Lavender Plant Growth

Description

• The lavender plant is a perennial herb. A member of the mint family, it that has green leaves that can develop a silvery hue, and small whorls of flower stalks that come in a range of colors such as purple, blue, white and pink. Of the different types of lavender, English lavender is perhaps the most widely cultivated; French lavender and many other hybrid plants, such as lavandin, are also grown.

Growth Requirements

• Lavender plants require three basic things in order to grow: lots of sunlight, alkaline soil and water. The Colorado State University Extension recommends watering lavender with drip irrigation or a soaker hose, one or two times per week until established, and every few weeks for mature plants. Placing mulch around the base of the plants helps conserve water and protects the roots during the winter months. Pruning lavender in the fall is necessary to maintain future plantings, keeping the plant from becoming too woody and from splitting.

Propagation

• Propagation with seeds is a slow process that takes at least six months to reach transplant size. The plants grown by seeds tend to have varying traits, like color and essential oil structure. North Carolina University's Mountain Horticulture Crops Research & Extension Center recommends propagating by using cuttings and divisions of roots for quicker production and maintenance of the plant's traits. Root growth using these methods generally takes place within 14 days of planting, with visibly sprouting plants within six to eight weeks.

Blooming Season

• Planting lavender in the fall in mild climates promotes better volume when the perennial plant begins to sprout in the spring. You should plant lavender in the spring if you live in an area that experiences harsh winters. Flowering occurs between mid-June and early July.

Problems

• Problems you may encounter growing lavender plants is their susceptibility to be infected by diseases; the most common is wilt, which causes quick browning, wilting and subsequent death of the foliage. When disease affects lavender plants, remove them from the garden so as not to infect nearby plants. You can control weeds by mulching around each plant; the North Carolina University Extension recommends using white sand around the base of each plant to control fungi and weeds. Insects rarely bother lavender plants.