Do All Lavender Plants Bloom?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Do all lavender plants bloom? Because

not all Lavenders bloom at the same time and some bloom continuously

, producing flowers all spring and summer. Planting one of each in your garden will reward you with heavenly fragrance and attractive flower spikes from spring until late summer.

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Why has my lavender not bloomed?


Your lavender is in the wrong spot in the garden

. Lavender originates in the sunny Mediterranean and needs at least six hours a day of sunlight to produce its fragrant blooms. Don’t plant your lavender under a tree – it will not flower. A very windy location is also not great, as lavender is used to still, hot summers.

How do I get my lavender plant to bloom?

To increase the amount lavender blooms,

plant lavender in full sun, with sandy soil and prune in the Spring to stimulate more growth to support more blooms

. Watering lavender too frequently and adding fertilizer can stress the plant which causes fewer blooms.

Do lavender plants always have flowers?

How long does it take lavender to bloom?

Lavender Species When does it bloom? How long does it bloom for?
English lavender


May/June


4 weeks
French Lavender May/June Up to 3 months until Fall Hybrid lavender June/July Up to 2 months until late Summer

When should lavender bloom?

While Lavender is usually regarded as a summer-blooming flower, some Lavender plants are early bloomers with their magnificent blooms appearing

early in spring

. Others are late bloomers with blooms opening up in midsummer and lasting until late summer. Some bloom almost continuously from spring to summer’s end.

How can I tell what kind of lavender I have?

Simply

use your nose and eyes to identify lavender plants

. Identify English lavender (L. angustifolia) by its sweeter fragrance with less of a camphor odor. You can also identify English lavender by its bloom period, which begins in early summer.

What happens if you don’t prune lavender?

An annual pruning is an important step for long-lasting lavender (Lavandula spp. and hybrids) plants. Without it they grow a large, lanky, woody base that can split open —

it looks bad and shortens the plant’s lifespan

.

Does lavender come back every year?

Lavender is a Low-Maintenance Perennial

And

this beauty will come back to your garden every year, for about 3-5 years

, so it’s a great investment. What is this? Before you make any plant purchases, however, I want to remind you to always choose plants that thrive in your plant hardiness zone.

Does lavender bloom the first year?

Once the lavenders are settled in the ground they will grow slowly the first year, but

most of them will bloom

, and by next year you will have a splendid supply of lavender to plant into a hedge or use as a colorful border for your perennial bed.

Should I cover my lavender for winter?

If you don’t get a good reliable snow cover, cover your plant bases with a well draining mulch, such as pea gravel, and/or cover the plant itself with a breathable fabric cover (like burlap or gardening blanket fabric), to protect from wind and freezing temperatures.

When should lavender be cut back?

“Ideally, you should prune your lavender twice in a growing season —

once in early spring and once in late summer, after it’s done blooming

,” she says. In early spring, Fedele suggests waiting until you see new growth before you prune. Then in late summer, after the plants have stopped blooming, prune again.

Should you cut lavender back?

Lavender does not break new growth easily from old stems so

don’t cut back into the woody stems

. Even if pruned annually, older lavender plants can become straggly, very woody and mis-shapen so, as they are fast growing and establish quickly, they are best replaced if you want to keep everything looking neat.

How often do lavender plants flower?

It often blooms

twice in one season

. Lavandins (L. x intermedia)—a hybrid of English and Portuguese lavender (L. latifolia)—are generally larger plants that bloom only once per year, later in the summer.

How often should lavender be watered?

Lavenders typically need to be watered

once every two weeks during the growing season (spring and summer)

. Outdoor lavenders will not need watering in Fall or Winter as they are in a dormant state and will attain enough water easily from the weather.

Does lavender stay green in winter?

Exceptionally tolerant of both hot and cold weather, Phenomenal lavender is built to withstand nature’s trials.

Not only does it retain its leaves throughout winter

, but it also stands up to humidity.

How long do lavender plants last?

When sited correctly and pruned judiciously, lavenders should live for

five to seven years

. Although lavender is fairly drought tolerant, adequate moisture is required throughout the growing season. Most critical are the weeks after planting to ensure that soil around the rootball does not dry out.

Why is my lavender plant not purple?

