I'm wanting to order some lavenders...another new plant addiction, I think. Can anyone suggest some good varieties for north Texas, zone 7? Also a good mail order nursery to order from? I like the descriptions of these...but not sure they would thrive in my area:
Giant Hidcote
White Grosso
Vera
Goodwin Creek
Sweet lavender
I have Silver Frost (beautiful white silver color)and Mitchum Gray from High Country and have ordered Sachet and Jean Davis from Mountain Valley Growers.
Lavender Suggestions
Blue Moon Nursery in Chandler told me (zone 7b) that I'd have the best luck with Spanish lavender. Other than that, I don't know a name. Check High Country Gardens.
Yes, I've orded from High Country before and am pleased with their plants. Thanks.
I see Goodwin Creek sold in many places and am trying it this year. In the past,I have only had success with Spanish as well. I have heard you need to have 1/2 the hole filled with(? lava)sand so it drains perfectly.
Have you been successful with the ones you have already?
I have always had lavender in my gardens In fact the first plant I bought after I moved here was goodwin creek lavender I have munstead, spanish,sweet, lace along with goodwin creek and all are going well.. its the second year for them . The only one I lost was a white lavender. cant remember the name of it.. Some are in pots waiting to be planted and some are in the ground Most I got for a buck or less on clearence at places like Lowes..l love sales..lol..I dont do anything special for them just mulch well and clip them back when dorment.
In fact I just read somewhere that lavender isnt supposed to do well in TX... could have fooled me...
I like to save the clippings and when I have a fire throw them on it for the smell I just forund a wonderful book that gives you ideas for what to do with lavender. I made a small 3x4 inch draw string bag out of a linen like material. I fill it with dried lavender, tie it shut and throw it in my dryer the clothes come out smelling wonderful and you can use the bag 3 or 4 times befoert you have to refresh it..
I love lavender..
Do y'all have your lavender in raised beds ?
I planted some a couple of years ago and it dried up & died it was like it didn't have any water but I know it did ..
I love lavender but guess I need a little help getting it to grow.
nope mine not in a raised bed per say. I took what I had added some compost and then planted.. Some of mine are in pots waiting to be planted and some are in the ground. lavender is tough. In most cases. you just have to find what variety will work in your area. lavender is grown from the arid dry areas of Mediterranean, to the lush areas of Franceand to Englands moist climate and it has adapted to all of them..
good luck!
I grew a big bed of lavender for a few years. One or two would die, then I'd replace them. Finally lost them all during the '06 non stop summer rains and never replaced them.
Most like well drained alkaline soils. Most sandy soils are acidic, but by planting them in sandy soil next to concrete walkways or slabs seems to really help. It's also important to keep wet leaves off of them during the winter. Mine seemed to do better if I mulched them by laying a big rock over the root zone or else I used pea gravel. HTH