Hello, I bought some Provence Lavender at Lowes the other dat for 77 cents I thought it was a bargin but I really don't know anything about it, except how pretty it is,Does it bloom all summer, and is it an annual I got 7 of them.They are about 10 inches tall,If they bloom all summer I wouldn't mind having more to put in my front bed. Thank you Margie moderator's note: added a more descriptive title to topic
They will probably be an annual where you are unless you dig them up and put them in a greenhouse or inside for the winter. They need full, hot sun and much less water than regular plants so don't plant them in a bed with plants that you will have to water daily or weekly. Also, don't cram them together, they need space for air flow. They will bloom all summer when they like where they are. I love having lavender and the bees really like it.
Tips... Here are some tips from the web: "Dampness is the biggest enemy of lavender and the drier the soil, the better it is. Plant the lavender when the weather is hot. Lavenders love hot sun and will grow well during summer. You can use seeds or plant cuttings. Fertilization is not really required for lavenders, but if your soil is old then a good mix of fertilizer can be beneficial. Do not overwater the plants. If the soil is not parched, then the lavender has enough water. Watering once in 3-4 days should be sufficient. Pruning is recommended in late fall. You can cut the plant to one third of its original height. They will grow back in spring and summer. Lavenders are naturally resistant to pests because of their aroma. They are disease resistant too. That is one less thing to worry about! You need to give utmost care to your lavenders in winter. Some varieties cannot stand harsh winters. The moisture from the melting snow can prove fatal to these plants. You can add a thick layer of mulch to help these plants survive cold weather. If your plants are in pots, then move them to a place where they are sheltered from snow. Lavenders need a lot of pampering in the winter. Once they survive through this harsh weather, they will bloom to the fullest in spring and summer." Best of luck!
I grow lavender outside here, on the sunniest, most sheltered spot we've got. They come back yearly and bloom too, but not profusely of course. They're the L. angustifolia type and are hardier than some.
They sound pretty carefree for my sunny pots. I bought one not too long ago at a garden show. Thanks for asking that question, Margie.
Where I live they grow in the sunniest locations and are very drought resistant. My soil is poor and the lavender grows well. They don't die out and are huge plants and bloom nearly all year. The bees love them. I think in a cooler wetter climate, it would be hard to grow them outdoors.
One thing I have learned from experience is don't crowd them. I had a pot of it and it grew really well the first year but the next year it barely came back at all. I have also read that overcrowding is one of the biggets reasons for luckluster performance of most lavendars.
