🌿 Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia (English lavender); Lavandula × intermedia (Lavandin)

herbs Perennial woody shrub Lamiaceae

☀️ Sun

Full sun; 8+ hours daily. Insufficient sun = leggy plants + poor oil production.

💧 Water

Drought-tolerant once established. Water deeply but infrequently. Overwatering is the #1 killer , causes root rot. Let soil dry between watering.

🗺️ Zones

USDA zones 5-9 (English); 5-8 (Lavandin)

🧪 Soil pH

6.5-8.0 (prefers alkaline, well-drained, sandy/gravelly soil; dislikes acid)

🪴 Soil Type

Excellent drainage is CRITICAL; sandy, gravelly, alkaline; pH 6.5-8.0. Add lime if acidic. Raised beds or mounds in clay soil. Poor soil with good drainage is better than rich wet soil.

📏 Spacing

24-36 inches apart (needs airflow to prevent fungal issues)

📐 Height

18-36 inches depending on variety

⏱️ Maturity

Can harvest lightly year 1; full harvest years 2-5; replace after 5-8 years

🍴 Edible Parts

🍽️ Flowers (culinary grade) 🍽️ Leaves (sparingly)

Key:🤝 Grows well together❌ Keep apart☀️ Sun needs💧 Water🗺️ Hardiness zone

🤝 Companions (10)

🤝 Cabbage/Brassicas

Strong scent helps mask brassicas from cabbage moths.

🤝 Echinacea

Lavender attracts pollinators that benefit echinacea; drought-tolerant pairing.

🤝 Fruit trees

Attracts pollinators to fruit trees; repels codling moth and other fruit pests.

🤝 Hyssop

Both are aromatic Mediterranean herbs; hyssop attracts pollinators that benefit lavender.

🤝 Rosemary

Identical Mediterranean growing needs; strong aromatic pest deterrence.

🤝 Roses

Classic pairing; lavender repels aphids from roses and hides bare rose canes. Traditional English cottage garden combination.

🤝 Sage

Mediterranean herb companion; similar care requirements.

🤝 Summer Savory

Summer savory's pest-repelling properties complement lavender; both thrive in similar dry conditions.

🤝 Thyme

Shared dry, sunny conditions; combined ground-level pest protection.

🤝 Yarrow

Yarrow accumulates nutrients and attracts beneficial insects that complement lavender's pest-repelling properties.

⚠️ Keep Apart (5)

⚠️ Cilantro / Coriander

Cilantro and lavender are incompatible , competing nutrients, shared disease risks, or allelopathic interference.

⚠️ Hostas and ferns

Completely incompatible growing conditions.

⚠️ Impatiens and shade plants

Lavender needs full sun and dry soil; moisture-loving companions cause problems.

⚠️ Mint

Completely different water needs; mint's moisture requirements cause lavender root rot.

💊 Medicinal Uses

Conditions Treated

💊 Anxiety and stress (one of the most studied aromatherapy anxiolytics) 💊 Insomnia (well-documented sleep aid; linalool and linalyl acetate are sedative) 💊 Headaches and migraines (especially tension headaches; topical application to temples) 💊 Minor burns and wounds (antimicrobial and wound-healing) 💊 Skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis, acne , anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial) 💊 Insect bites and stings (anti-inflammatory, reduces itching) 💊 Muscle pain and tension (antispasmodic) 💊 Fungal infections (ringworm, candida, athlete's foot) 💊 Hair loss (alopecia areata , some clinical evidence for lavender oil massage)

Preparation Methods

Aromatherapy: 3-5 drops lavender essential oil in diffuser for anxiety and insomnia
Lavender tea: 1-2 tsp dried flowers steeped 10 min (mild sedative , less potent than essential oil)
Topical oil: 2-5% lavender essential oil in carrier oil; massage into temples for headache, chest for anxiety
Burn care: 2-3 drops lavender oil in 1 tbsp carrier oil applied to minor burns (after cooling with water)
Sleep pillow: Dried lavender flowers in sachet under pillow
Bath: Handful of dried flowers or 5-10 drops essential oil in bath for relaxation and muscle tension
Tincture: 1:5 in 45% alcohol; 1-2ml for mild anxiety (less common than aromatherapy)
Facial toner: Lavender hydrosol (floral water) for acne-prone skin
Insect bite relief: 1 drop neat lavender oil on mosquito bites (one of few oils safe for neat application on small areas)

Active Compounds

⚗️ Linalool ⚗️ Linalyl acetate ⚗️ 1,8-cineole ⚗️ Camphor ⚗️ Terpinen-4-ol

⚠️ Safety

Generally safe. Lavender essential oil may cause skin irritation in some , always patch test. Some evidence that lavender oil may have weak estrogenic effects (controversial , linked to prepubertal gynecomastia in a few case reports; not confirmed in broader studies). Avoid internal use of essential oil. Pregnant women should use essential oil sparingly and diluted. Do not apply undiluted to large areas.

📜 History & Folklore

🏛️ Ancient

Romans used lavender in baths ('lavare' = to wash), for wounds, and as perfume. Egyptians used lavender in mummification. Greeks used it for insomnia and 'sickness of the head.'

🏰 Medieval

Used as a strewing herb on floors, in linen chests, and in 'tussie-mussies' (nosegays) to ward off plague. 'Four Thieves Vinegar' included lavender during the plague. Used in medieval monastery infirmaries for 'disorders of the head.'

🌿 Folk Medicine

Used in European folk medicine for 'nervous headaches,' 'hysteric complaints,' and as a 'cephalic' (head medicine). Lavender bags placed under pillows for sleep and in linen closets. Used extensively in English country gardens and cottage medicine.

🛒 Buy Seeds & Plants

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds Johnny's Selected Seeds Botanical Interests True Leaf Market Burpee Territorial Seed Company

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