Re: lavendula officinalis question

In a message dated 2/23/03 11:05:06 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
justme@prairieinet.net writes:


> #1 is this really hardy in zone 5, Northeast Illinois?

Yes , it is hardy if planted in light gritty soil, totally free of winter 
wet.

Lavender, maybe you would find a true dwarf as there is a dwarf or variegated 
form of everything today, will not stay small.  It becomes woody around the 
base and does not do well cut back.  New shoots are rooted every few years.  
In the desert states, lavender is at home but for us drainage must be 
provided plus some lime (ph 7-8) in the soil. The is a Lavendula officinalis 
nana compacta in rocks catalogs.  Lavender is a shrub or shrublet depending 
on who you read.

It is very low cost on herb stands in the big stores, sometimes even a 
six-pack so you can replace it from time to time.  I always have some around 
here growing in the rocks. Lavender, in the North, needs full all day sun to 
do well.

I am not certain the labeling in nurseries will give you the plant you seek.  
Some are regarded as hardier than others.  From what I have grown there are 
finely needle like leaves and more grey heavier substance needle like leaves. 
 It does not seem to make a difference as to the label,you get one or the 
other.  Some are tagged Spanish lavender and they are greenhouse plants, we 
have a large pot of that which roots easily from spring cuttings.

I would plant some on the railway and if you like it, you can always replace 
it annually.  It won't grow very large in the first year.  Also, don't 
surround lavender with other leafy plants, being of the Mediterranean culture 
group, it likes open space, not much humidity.

There is some form of lavender growing in front of my mother's home which 
returns each year and stays fairly low but it is rangy.  I have some cuttings 
growing in a frame to try here.  Their site is between concrete walks and 
maintenance is zero. The residents walk on it so you can assume it is not 
fragile.

Claire Peplowski
NYS z4 

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