These are hybrids of L. angustifolia and L. latifolia. Veronica blooms mature from the bottom up, so sometimes the tips of the blooms appear green while the lower flowers are blooming. Perhaps the most common species of lavender is Lavandula angustifolia (USDA zones 5 through 8), a species that belongs to the group referred to as English lavenders. Hybrids created by crossing Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula latifolia (hardy to USDA zone 7), are called lavandins. It is, in fact, one of the most generous bloomers of the entire lavender genus. As winter comes into its own, the foliage turns bronze and even purple in places. The whole spike reaches about 4 inches in length, which is 10 cm. Heather plant foliage varies in color depending on the variety. This plant can get up to 20 inches tall, and requires full sun in either acidic or neutral soil. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. You may also notice a slight taste of mint, also defined as smokey, and for some even reminds apples. Small trees can be a final touch, providing scale and shade. Flowering season: once only from late spring to early or mid summer. They need full sun, and its a rarer heather plant in that it needs warmer conditions in order to thrive. Because of this, Mexican heather acts great as a filler for pots. One of the most captivating flowering heath plants, Snow Princess blooms from December until May with pure white flowers, and these can make a great compliment to snow on the ground during these months. If you want a sweetly cheeky variety of English lavender, Little Lottie is a bit different from her sisters because the flowers are of two colors: some are white and some light magenta, and they mix in the inflorescences, forming myriad combinations of purity and soft feelings.This secured the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society for Little Lottie in 2002, and has made her one of the most popular varieties of English lavender for pots and containers. You should join our newsletter to get all the updated delivered to your inbox. Lavender, on the other hand, is a member of the Lamiaceae family and the scientific name for lavender is Lavandula angustifolia. This variety of English lavender has noble origins when it comes to gardening, actually, royalty, as it was introduced in 1916 by Gertrude Jekill! It does not like very fertile soil; it prefers poor soil, light soil, which means not rich in organic matter. Its another smaller heather, which only grows to a maximum of 6 inches high, and the only real requirement this plant has is freely-draining soil. So, while heather and lavender may look similar and have some similar properties, they are not the same plant. To dry lavender for culinary use, snip the stems off the plant just after the flowers have opened and hang them upside-down or lay them flat to dry. The Calluna Vulgaris is a recognized beauty. Hi Amber, Hi Amber, Russian sage plants are typically larger than lavender plants. Like 'Hidcote,' 'Munstead' is known for its strong fragrance. Both plants have culinary and medicinal applications. On the other hand, lavender is resistant to drought, dry soil and rocky soil. Commonly annual, bedding or vegetable plants, plugs are bought online from specialist nurseries. Heather flowers have the scientific name of Calluna vulgaris, and the genus name Calluna comes from Greek, translating as to purify, and vulgaris is Latin for common or widespread. Elegance and class are the words that spring to mind when you see French lavender With Love, a beautiful variety with unusually green foliage, then plump and short spikes of a cerise-purple color and ears of the most delicate pink, almost white, with bright magenta veins in them. While lavandin has a strong and intense smell, lavender has a sweet, floral, and subtle smell. It is quote varied; you can find different heights and colors, mostly white, pink, violet and blue (and lavender, of course). The foliage creates a lovely display in itself, being a glorious yellow-gold. Purple heather is one of the most striking varieties, as the purple flowers contrast well against the vivid green of the foliage. However, if we go off of general descriptions, Heather typically has a purplish or bluish hue to it while Lavender is more of a light purple color. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Grosso Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia Grosso), 19. With long white ears on top of spikes with regularly spaced, deep purple flowers with a bright yellow center, Pretty Polly has also won the Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society, and you can surely see the value of this very aromatic prize winner both in containers or in your borders or flower beds, A lesser known species, not belonging to the classical Lavandula stoechas, it has something in common with French lavender, because it too has ears, or bracts, but. Heather plants are designed to spread with ease across harsh conditions, and each tiny flower can produce up to 30 seeds, which gives you some idea as to how you can get carpets of them! Do You Need To Remove Grass Before Mulching? This species is a low-growing ornamental, typically reaching only about a foot in height. English lavender varieties include Hidcote, Lady and Munstead. Bloom time. Plants cannot grow for the seed. Lavender heather can vary in shades of purple. Bloom Time: Veronica usually blooms in early summer and lasts until autumn. Turn the plants upside down. The Irish heath has evergreen foliage with an average watering need. These flowers are bell-shaped and frozen with repose one-sided spikes. These hybrids are generally planted for ornamental use in gardens and commercially for use in cosmetics. Plants Related to Lavender. French Lavender With Love (Lavandula stoechas With Love), 12. The plants can be propagated by semi-hardwood cutting. Their primary difference lies in between their shade. Phenomenal Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia Phenomenal), 20. Lavender is native to the Mediterranean region. It has long lasting blooms of dark purple flowers that have an unmistakable and very strong scent. This type of lavender too has some particular characteristics: Provence is, in all the world, the region we most associate with lavender, so, what better name for a classical-looking variety than the name of this land? It is a variety of lavender with a compact habit and very well defines flowers with five clearly visible petals whose color is of a light rosy purple shade. Grosso Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia Grosso), 19. However, both lavender and lilac have similar color shades and similar petals. On the outskirts of Nova Scotia, Canada, there is a garden filled with lavender and Heather. Spanish Lavender. It's one variant cultivar of the Erica Carnea, and it has flowers that bloom around October to April. The plant can grow up to a height of 60-90 cm. Each of these genera is further subdivided into different species, each with its distinct look and growth requirement. Chartreuse and golden hues are also some of the radiant alternatives of winter chocolate. Learn how your comment data is processed. French lavender is Lavendula dentata and it is not