Munstead English Lavender Live Plant – Perennial Herb for Garden, Culinary

Overview

Discover the charm and versatility of the munstead english lavender live plant, a beloved perennial known for its vibrant purple blooms and intensely fragrant foliage. This particular variety, angustifolia munstead lavender, is a classic choice, introduced in 1916 and celebrated for its robust nature and adaptability. Perfect for gardeners of all levels, this live plant arrives as a ready-to-thrive seedling, promising to transform your outdoor space into a fragrant haven. Whether you’re creating a serene meditation garden, enhancing your culinary adventures, or simply enjoying its calming presence, Munstead lavender is an exceptional addition.

The munstead english lavender live plant is not just a treat for the senses; it’s also a highly practical addition to any garden. Its ability to attract beneficial pollinators like bees and butterflies makes it a valuable component of a thriving ecosystem. Furthermore, its natural resistance to deer and rabbits ensures that your beautiful blooms remain undisturbed. Embrace the elegance and utility of this remarkable herb, and enjoy the continuous beauty and aroma it provides from spring through summer.

Key Benefits

The munstead english lavender live plant offers a multitude of advantages for both novice and experienced gardeners. Its enduring appeal stems from a combination of aesthetic beauty, aromatic qualities, and practical resilience, making it a truly exceptional choice for diverse garden settings.

• Intensely Fragrant Blooms and Foliage: Enjoy the classic, soothing scent of English lavender that permeates the air, perfect for relaxation and aromatherapy. The fragrance is long-lasting, even after the flowers are dried.
• Attracts Pollinators: This plant is a magnet for bees and butterflies, contributing to the biodiversity and health of your garden by supporting essential pollinators.
• Drought and Cold Tolerant: Once established, the angustifolia munstead lavender is remarkably resilient, tolerating dry conditions and cold temperatures down to USDA Zone 5, making it suitable for a wide range of climates.
• Versatile Culinary and Craft Uses: The flowers and leaves can be used in a variety of culinary dishes, teas, potpourris, sachets, and dried arrangements, retaining their color and fragrance beautifully.
• Rabbit and Deer Resistant: Its natural properties deter common garden pests, ensuring your plant remains healthy and undisturbed without the need for harsh chemicals.
• Low Maintenance Perennial: This perennial herb plant requires minimal care once established, thriving with full sun and good drainage, making it an easy-to-grow option for busy gardeners.
• Ideal for Hedges and Containers: Its compact growth habit makes it excellent for creating low hedges, borders, or for growing in containers, allowing for flexible placement in any garden design.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your munstead english lavender live plant is straightforward, especially once it has established itself in your garden. This hardy perennial herb plant thrives on neglect rather than excessive attention, making it an ideal choice for a low-maintenance landscape. Ensure your lavender receives full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Good air circulation is also crucial to prevent fungal issues, so avoid overcrowding plants.

The most critical factor for successful lavender growth is well-drained soil. Lavender does not tolerate wet feet, so amend heavy clay soils with sand or grit to improve drainage. A slightly alkaline soil pH (6.7 to 7.3) is ideal for angustifolia munstead lavender. Water thoroughly after planting, then allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings once the plant is established. Overwatering is the most common cause of lavender failure. For optimal growth and to encourage bushier plants, pinch back the seedlings 5-10 days after transplanting. After the main bloom, cut back the spent flower stalks to encourage compact growth and potentially a second, smaller flush of blooms. Fertilization is generally not necessary and can even be detrimental, leading to leggy growth and fewer flowers. If your soil is very poor, a light application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in spring can be beneficial, but err on the side of caution.

Understanding english lavender plant care ensures a thriving and fragrant addition to your garden. This variety is known to cope with heat better than many other English lavenders, making it a reliable choice for warmer climates within its hardiness zones. Protection during harsh winters might be beneficial in the colder end of its range, especially for young plants. Proper pruning not only maintains the plant’s shape but also encourages vigorous new growth and abundant flowering in subsequent seasons. By following these simple guidelines, your munstead english lavender live plant will flourish, providing years of beauty and aromatic delight.

Size & Details

Each munstead english lavender live plant you receive is a healthy seedling, carefully grown and ready for transplanting. It comes in a small, plug-size 1″ x 1″ x 1.5″ container, ensuring a strong root system prepared for its new home. This compact cultivar typically grows to a mature size of 12-18 inches tall and wide, forming a neat, mounding habit. Its moderate growth rate means it will quickly establish itself and begin producing its characteristic purple-blue flowers.

The Munstead variety is known for its relatively small stature, making it an excellent choice for container gardening, front borders, or as part of a formal knot garden. It is a long-lasting perennial herb plant that will return year after year, offering continuous beauty and fragrance. Expect vibrant blooms from late spring through early summer, with potential for a second flush if regularly deadheaded. Its moderate size also makes it easy to incorporate into existing garden designs without overwhelming other plants.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: The munstead english lavender live plant typically grows to a compact size of 12-18 inches in both height and width, making it ideal for various garden applications and container planting.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Munstead English Lavender is primarily an outdoor plant, thriving in full sun. While it can be overwintered indoors in cold climates, it generally performs best in an outdoor garden setting.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This lavender variety requires full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily, to ensure robust growth and abundant flowering.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the angustifolia munstead lavender is considered low-maintenance once established. It’s drought-tolerant and requires minimal attention beyond proper initial planting and occasional pruning.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your munstead english lavender live plant will arrive as a healthy seedling in a 1″ x 1″ x 1.5″ plug-size container, ready for transplanting.
• Q: Can I use this lavender for cooking? A: Absolutely! Munstead English Lavender is a culinary variety, excellent for use in teas, baked goods, savory dishes, and infused oils. This perennial herb plant is quite versatile.
• Q: What is the best time to plant this lavender? A: The best time to plant Munstead English Lavender is in spring after the last frost, or in early fall in warmer climates, allowing it time to establish before extreme temperatures.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: This variety is hardy in USDA Zones 5-9. In Zone 5, some winter protection like mulching may be beneficial, especially for young plants.
• Q: How often should I water my english lavender plant care? A: Once established, water sparingly. Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. Overwatering is detrimental to lavender.
• Q: Is this plant rabbit and deer resistant? A: Yes, Munstead English Lavender is known for being naturally resistant to both rabbits and deer, thanks to its strong fragrance and taste.