Lavender is a classic herb beloved for its delightful fragrance and pretty purple flowers. With its compact shrubby form, lavender is also a wonderful choice for planting in hanging baskets. The trailing stems and colorful blooms cascading over the edges of a hanging basket create a beautiful display.
In this article, we’ll look at how to select the best lavender varieties for hanging baskets and provide tips for successfully growing lavender in these unique containers.
Why Choose Lavender for Hanging Baskets?
There are many reasons lavender makes an excellent addition to hanging baskets:
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Form—Many types of lavender have a nice, round, compact shape that works well in small spaces.
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Fragrance – Lavender is prized for its fresh floral scent that perfumes the air Hanging baskets allow you to position the fragrance where you can best enjoy it.
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Flowers – The showy flower spikes add long-lasting color through spring and summer. As they bloom, the flowers cascade attractively over the basket edges.
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Low Maintenance – Lavender thrives with minimal care once established. A hanging basket is also a good place for it because it lets water drain away easily.
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Drought Tolerance – Lavender’s Mediterranean origins mean it’s well adapted to thrive in the fast-draining, sandy soils of hanging baskets.
Choosing the Best Lavender Varieties
With over 40 different lavender species, there are many options. The best choices for hanging baskets include:
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English Lavender – These compact varieties work well in containers. Good options include ‘Munstead’, ‘Hidcote’, and ‘Twickle Purple’.
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Spain Lavender: “Melissa Lilac” is a dwarf variety of Spain lavender that grows into a tight mound with flower spikes that stand straight up.
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French Lavender – Try ‘Grosso’ for its bushy shape and robust flowering. It has long stems perfect for draping over basket edges.
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Hybrids – ‘Ellagance Purple’ is a sturdy, early blooming hybrid between English and French lavender. Its profuse blooms and neat shape work great in hanging baskets.
Growing Tips for Lavender Hanging Baskets
Follow these tips to keep your lavender happy and healthy in a hanging basket:
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Sun Exposure – For prolific flowering, lavender needs at least 6 hours of full sun per day. Hang the basket in the sunniest location available.
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Soil – Use a lightweight, porous potting mix. Amend it with extra perlite or gravel to improve drainage. This mimics lavender’s preference for dry, sandy soil.
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Drainage – Ensure the basket has sufficient drainage holes. Consider lining it with landscape fabric to maintain airflow to plant roots.
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Watering – Allow the soil to dry out between waterings, then saturate until it drains from the bottom. Too much moisture can lead to root rot in lavender.
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Feeding – Apply a slow release fertilizer at planting time. Liquid feed monthly through the growing season for best growth and flowering.
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Pruning – Trim plants after the first flowering flush to encourage a compact shape. Avoid heavy fall pruning.
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Overwintering – Move indoor for winter if below freezing temperatures occur in your climate zone. Continue growing on a sunny windowsill.
Designing with Lavender Hanging Baskets
When it comes to designing with lavender hanging baskets, you have lots of options:
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Go Monochromatic – Planting different varieties of purple lavenders together creates a bold display.
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Complementary Colors – Combine the purple flowers with blue lobelia and white alyssum for a patriotic look.
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Contrasting Textures – Mix lavender with finely cut greens like asparagus fern for visual interest.
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Herb Combinations – Partner with rosemary, oregano or thyme for a culinary basket.
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Bee Garden – Add lavender to a pollinator basket with foxglove, salvia, and other bee-friendly blooms.
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Scent Sensation – Combine lavender, scented geraniums and lemon verbena for a fragrant hanging garden.
Growing Lavender Hanging Baskets
Caring for lavender in hanging baskets is easy with proper planting and care:
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Select a lightweight potting mix and amend with extra perlite or gravel to ensure excellent drainage.
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Place a layer of landscape fabric over drainage holes to maintain airflow to plant roots.
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Set new plants at the same soil level as they were growing in their nursery pots.
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Water thoroughly after planting and allow the soil to dry out between waterings.
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Apply a slow release fertilizer at planting time to support growth.
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Prune back after initial flowering to encourage bushy regrowth.
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Move indoors before frost if growing lavender as an annual.
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Refresh the basket with new plants each spring to maintain vigor.
Tips for Overwintering Potted Lavender
In areas with harsh winters, you’ll need to protect potted lavender by overwintering it indoors:
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Move plants inside before the first frost. Select the sunniest indoor location possible.
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Continue watering whenever the soil dries out, but avoid overwatering.
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Monitor for common pests like aphids, mealybugs and spider mites.
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Prune sparingly to maintain shape. Avoid major pruning that will stimulate growth.
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Cooler temperatures and limited water mimic outdoor dormancy. Don’t fertilize while overwintering.
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Transition plants back outside in spring after the danger of frost has passed.
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Gradually reacclimate to outdoor conditions to avoid transplant shock.
Enjoying Fragrance and Color
With its trailing purple blooms and lovely scent, lavender adds charm and fragrance to hanging baskets. Select compact varieties suited to container growing and provide well-drained soil and plenty of sun. With proper care, lavender is sure to be a stunning addition to your hanging basket designs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose the right lavender variety for hanging baskets?
Look for compact English lavender cultivars like ‘Munstead’ or ‘Hidcote’ that work well in containers. Spanish lavender like ‘Melissa Lilac’ and French lavender like ‘Grosso’ also make great choices.
What type of soil is best for lavender in hanging baskets?
Use a lightweight potting mix amended with extra perlite or gravel to ensure excellent drainage, which lavender prefers.
How often should I water lavender hanging baskets?
Allow the soil to dry out between waterings, then thoroughly saturate the soil. Too much moisture can cause root rot.
Should I fertilize lavender in hanging baskets?
Yes, apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer at planting time. Liquid feed monthly through spring and summer.
How do I overwinter lavender hanging baskets?
Move plants indoors before frost hits. Provide the sunniest location possible, water when dry, and avoid pruning or fertilizing during dormancy.
With its trailing blooms and lovely scent, lavender is sure to be a stunning addition to your hanging baskets. Follow these tips for success growing lavender in these unique containers.
How to plant a hanging basket video
This helpful video provides a step-by-step guide to planting up a hanging basket. Get your plants off to the best start by using the right compost, and positioning your plants to show them off to their best. These frequently asked questions provide some good pointers:
Which plants are best for a hanging basket?
Trailing plants like petunias, verbena and calibrachoa are best for planting your hanging basket. They cascade over the basket sides, where their flowers can be easily seen from below.
When can I put my hanging basket outside?
Put your hanging basket outside after the last frost date. This may be early May for those in the South, or late May for gardeners in the far north of the UK.
What should I do with my hanging basket after summer?
After summer, empty your hanging basket of annual plants and dispose of them. Move tender perennial hanging basket displays into a sheltered place to overwinter before the first frosts arrive. With a little luck, they should flower again the following year.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our top ten hanging basket plants. Share your fabulous hanging display with us via Twitter or Instagram, using #MyTMGarden. For even more hanging baskets information and advice, head to our hanging basket hub page.