Spanish Lavender Care Guide: How to Grow Spanish Lavender

Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas) is a fragrant flowering plant with gray-green leaves and dark purple flower heads. Also known as French lavender, Spanish lavender plants grow in evergreen mounds and attract pollinators during the blooming season from mid-spring to late summer. The flowers on Spanish lavender plants include bracts that resemble rabbit ears. Spanish lavender flowers can be distilled into essential oil.

Native to Mediterranean countries like Spain and Portugal, Spanish lavender plants thrive in dry, warm climates. In the US, most Spanish lavender cultivars do best in USDA hardiness zones seven through nine. Some cultivars are bred to have a pink or white flower color.

There are a few factors to consider when deciding where to plant Spanish lavender.

• Full sun: Unlike English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), Spanish lavender is fairly drought-tolerant. Plant Spanish lavender in a location that receives plenty of bright sunlight. Consider planting your Spanish lavender next to a concrete pathway for additional heat.
• Good air circulation: Spanish lavender needs good air circulation to survive and bloom properly. Avoid planting Spanish lavender near walls or large foliage.
• Well-draining soil: Consider planting your Spanish lavender in a raised bed for better drainage. Spanish lavender is a good choice for gardens with alkaline soil and rock gardens with good drainage.

Consider these general tips when caring for your Spanish lavender plants.

1. 1. Add gravel mulch around your plant. To prevent weeds from sprouting up, consider adding a layer of gravel mulch around the base of your Spanish lavender plants. Leave a few inches of space between the base of the plant and the mulch to avoid crowing the plant.
2. 2. Prune your plant annually. Cut flower spikes after their initial bloom in the late spring to encourage a rebloom in the late summer. Avoid pruning after the growing season ends in the fall to keep the plant protected throughout the winter.
3. 3. Water your plant regularly. If it's your Spanish lavender’s first growing season, water it weekly to help it establish a strong root system. During subsequent growing seasons, you can reduce waterings to every two to three weeks.
4. 4. Consider potting your plant. Spanish lavender plants thrive in pots and containers. If you live in a region that receives ample rainfall and want more control over soil drainage, consider placing your Spanish lavender in a pot.

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