Provence Lavender

Lavandula X intermedia Provence, commonly known as Provence Lavender, boasts superior fragrance, color, and form. It sends up large spikes of highly fragrant, lavender-blue flowers in the summer. New growth is bright green and matures to a lovely silver color. The flowers are delicious in salads, cakes, tea, and lemonade, or dry them for fragrant potpourri and long-lived bouquets. This is a compact, upright shrub that reaches 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. Provence Lavender is cold hardy down to zone 5 and more tolerant of heat and humidity than other varieties. It remains evergreen in warmer climates and will die back in the northern zones. The flowers are a magnet for bees, but deer and rabbits tend to ignore it. Plant several Provence Lavender shrubs in a low hedge, or add it to a culinary or herb garden. It can also be grown close by in containers for easy access to fragrant stems. Provence Lavender Care This shrub grows best in full sun with good air circulation. It appreciates sandy, poor soil on the alkaline side. This variety tolerates heat and humidity better than most lavender plants. Once established, keep it on the dry side and water only occasionally. Overwatering is the most common cause of death in these plants. Prune hard into the leafy stems after flowering to prolong the shrubs life and maintain a tidy, compact appearance. Do not cut into the hard wood or prune after late fall. Provence Lavender Spacing To plant a group of lavender, space individual plants approximately 3 feet apart on center to allow good air circulation.For container planting, select a weather-resistant pot at least 20 inches in diameter with excellent drainage.