Lavender captivates onlookers, especially with its luscious purple flowers. Here, you can learn about lavender blooming time and how to extend the flowering time.
When does lavender bloom? Lavender (Lavandula sp.) plants generally bloom in late spring, and some species and hybrids rebloom in late summer.
Keep reading and find out more about lavender blooming.
Table of Contents
When Does Lavender Bloom?
Lavender’s flowering period primarily depends on the species. Thus, there are species and varieties with early flowering and those with late flowering. We list some of the most popular lavender varieties below.
Spanish Lavender
The least resilient and most heat-tolerant variety of lavender is Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas), also referred to as French lavender. USDA zones 8 through 9 are ideal for it to thrive. According to Gardenia, it may bloom up to three times in regions with mild summers and winters, in the early months of May, June, and late summer or early fall. White “Ballerina,” violet-blue “Regal Splendour,” and dark purple “Fathead” are among the different blossom colors.’
French Lavender
When is the French lavender season? Early spring and the summer are both blooming seasons for French lavender (Lavandula dentata). In order to promote continued blossom production, remove the flower spikes. The foliage typically has square-toothed edges and is gray-green in color. On short spikes, it produces purple bracts similar to Spanish lavender. In USDA zones 5 through 9, it does well. Although it is widely grown in France’s Provence region, French lavender is native to Spain, Greece, and North Africa.
English Lavender
In reality, northeastern Spain is where English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) originates. The University of Florida IFAS Extension notes that it is also known as true or common lavender. It is one of the most hardy lavender species, flourishing in zones 5 through 8 or 9. The majority of cultivars, including “Hidcote,” “Little Lottie,” and “Rosea,” bloom from early May to mid-June. In early to mid-May, a few varieties, like “Folgate” and “Lavenite Petite,” bloom, while “Royal Purple” and “Thumbelina Leigh” do so in June. The dwarf variety of English lavender called “Nana Alba,” which blooms in the middle of summer, is one of the late-blooming varieties. The flowers last three to four weeks on average on the plants. The majority of varieties, including “Royal Purple” and “Nana Alba,” will bloom again if you quickly harvest the flower spikes.
Hybrid Lavender
English lavender and the tender spike or broad-leaved lavender (Lavandula latifolia) were crossed to create lavendin (Lavandula x intermedia). From late summer through July and August, lavandins bloom. The majority of varieties, including “Grosso,” “Hidocte Giant,” and “Provence,” are hardy in USDA zones 5 through 8. Products with a lavender scent are made commercially using lavandins.
Related: Is Lavender Perennial Or Annual?
Does Lavender Bloom More Than Once?
Depending on the plant variety, lavender frequently blooms more than once.
In the beginning and toward the end of the blooming season, English lavender, for example, frequently blooms twice a year.
Lavandin cultivars, on the other hand, only bloom once a year, but the flowers persist until the end of the summer or the beginning of the fall. If the right circumstances exist, Spanish lavender can flower up to three times per year.
While lavender Christiana can bloom all year long, the Goodwin Creek Grey variety can bloom more than once. Other than that, taking care of this plant isn’t too difficult; it just needs protection from winter frost.
French lavender is an additional variety that blooms more than once per year.
But if you want to enjoy lavender flowers for longer than a few weeks, you must attend to their requirements.
At the end of this article is our care guide; if you use it, your yard will remain purple and fragrant for many years to come.
Read More: How Long Does Lavender Take to Grow?
How to Ensure That Lavenders Bloom to Their Full Potential
These guidelines for the length of time that lavender blooms depend on the climate, weather, and a number of other factors.
Lavender plants must be healthy, disease-free, and given the proper care in order to bloom.
Here are the main elements that promote lavender blooming.
- Lavenders need low to medium fertility soil to flower to their best. A soil that is too fertile will cause a lot of foliage to grow instead of flowers. To avoid the same outcome, avoid using fertilizer.
- All lavender species require full sun. Your lavender will produce fewer flowers and live shorter lives the less sun they get.
- Make sure the lavenders soil has been amended with sand or grit as this will create the right porous structure that allows oxygen to reach the roots and water to drain away quickly. For more details, see my article on the ideal soil combination for lavender plants.
- Regular deadheading throughout the summer will encourage more blooms and help keep the plant tidy.
- Lavenders benefit from a hard prune in either Fall or early Spring as this will encourage the new growth that supports the new seasons flowers and prevents the lavender from becoming leggy.
- Make sure to only water lavender once every two weeks in the growing season and only if there has been no rainfall. Plants that can withstand drought and do well in dry environments include lavender. The lavender plant could die if it receives too much water because root rot will prevent it from flowering. To learn more of the best practices read my article about how to water lavenders.
- Lavenders prefer to be in alkaline soils but will live in soils with a range of pH 6.5-8. Overly acidic soils will cause stress and reduced flowering in lavender plants. Read my article on measuring soil pH and growing lavender in acidic soil.
- When mulching lavender, stay away from organic materials because they promote the moist conditions that can lead to root rot. Instead some commercial growers distribute white stone around the base of the plant as this reflects sunlight back onto the plant which will increase the number of blooms and fragrance.
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How to Extend the Flowering Time of Lavender?
There’s no doubt that you have very little control over the weather. But your lavender’s health is also greatly influenced by the conditions of the site and your maintenance procedures. You can guarantee ideal growing conditions even before you start to plant. Semi-shrubs from the Mediterranean region favor warm, sunny locations with calcareous, well-drained soil.
Sand can be added to a heavy garden soil to improve it. In order to minimize waterlogging, adding a layer of pebbles for drainage is a good idea.
Because lavender plants are native to stony, poor soils, they don’t have particularly high nutrient needs. The opposite is actually true, as overly rich fertilization can reduce a plant’s ability to withstand the winter. It is therefore perfectly adequate to apply a small amount of fertilizer at the start of the growth phase (March/April).
It is best to use fertilizers that have a long-term impact, like our Plantura All Purpose Plant Food, as these also provide your lavender with enough nutrients over the long haul. For a profusion of flowers, it’s crucial that there is enough potassium and particularly that there is phosphorus present. For lavender plants grown in pots, you should also switch out the soil once a year and, depending on the plant’s growth, switch out the pot for a bigger planter.
Related Reading: Smoking Lavender Pros And Cons
Conclusion on Lavender Bloom
Lavender is not only lovely and makes an eye-catching decorative plant, but it is also incredibly helpful.
Thus, when do lavender flowers bloom? We wish you luck in selecting the ideal lavender from the many varieties available. However, you should think about purchasing some lavandin cultivars if you prefer a species that is more fragrant.
And keep in mind that you can promote lush and plentiful lavender blooms all season long with proper care, pruning, and deadheading!
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Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does a Lavender Plant Live?
A healthy lavender plant should typically last for 15 growing seasons. However, how long a plant lives is greatly influenced by its environment during growth, including how much water and sunlight it receives.
How to Keep Lavender Blooming?
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.
Read More: How Often to Water Lavender?
When Does Lavender Bloom in Provence?
Provence’s fields start to bloom in June – by the end of the month, most of the region’s lavender will be flowering.
How Many Times a Year Does Lavender Bloom?
Your plants should bloom at least once in the spring and again in the late summer or early fall, depending on the species of lavender you have. By harvesting the first flush or pruning it back after it dies out, you can promote new growth.
