English lavender, or Lavandula angustifolia, is a perennial plant. This hardy herb has been loved for hundreds of years for its lovely purple flowers and pleasant scent.
What is a Perennial Plant?
A perennial plant is one that lives for multiple years, unlike annuals that complete their lifecycle in a single season. Perennials emerge each spring from roots or crowns that survived the winter. Some perennial plants are short-lived, lasting just a few years, while others can persist for decades or even centuries.
Perennials can be herbaceous like lavender, dying back to the ground in autumn or woody shrubs and trees that maintain aboveground stems year-round. They flower and set seed each year after reaching maturity.
Key Traits of English Lavender as a Perennial
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Its leaves and woody stems survive the winter and regrow each spring.
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Mature plants bloom every year in summer without needing to be replanted.
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If left undisturbed, English lavender plants can live and bloom for 10-15 years or longer.
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It propagates reliably from cuttings and divisions of the mother plant.
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English lavender grows in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9, thriving as a perennial across most of the continental U.S.
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Like other perennial herbs, it develops extensive, deep root systems that store energy over winter.
Growth Habits of English Lavender
English lavender is considered a semi-woody subshrub. It has a woody base and stems that are made of herbs that die back every winter. In mild climates, the leaves stay green all year, but when winters get really cold, they fall off.
Mature lavender plants reach 1-3 feet tall and wide. Flowering stems rise above the foliage mound in early summer. After bloom, plants can become rangy looking. Pruning rejuvenates their appearance.
This versatile perennial grows well in beds and borders, cottage gardens, rock gardens, and containers. It combines nicely with old-fashioned roses, catmint, yarrow, and salvias.
Caring for Lavender as a Perennial
English lavender thrives when grown in a sunny, well-drained spot with sandy or gravelly alkaline soil. Good drainage is the key to growing lavender successfully. Wet winter soil is lethal.
Lavender needs little watering or fertilizing once established. In fact, plants that have grown too much because they were overwatered or fertilized are more likely to get hurt in the winter. Light pruning once a year in the spring keeps them bushy and lets them flower freely.
In very cold climates, mulching lavender over winter helps insulate the crown. Varieties like ‘Munstead’ and ‘Hidcote’ are among the most cold hardy types. Potted lavenders will need winter protection indoors in zones 4 and colder.
Uses for Perennial Lavender
Beyond its beauty in the landscape, English lavender has many uses that make it a handy perennial for gardeners and cooks:
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Fragrant cut or dried flowers for arrangements and potpourri
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Culinary herb for flavoring beverages, baked goods, syrups, etc.
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Lavender wands to freshen drawers and repel insects
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Source of relaxing essential oil
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Deer and rabbit resistant garden plant
The Takeaway
With proper planting and care, you can enjoy English lavender for many years as a dependable, low-maintenance perennial. It brings beauty, fragrance, and utility to gardens in a wide range of climates. Plant a hedge, border, or specimen plants and see for yourself why English lavender is a perennial favorite.
Common Plant Diseases
English lavender is not affected by many diseases. However, it is susceptible to leaf spot and root rot. Remove affected leaves succumbing to leaf spot. Plants with leaf spot might require better air circulation. To prevent root rot, do not overwater your plants; they do not do well in constantly moist soil.
Fertilizer
Do not fertilize English lavender, which may inhibit its ability to flower.
How to care for your English lavender
FAQ
Does English lavender come back every year?
Yes, English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is a perennial plant, meaning it typically comes back every year, especially in suitable climates and with proper care.
Can English lavender survive winter?
Yes, English lavender can survive winter, especially if it’s the right variety for your climate and receives some winter care. English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is generally considered hardy to Zone 5 and can withstand winter temperatures if properly prepared.
Will English lavender spread?
English lavender generally doesn’t spread aggressively like some other plants. While it will grow taller and bushier over time, it doesn’t typically spread by sending out runners or rhizomes.
Should English lavender be cut back?
English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): English lavender is hardy and only needs to be pruned twice a year, once in early spring and again after it flowers.