaning to burgundy colors). I just purchased the ones in local nurseries when I see the right shade on the bloom. I'm working towards a low maintenance cottage look. So... After putting in just a few low need flowers I sprinkle CA poppy seeds... often Johnny-Jump Up seeds... and things that like to be "happy and free"...lol
Here's a google link to what I'm talking about. Actually...in this country people grow these so freely that usually friends have a clump they want to divide and ...there ya go!...lol
Asters - my favorite shade would be photo #7 in this line up
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=Purple+Asters&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2
Those variegated iris are something else. They add another dimension and make you look twice. What are they called?
Re: Variegated iris. I got some last year from the iris co-op in Sept. called Zebra if you like Iris, definitely keep your eyes peeled for that one. It's very fast and furious and wonderful.
When I lived in AZ there was a gentleman who did a row of lavender in front of some roses that was gorgeous. I'd also think about mixing some of the different types - I haven't grown any (and maybe you can get some comments from some one who has) but I've seen them sold in white and pink. There's also different shades of the foiliage, silver to green, and different forms of the flowers - http://www.mooseyscountrygarden.com/foliage-plants/lavender-bush.jpg . I've heard that called Spanish lavender, but I really am not sure what it is.
Thanks Highmtn for the aster photos.
katie59,
The Irises in the photo are Iris pallida. You can get either the ones with the white stripe like mine called Argentea (means silvery), or Aurea for a creamy yellow stripe. It's really the foliage not the bloom that is decorative, although the flowers smell a little like grapes.
Pagancat, I have a few types of lavender mixed together and I particularly like one for it's longer softer looking leaves and another for the pale almost white flowers. The lighter flowers look nicer longer when dried in decorative bouquets.
I did see a lovely combination growing of a small pink hardy geranium and the pink flowered lavender.
You just have to be careful to get the lavenders that are hardy in your area.
Lavender and roses are a classic combination, very pretty.
PaganCat..
The local stores call that lavender "Spanish" here too. It took me awhile to warm up to that particular "look" of lavender, but I really like it now! It stays short and compact...which makes it fun to poke around the yard. I don't think it's as fragrant (high in oils) as some varieties. I have never had problems with mine "sprawling out" as some claim but I think that can vary due to how much water they do or don't get. I grow mostly Grosso and Hidcote. Low water requirements ...and very easy plants for our area.
Here's a little primer from a local lavender farm.
http://www.purplehazelavender.com/varieties.html
Just remember that IF you plant any lavender close to a walkway you will have LOTS of honey bees and bumblers around. They really don't bother you because they are busy working the flowers but if you have little kids around that could be a problem. My walk is lined with lavender and I have no problems with my pollen addicted friends. The bees help to keep everything in the entire yard better pollinated.
This message was edited Feb 21, 2009 9:32 AM
So iris pallida it is!! I'll go find some. I actually rally like irises more for their foliage than anything else, anyway. Although I must say I've never smelled a fragrant one - just learned last year that some of them are fragrant. I got a couple from a gal who was dividing hers and am looking forward to enjoying their blossoms. Anyone know how long it takes a young un' to bloom?
Highmtn, every year I think about heading over the the lavender festival. It has gotten so big!! I remember back when it was just starting. Where does the time go? Lavender has to be one of my most favorite smells . . .
Katie59
Well........it IS HUGE NOW! The weather has not been kind to the festival the last few years but we still go at LEAST to the quilt show. I take the back roads to work JUST so I can drive past the fields in the summer. I drive slow with my windows rolled down and allllllll the scents are like heaven on earth. One does have to put up with the occasional lavender intoxicated bumble bee ending up in the car but as a rule they mean no harm... they're just enjoying the same thing I'm enjoying...LOL
Here...feast your eyes on this. I think I'm going to be in ID this year when it happens.
Sequim Lavender Festival
http://www.lavenderfestival.com/
My parents owned property in Sequim for awhile when they thought they might retire there. My dad was in the FAA and there are quite a few ex-air-traffic controllers there, I guess. Wish they still had it . . .