Growing Lavender

Lavender likes lots of sun, good air circulation, likes being on the drier side, and needs well draining soil. Lavender can either be started from seeds or you can buy plants. Plant outside after all risk of frost is passed. In Manitoba it's usually safe to plant out in June, but watch the weather forecast. Deer, rabbits, and squirrels don't like lavender so they should leave it alone. It attracts butterflies and bees. Lavender can be grown indoors if you have a south facing window, keep it on the drier side, and have good air circulation. Lavender is quite difficult to grow inside and it is one herb I struggle with overwintering.

There are lots of different kinds of Lavender: English, Spanish, French, Lavandin, Hybrids, and Portuguese. Currently there are over 45 different species with over 450 varieties. The difference between them is the zone they are hardy to, what you use them for, the amount of oil they have, and they have different color of flowers and foliage.

Lavender you can grow in Zone 3

• Munstead Lavender Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’ hardy from zones 4-9. It is a type of English Lavender and it can survive zone 3 if it gets adequate snow cover or you can mulch it. Munstead has lavender-blue flowers, green, narrow leaves, and a nice lavender fragrance. 

• Hidcote Lavender Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ hardy from zones 4-9. It has silver-grey foliage and the flowers are more purple than blue. 

• Phenomenal Lavender Lavandula x intermedia ‘Phenomenal’ hardy from zones 4-8. It has has silver foliage and lavender-blue flowers.

• Superblue Lavender Lavandula angustifolia “Superblue” hardy from zones 4-9. It is a type of English Lavender. Superblue has deep violet-blue flowers with a compact mounding habit.