Are you waiting for your lavender to bloom and start wondering when does lavender blooms? Well, you landed on the right article. Here I explain when lavender varieties bloom. Different varieties and cultivars of lavender have different blooming periods.
Here you find lavender varieties and their potential blooming period. I found this information from reliable resources. If you’re lavender is eligible for blooming it will bloom during these periods.
So, let’s get started,
When does lavender bloom?
The lavender blooming period depends on which lavender variety you’re growing. Some lavender varieties grow for a short period of time while some longer. However, most lavender grows during early spring to summer.
When does English Lavender bloom?
The English lavender, also known as Lavandula angustifolia, will typically produces flowers for about a month once it begins to bloom in the middle of June. This particular type of lavender is the most frost-resistant of those that may be grown in colder locations (it is hardy in USDA zones 5-9) and can thrive for up to 15 years if it is given the appropriate amount of attention.
The well-known cultivars ‘Munstead,’ ‘Hidcote,’ and ‘Vera’ are all cultivated ornamentally in landscapes and commercially in various regions of Southern Europe and the United States for their oil and aroma.
The fragrance of English lavender is considered to be the most exquisite of all lavenders. Not only the blooms but also the leaves of the lavender plant give out a fragrant aroma throughout the year.
When does French Lavender bloom?
The extended blooming season of French lavender, also known as Lavandula stoechas, is one of the reasons it is so highly prized. This plant is capable of flowering as early as May when grown in the appropriate environment and under ideal circumstances, and it will continue to produce blooms throughout the whole summer and into the fall.
The fragrance is not as overwhelming as that of English lavender, and it has a quality that is similar to that of rosemary, a plant that is related to lavenders.
The blooms are easily distinguishable from English lavenders due to the crown of petals that is unique to them. The French kind of lavender is far less cold tolerant than its English counterpart, and it will not survive in locations where there is a frosty winter and low temperatures (hardy to USDA zone 7-9). In addition, even with proper care, its lifespan is limited to four or five years.
Spanish Lavender
The type of lavender known as Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas), which is also sometimes known as French lavender, is the least durable of the lavender species but can tolerate higher temperatures. USDA zones 8 through 9 are ideal for its growth. In regions with temperate summers and winters, it may flower two to 3 times: at the beginning of May, in June, and perhaps late summer or early autumn. There is a wide variety of blossom colors, including the white ‘Ballerina,’ the violet-blue ‘Regal Splendour,’ and the dark purple ‘Fathead.’
Hybrid lavenders
Hybrid lavenders such as lavender ‘Grosso’ and ‘Provence’ have been developed because they possess the toughness of English lavenders and the extended blooming season of French lavenders respectively.
Commercial cultivation of lavender varieties such as ‘Grosso’ takes place since this variety also has the wonderful scent of English lavender.
The blooming period for hybrid lavenders begins in the middle of summer, around the month of July, and continues for several weeks into the fall.
Most hybrid lavenders are tough in USDA zones 5-9 and are able to withstand freezing temperatures and frost throughout the winter months.
Why your lavender is not flowering?
Do not lose up on blooming lavender just yet, even if the plant you have is not producing flowers at the moment. These herbaceous perennials are a delight to have in the yard, and it is really fairly simple to learn how to cultivate lavender so that you may take pleasure in your plant for many years to come.
However, just like any other plant, lavender demands that you have some knowledge of its origins and the conditions in which it might grow.
You can read our article Why is your lavender not blooming to understand what you’re missing.
How to get good lavender blooming?
The environment, the weather, and a variety of other factors all have a role in determining when and for how long lavender flowers will bloom.
The plants must be in good condition, free of disease, and given the appropriate attention in order for them to produce blooms.
The following are the primary factors that lead to the blooming of lavenders.
- To produce the most beautiful flowers, lavenders need soil with a fertility level between low and medium. A soil that is too rich will cause an abundance of foliage growth at the price of blossom production. If you want the same result, avoiding applying fertilizer is your best bet.
- All lavender species demand full sun. Your lavender will not survive as long if it does not get as much sunlight, which will also result in fewer blooms being produced.
- Be sure that the soil in which the lavender is grown has been modified with sand or grit, as this will provide the appropriate porous structure that will enable oxygen to get to the roots and water to flow down rapidly.
- The plant’s appearance may be improved and its overall health maintained by performing regular deadheading throughout the summer.
- Lavenders benefit from severe pruning in the fall or early spring since this will foster new growth that will sustain the next season’s blooms and prevent the lavender from becoming spindly. The pruning may be done either in the fall or early spring.
- During the active growth season, you should only water your lavender once every two weeks, and only if there has been no rainfall in that time. The plant known as lavender is able to withstand arid circumstances and even flourishes in them. The plant’s roots may rot if it receives an excessive amount of water, which will prevent it from blossoming and may even be fatal to the lavender. Read the post I wrote on how to water lavenders to learn more about the best practices that should be followed.
- Although lavenders thrive best in alkaline soils, they are hardy enough to survive in soils ranging in pH from 6.8 to 8. Lavenders that are grown in soils that are too acidic will not bloom as much and will be under a lot of stress.
- Avoid applying organic mulch around lavender because it creates an environment that is more conducive to the presence of moisture, which may lead to root rot. Some professional producers choose to instead surround the plant’s base with white stone since this reflects sunlight back onto the plant, resulting in an increase in the number of flowers as well as the smell produced by the plant.
If you apply these methods and cultivate a species of lavender that is adapted to your environment, then you will have lavender plants that bloom freely for a number of years.
Lavender harvest
It may come as a surprise to hear that you should really harvest the plant a good deal earlier before the flowers have completely opened, despite the fact that we are aware that many different types of lavender begin to bloom around the months of May and June.
In the early spring, when only approximately half of the buds have flowered, you should gather your first crop of lavender. Because of this, the plants will have plenty of time to re-grow before the subsequent spectacular flowering season in the late summer.
You are not required to harvest the lavender if you do not like to do so, and you will be able to enjoy a full bloom in the late spring and maybe another one in the late summer. You will need to harvest at least the first set of lavender if you want to cultivate it so that it may be used in food or for other tasks in the future.
FAQ
How long does it take a lavender plant to bloom?
There is a possibility that lavender may blossom in its first year, but it typically takes 3 years for plants to become fully mature.
How do you get lavender to bloom again?
Plant lavender in a location that receives full light and has sandy soil, then trim it in the spring to encourage more development and blooming. This will allow the plant to sustain a greater number of flowers.
Final words
Lavender is not only a stunning plant that may be used as a dramatic ornamental accent, but it also has a multitude of practical uses. If you want to successfully cultivate this beautiful and useful plant, it is essential that you be familiar with the specific flowering period, the duration of the bloom, and the optimal time to collect the plant’s production. It is important to put some thought into both the specific kind of plant you wish to cultivate and the timing of your intended harvest.
If you want to harvest the first flower in the early spring when the petals are just starting to open up, now is the perfect time to do it. However, if you just want to appreciate the natural beauty of the plant, a later-blooming variety would be better. Keep in mind that you may promote rich and profuse lavender blooms throughout the whole season with the right kind of management, including correct pruning and deadheading.
Related Posts on Lavender:
- How to care for Lavender plants in pots
- Lavender Companion Plants: (Best & Worst)
- How long does lavender Bloom
Hey! I’m Madhuresh, a passionate content creator, and a Plant lover. I created Shiny Plant to explore and learn about new plants. The purpose is to provide simple and effective Gardening Tips. Hope you’ll find this informative.