Lavender Vera – The Fragrant and Cold Hardy English Lavender

Lavender Vera, also known as Lavandula angustifolia ‘Vera’, is an heirloom variety of English lavender prized for its sweet fragrance and cold hardiness. With its compact growth habit and abundant blooms, Lavender Vera is ideal for gardens, containers, sachets, potpourris, aromatherapy, and lavender oil production.

Overview of Lavender Vera

Lavender Vera is considered one of the best English lavender cultivars for cold climates. It was selected by Dr. Vera Gatez in 1930 while she was working at East Malling Research Station in England. The lavender was trialed for over 30 years and proven to withstand cold winters in USDA zones 5-9.

Some key features of Lavender Vera include

• Cold hardy – Can survive winter temperatures as low as -20°F (-29°C)
• Compact size – Grows 16-18 inches tall and spreads 24-30 inches wide
• Abundant blooms – Flower spikes are thin but plentiful
• Sweet fragrance – Has a rich, floral aroma perfect for sachets and potpourris
• Purple-blue flowers – Lavender-blue petals with dark purple calyxes

Lavender Vera grows best in full sun and well-drained soil. It’s drought tolerant once established. The lavender blooms in early summer again in early fall if trimmed after initial flowering. It’s attractive to pollinators like bees and butterflies.

Growing Lavender Vera

Lavender Vera thrives when grown in a sunny location with lean sandy or gravelly soil. The following tips will help you successfully grow this English lavender variety

• Sun – Plant in full sun, ideally with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Morning sun is especially important.

• Soil – Lavender prefers sandy, rocky soil that drains quickly. Amend clay soils with sand or gravel to improve drainage.

• Spacing – Space plants 18-24 inches apart for adequate air circulation. Crowding increases humidity and disease risk.

• Watering – Water weekly until established, then water deeply only when soil is dry 2-3 inches down. Too much moisture causes root rot.

• Fertilizer – Apply slow-release fertilizer at planting. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers which cause excessive foliage growth.

• Pruning – Trim plants by 1/3 after initial blooming to shape and encourage reblooming. Avoid cutting into woody parts of plants.

• Mulch – Spread a 2-3 inch layer of gravel mulch around plants to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and improve drainage.

• Winter care – Protect plants with evergreen boughs or landscape fabric if temperatures drop below -10°F. Avoid excessive moisture.

Using Lavender Vera

The sweetly fragrant flowers and oil of Lavender Vera have many uses:

• Cut or dried flowers – Excellent for floral arrangements. Cut blooms just after buds open. Air dry small bundles upside down.

• Potpourri – Dried flowers hold their scent well in potpourri. Mix with other fragrant herbs and flowers.

• Sachets – Place dried lavender in small fabric sachets. Tuck in drawers, closets, or linen chests to lightly scent clothing and linens.

• Essential oil – Distill flowers to produce high quality essential oil for aromatherapy, massage oils, perfumes, and more.

• Cooking – Use dried or fresh flowers to add flavor to cookies, scones, jelly, lemonade, and other foods and beverages.

• Crafting – Make wreaths, bouquets, soaps, candles, and other handcrafted items with Lavender Vera for its color and fragrance.

Why Grow Lavender Vera?

Here are some of the top reasons to grow Lavender Vera in your garden:

• Excellent cold hardiness perfect for cooler climates
• Compact, mounding form great for borders and containers
• Profuse blooms over a long season
• Rich, sweet, floral fragrance
• Attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies
• Deer and rabbit resistant
• Drought tolerant and low maintenance
• Abundant flowers for cutting, crafting, and oil production
• Versatile culinary and aromatherapy uses

For gardeners seeking a compact, cold hardy English lavender with exceptional fragrance for arranging, sachets, and potpourris, Lavender Vera is an excellent choice. This heirloom lavender variety has been a cherished garden staple for generations thanks to its stellar performance and appealing floral scent.