Lavender is a perennial drought-tolerant plant with a pleasant aroma, belongs to the family Yasnotkovye. The homeland of lavender is the Mediterranean coast. It is grown in Australia, India, Arabia, on the Canary Islands, in Africa, Europe, in the south and in the middle zone of Russia. In the wild grows on the rocky slopes of the mountains. In modern times, the name of the flower came from Ancient Rome, lavender is translated from the Latin language "lava" - wash. The inhabitants of Rome added the plant to the water while bathing for freshness and fragrant aroma.
Description
Lavender is an evergreen perennial shrub. It has fibrous, woody roots about 2 m long. The plant reaches a height of 60 cm. Silvery-green leaves with a pile have an opposite arrangement.
English lavender in the flowerbed
Up to 10 inflorescences are collected on one shrub.
The most famous types:
- English, or narrow-leaved - perfectly adapts to the climate in central Russia. When frost appears, it must be transplanted into the greenhouse from open ground. Popular varieties - Alba, Khidkout Dzhayntu, Khidkout Blyu, Rosea, Mansted;
- French, or broadleaf - quite a moody plant in the care. Grown for decorating rooms in a pot, as it does not tolerate low temperatures. Famous varieties are Tiara, Rocky Road, Regal Splendur, etc .;
- Toothed - this type of flower with serrated leaves grows in the open air only in the mild climate of the Mediterranean. In Russia, this type of lavender is grown indoors. A popular variety is Royal Crown.
French lavender in a pot
- Dutch is a hybrid of narrow-leaved and broadleaf species. These flowers are also called lavender. They are larger in size and give more foliage.
Note! Lavenderins (hybrids) do not give seeds, they can only be propagated by the vegetative method.
Many do not know where lavender grows in Russian latitudes. If you go to the Crimea, you can see the endless lavender fields. Especially they are famous for the vicinity of Sevastopol and Bakhchisaray, the cape. Tarhankut. Fragrant flowers grow in the Astrakhan region.
Additional Information! Lavender is a beautiful honey plant.
Lavender bloom
Lavender smell spreads throughout the garden or house and few people are indifferent. Shrubs can decorate any garden. Therefore, more and more are willing to grow these fragrant and healthy flowers in their summer cottage. When purchasing seeds, people are often interested in when lavender blooms.
Flowering time of different varieties
In wild conditions, a fragrant plant blooms in early summer and delights people with a fairly long period - until autumn. Blooming lavender in the country or apartment may be less long - it all depends on its type and variety.
It is better for novice gardeners to ask when the selected lavender variety blooms. Narrow-leaved varieties, like the Dutch varieties, begin to bloom not in early summer, but only in July. The dentate species of the plant has been producing inflorescences since June. French lavender blooms before everyone else - in April, after a short break in August. Therefore, it is ideal for decorating rooms.
Jagged lavender
Flowering time
For flower lovers, it is important that they please the eye as long as possible. Therefore, they are often interested in how much lavender blooms.
The flowering time of different plant species is as follows:
- English - July-August;
- French - April-June, August-September;
- Toothed - July-August;
- Dutch - July-August.
Flower shape
Flowers are located on the top of the stem, in their appearance they resemble spikelets. In lavender of different species, only the sizes of the flowers differ. For example, Frenchwoman's inflorescences are larger than Englishwoman's. Lavender flowers are usually purple or blue, but there are varieties of white, lilac-pink and lilac flowers.
The smell of lavender
Almost all varieties of medicinal plants are fragrant. This is due to the presence of a large amount of essential oil in lavender. The smell is thick, spicy, slightly sweet. If we talk about specific types of flower, the smell of French lavender is slightly inferior to the smell of English. Lavender (Dutch type) contains a greater amount of essential oils, therefore, it has a harsher flavor than other types. It is grown for industrial purposes.
Extension of flowering at home
Careful care of lavender will help extend its flowering period, as well as get larger inflorescences and lush bushes.
For better flowering, you should not often water lavender bushes, it is enough to do this 2 times a week with settled water. It is important to properly position the pot - put on the southern windowsill. In summer, lavender needs to be taken out onto the balcony, in winter - illuminated with fluorescent lamps. The daylight hours for the plant should be at least 10 hours.
Flowering stimulation
For better flowering, it is necessary to transplant the plant into a larger pot every year, since it needs room. Lavender needs to be fed with complex fertilizers once every 2 weeks from April to the end of August. The flower also responds very well to potash fertilizers. For example, when planting, you can add crushed eggshells to the substrate.
Additional Information! Nitrogen fertilizing has a negative effect on flowering, they stimulate the growth of only green mass.
Care after flowering
After flowering, lavender must be completely cut off from faded twigs. The plant needs peace, you need to put it in a dark place and not water it. This will allow him to gain strength and provide lush flowering in the future.
Lavender Fields
Features of growing a flower
One of the most important conditions when buying in flower shops is the selection of the right variety. Some varieties are suitable for cultivation exclusively in open ground or in a warm room. When choosing lavender for planting in the country, you must take into account the local climate.
Breeding
Beauty lavender reproduces in three ways:
- Cuttings. From a one-year shoot, cuttings about 10 cm long are required to be cut, leaves from the bottom of the cuttings must be removed. The rooting process is quite easy;
- The seeds. Before planting, they need to be treated with cold for better germination. Seeds must be placed on wet gauze, covered with a bag and placed in the refrigerator on the lower shelf for 1.5 months. Then sow in the tank, after emergence - dive. Plants will bloom only after 1 or 2 years;
- By dividing the bush. Divide the bush and plant it in different pots or holes in the country.
Landing
The plant prefers to grow on a hill, so when planting in the country, you need to make beds 30-45 cm above ground level. You need to plant in the open ground in spring or autumn (May or October).
For planting and successful growth of lavender in the apartment, a number of conditions must be met:
- Choose a pot - it should be spacious, not less than 30 cm, as the flower loves space. In a small pot, the flowers will be small and inconspicuous. Several plants planted in an oblong container look very nice. The pot must have drainage holes to drain excess water;
Important! The container for lavender must always be chosen light, since the dark pot is overheating too much, which can lead to the death of the flower.
- To buy or make your own ideal soil for a plant is gravel or sand, humus, sheet or turf soil in a ratio of 1: 1: 2. In the prepared substrate, you need to add a little crushed stone, then plant the plant.
Useful properties and application of lavender
This flower has a unique chemical composition. Lavender contains butyric, valerianic, acetic, caproic and ursolic acids, essential oils and coumarin.
Since ancient times, in folk medicine they have been using it as a sedative; it is the best suited for creating perfumes. The plant is also used in cosmetology. Thanks to him, it is possible to improve the condition of the skin and hair.
Interesting fact! Noble people of Ancient Egypt used expensive incense from lavender essential oils throughout their lives.
Using the recommendations of specialists, you can grow this amazing flower in your garden or apartment and even extend its flowering period.