English lavender is beloved for its delicate purple blooms and unmistakable scent. But to get the most from these aromatic beauties, it’s important to understand their blooming habits—specifically, how long does English lavender bloom during the growing season?
The answer depends on factors like variety, climate, and proper care. But you can maximize both the duration and abundance of English lavender flowers by following some key tips.
English Lavender’s Blooming Period
English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) typically blooms from early to mid summer. However, bloom time can vary between cultivars.
Some popular English lavender varieties and their peak bloom times
- Hidcote: Early to mid summer, mid June to mid July
- Munstead: Early to mid summer, June to July
- Twickle Purple: Early summer, late May to mid June
- Pink Perfume: Mid summer, July
- Royal Velvet: Mid to late summer, July to August
- SuperBlue: Mid summer, late June to late July
- Blue Scent Early: Early summer, late May to mid June
Each flower stalk blooms for around 3-4 weeks. But the overall bloom period for most English lavenders spans 4-6 weeks on average.
Extending English Lavender’s Flowering
With proper care you can maximize both the length and abundance of English lavender blooms
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Deadhead spent blooms – Removing faded flowers triggers re-blooming. Snip back each stalk to the first leaf set after initial blooming.
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Light pruning – In addition to deadheading, lightly trim back the whole plant by 1/3 after peak bloom. This neatens growth and promotes re-blooming.
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Annual hard pruning – Cut back by 1/3 each year in early spring or after bloom finishes. This rejuvenates plants.
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Avoid over-fertilizing – Too much fertilizer leads to fewer flowers Use fertilizer sparingly
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Ensure good drainage – Wet soil causes root rot. Make sure the planting area drains well.
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Choose suitable varieties – Some cultivars have longer bloom seasons. Opt for long-flowering types.
With optimal care, you can extend English lavender’s bloom season into a continuous 4-month or longer floral display!
Troubleshooting Lack of Blooms
If your English lavenders aren’t blooming well, several factors could be to blame:
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Incorrect variety for your zone – Choose suitable cultivars for your hardiness zone.
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Too young – Don’t expect much bloom until plants are 2-3 years old.
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Insufficient pruning – Deadhead and prune at least twice yearly for maximum blooms.
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Overly woody plants – Hard prune neglected, woody plants to rejuvenate them.
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Too much fertilizer – Avoid overfeeding, leading to fewer flowers.
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Overwatering – Prevent wet roots by ensuring good drainage.
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Incorrect pH – Test and amend soil pH if needed. Lavenders prefer slightly alkaline soil.
With proper growing conditions and care, your English lavenders will reward you with their signature blooms.
Growing Tips for English Lavender
Here are some additional tips for the best floral display from your English lavender:
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Plant in full sun and well-drained soil. Provide good air circulation.
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Space plants 18-24 inches apart for airflow.
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Water young plants regularly until established, then only when partly dry.
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Mulch around the base to retain moisture and reduce weeds.
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Prune lightly during summer to shape plants. Don’t shear into woody stem parts.
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Remove spent flower stems after initial bloom to encourage re-flowering.
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Protect plants from winter damage in cold climates.
Top English Lavender Varieties
With over 400 lavender cultivars to choose from, selecting the right ones can be challenging. Some excellent English lavender varieties include:
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Hidcote – Deep violet buds on compact gray-green foliage, very fragrant
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Munstead – Profuse light purple blooms on 18′′ plants, sweet aroma
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Twickle Purple – Deeper purple flowers on 12′′ mounds, nicely scented
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SuperBlue – Long violet-blue flower stems, great for cutting
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Pink Perfume – Pretty pink flower spikes, strong fragrance
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Royal Velvet – Dark purple buds ideal for drying, very aromatic
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Blue Scent Early – Early bloomer with masses of lavender-blue flowers
Final Tips
With their incredibly fragrant flowers and long summer bloom display, it’s easy to see why English lavenders are garden favorites. Use these tips to maximize their flowering potential. With the right care, you’ll enjoy these aromatic beauties from early summer through fall.
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FAQ
What lavender blooms the longest?
Lavandula stoechas ‘Fathead’ (Spanish Lavender) – This French Lavender blooms almost continuously from mid-late spring to late summer.
Does English lavender need to be deadheaded?
There’s no need to deadhead the individual small flowers on a lavender plant—cutting back entire stems is a much more efficient, effective practice.Mar 15, 2024
Does English lavender like sun or shade?
English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolias) thrives in full sun, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5-7.5. Grow in full sun. Climates suitable for lavender range from zones 5 to 10 on the USDA hardiness scale. It does not perform well in wet or water-logged soils.
How long do English lavender flowers bloom?
Bloom duration for each flower stalk is around 3-4 weeks. But the overall bloom period for most English lavenders spans about 4-6 weeks on average. With proper care, you can maximize both the length and abundance of your English lavender’s blooms. Here are some tips: Deadhead spent blooms: Removing faded flowers triggers re-blooming.
Do lavender plants bloom early?
Early-blooming lavender plants, such as Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas), French lavender (Lavandula dentata), and certain English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) cultivars, bring vibrant color and fragrance to gardens as early as spring.
Does English lavender need to be in Bloom?
This lavender does not need to be in bloom to make your house or garden smell delightful. If you provide your English lavender with all its care requirements, then your lavender will begin to bloom in the early spring and will continue to produce flowers for about 4 weeks before the flowers will start to die or go into seed.
When does Spanish lavender Bloom?
Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas): Also known as Butterfly lavender, produces the showiest flowers with two blooms above each stalk resembling butterfly wings or rabbit ears. It begins blooming in early May in warm climates with mild winters. A more generous bloom follows in June and a third but smaller bloom in August or early autumn.
When do Lavandin flowers bloom?
It is widely grown for lavender oil production and thrives in USDA zones 5–9. Bloom Time: Mid to late summer. Best Use: Often found in lavender fields and farms, lavandin flowers are perfect for crafting, essential oils, and large garden beds.
How long does lavender take to grow?
Lavender is a slow growing perennial that may bloom in its first year but takes three or more years to fully mature. Their growth rate will largely depend on the variety, and most varieties will take roughly three years to become fully mature plants. Growing lavender from seed is the slowest, but the cheapest way to propagate this plant.