The lavender plant often turns gray due to

fungal infections

. Make sure to not overwater them. This Mediterranean plant grows best in warm conditions. During winter when it is exposed to cold weather, it turns gray as a result of frost damage.

How do you care for a potted lavender plant?

How can you tell the difference between French and English lavender?


French lavender is large and will grow from about 2 to 3 feet (61-91 cm.) tall and wide, while English lavender stays much smaller and more compact, although it may grow up to 2 feet (61 cm.)

. Bloom time. The flowers on these plants are similar in size, but they last much longer on French lavender.

What is the difference between lavender and a lavender tree?

What is the difference between lavender and French lavender?

English lavender is typically the most appealing variety when it comes to scent and is similar to rosemary.

French lavender has a stronger fragrance with more pine notes

, making it a popular choice for cleaning and home products. No smell is “better” than the other, it is largely based on individual preference.

Can I prune lavender in November?

Unpruned lavenders tend to become woody and have decreased blooms. However,

lavender should not be pruned during the winter

. Unlike many perennial plants and shrubs that can be pruned now, it is best to wait to prune lavender until after bloom in spring or in early fall before any danger of frost.

How do you winterize lavender?

If your plant will be inside for the winter,

keep it in a cool, non-freezing location with sunlight and air circulation

. Slow down watering of plants. Lavender prefers a dry soil, and the amount of rain that naturally falls will be sufficient for the plant.

Should I cut down my lavender in spring?

All lavenders bloom on the stems that grew in the current year. This means

pruning can be done in early or mid-spring without sacrificing the current year’s flowers

. Pruning in spring can delay flowering—which might be your preference—and it’s a good time to take down dead portions and shorten growth to the buds.

Can you leave lavender plant outside?


Lavender grows best outdoors

, but you can keep these aromatic gems alive through winter inside, too. Plus, lavender is not only pretty—its scent also brings a sense of calm to every room.

Does lavender spread on its own?


Lavenders do not spread by division, self propagation

or any other method apart from seeds dispersed from pods developed in their spent flower heads in late summer. (Although they are easily propagated with cuttings by gardeners).

Can dead lavender come back?


Whenever possible, compost dead plants so they can return to the soil

. If diseased, remove and burn. Should you replant right away (in fall) or wait until spring? Lavender plants need 8-10 weeks in the ground to get established before winter arrives.

Why is my lavender growing so slowly?

How long does it take for lavender to establish?

This lavender species performs best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 8. If starting new plants from seed, it will take

90 to 200 days

to reach maturity. English lavender is considered fully mature when it reaches between 1 and 2 feet in height with an equal spread.

How long does it take for a lavender plant to mature?

Lavender may bloom its first year, but it takes

three years

for plants to mature. Then you will have plenty of blooms to harvest for various uses. Harvest spikes of mature plants as soon as they bloom. Cut just above the leaves.

What do you do with potted lavender in the winter?

How do you take care of lavender in the summer?

  1. Check the soil around your lavender with a moisture meter once every week.
  2. Water the lavender with 1 inch of water when the moisture meter indicates the soil around the lavender is dry.

How do you rescue lavender leggy?

If the flowers have gone over and look dull, they’re developing into seedheads. You can

cut these back as soon as they form, using secateurs, or wait until October

. “At Norfolk Lavender, we give another light prune in early spring, mid-March. This tidies up ‘loose ends’ and gets them back into shape.

What to do with lavender after flowering?


Cut lavender stems back after they finish flowering for the first time to encourage a second flush of blooms

. Shape your plant as desired, cutting into green growth about 1 to 3 inches below the flowers. Garden Gate Magazine suggests keeping the outside stems lower than the middle stems.

What happens if you don’t prune lavender?

An annual pruning is an important step for long-lasting lavender (Lavandula spp. and hybrids) plants. Without it they grow a large, lanky, woody base that can split open —

it looks bad and shortens the plant’s lifespan

.

Rebecca Patel
Author
Rebecca Patel
Rebecca is a beauty and style expert with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She is a licensed esthetician and has worked with top brands in the beauty industry. Rebecca is passionate about helping people feel confident and beautiful in their own skin, and she uses her expertise to create informative and helpful content that educates readers on the latest trends and techniques in the beauty world.