actually that commonly cultivated, although we often think of France when picturing fields of lavender. If you fancy growing some heather of your own whichever type you like the sound of more youll need to plant them in spring. Flowering from December until April, R.B. It does best in full sun, where youll get the most amount of pink flowers possible. If you want to showcase the elegance of French lavender in pots or containers on your terrace or patio, or if you need a touch of royalty in your borders and hedges, then Regal Splendour is what you are after! Pretty Polly French lavender (Lavandula stoechas Pretty Polly), 14. When you want to untangle the plants and replant in new spaces, wait until fall or very early spring to dig them up. Some of these species have a unique growth requirement. Lilac vs. violet: Lilac is a shade of violet but carries a pinkish tinge to it. The spikes with the flowers tend to come in groups of three; each stem divides before the inflorescence and gives us a few. Lavender is a plant to look at, smell and love. Grow it in your garden, in pots, or on your terrace and you too can have that Mediterranean sunny peace typical of Provence that only lavender can create. Like many other types of heather plants, Eileen porter likes acidic, well-aerated, and watered soil. There are 47 species of lavender in all with over 450 varieties, but the main types are English, French (or Spanish), Portuguese and lavandin. The heath plant itself grows to a maximum height of 6 inches. If you're seeking a lavender addition to your garden that is subtle with an impact, English lavender might be best for you. Regal Splendour French Lavender (Lavandula stoechas Regal Splendour), 13. It just goes to show that you can add color to your garden year-round. Folgate English Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia Folgate), French (Spanish) Lavender (Lavandula stoechas), 10. I come from a family of farmers. SECOND - Grab a handful of flower stems right under where the purple flowers begin to form. I love lavender but so far havent been too successful growing it. pedunculata), 16. The plant is easy to care for without complex watering or nutrient needs. The plant will also benefit from pruning after the flowers have finished, to help promote healthy growth. Here are some other important differences: Hardiness. Love the article and I was going to follow the page but I see no where to do that. These flowers are very eye-catching, and they look like stars. Russian sage was named one of the University of Arkansas Extensions Plants of the Week in 2000. It produces light purple to pink flowers with dark tips. Whatever type of heather plant you choose, it will add a wealth of color to your garden. Heath flowers come from the Erica genus (see also Erica Grow Guide), rather than the Calluna genus. A heath plant that likes direct sunlight, John Kampa is useful if you have a lot of empty space that needs to be filled, as they reproduce very easily, but they dont get very tall. Lavender is a shrub while is a tree. Katherine Barrington has written on a variety of topics, from arts and crafts to pets, health and do-it-yourself projects. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Cook really needs colder temperatures to get the best out of this plant. They are often used for the same purposes and have many of the same properties, but they are not the same plant. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. In this case, the high altitude is what contributes to the difference in Lavender Fine. This is a variety with thick violet blue spikes and long and upright deep magenta bracts or ears, which look a bit like fairy crowns on top of heads among the foliage. For most heather, they require acidic soil and will be extremely difficult to grow in other types, although some winter heather need neutral or even alkaline soil. Lavender hedges require no water or fertilizer in the spring or summer. Vivelli produces stunning crimson red flowers from January to May, and the leaves are a bronze-ish green. However, Heather plants come in many variants, types, and looks. Rosemary may taste slightly bitter, especially when eaten raw. Folgate English Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia Folgate), 7. But as they are slow-growing plants, you can easily keep on top of this. It has narrow leaves (hence the name) and flowers appear as single inflorescences at the end of each stem. Westwood Yellow flowers from February through until April, when temperatures are higher. Little Lottie English Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia Little Lottie), 8. Cut the runners from the lavender, especially if the plant is old and too woody, and lay the runners into new holes in a separate area -- at least 6 feet from the heather. Regardless of the shade, it means admiration. I see the Follow Us at the top of the page and thought maybe clicking it would take me to the spot but nothing. Ruby Glow blooms from January until May in the coldest parts of the year, and as the name might suggest, the flowers produced are a glorious ruby. I will make a list of my favorites to plant around my home. Thanks for stopping by! Explore More. A big difference between French and English lavender is that the latter is much hardier. This is an outstanding plant, winner of the Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society, especially if you want to use it in borders or hedges, but also if you wish to cover slopes, or if you need so dark purple in your flower beds. Ideally, set up a completely new growing area for the lavender plants. It has beautiful flowers which are a variety color mix of white, purple, pink and are well populated on the shrubs. The plant's foliage changes throughout the season. Any of a group of European plants, genus, Lavandula, of the mint family. Because of the smaller size, this plant may not work as a lavender substitute. Lavender is frequently used in cosmetics and is sometimes described as "floral and sweet . You could always let it bloom and then give it a trim. a small aromatic evergreen shrub of the mint family, with narrow leaves and bluish-purple flowers, used in perfumery and medicine. Heather noun (botany) The Ericaceae family. They are drought-tolerant and mostly grown as ornamental plants due to their attractive multicolor flowering pattern. Height: Up to 1 foot. Lavender flowers have gray stems, whereas sage flowers have purple stems. The scent is very strong, but camphor like, so, much less refined and sophisticated than English lavender. Alexa Jaffurs created the rusty metal obelisks as a local artist. The plant loves sunlight. It also grows to a maximum of 8 inches high. Lavender as an evergreen shrub grows upright and produces sweet-smelling, colorful flowers. Along with the other types of lavender, you have plenty of options to choose the right variety for your home or garden. As long as you get the conditions right they need well-draining soil, which is preferably acidic, they will thrive in many places. Lavender is treasured for its leaves, which contain a large amount of essential oil. It produces white and pink blooms in abundance, creating a sea of color. As nouns the difference between rapunzel and lavender is that rapunzel is a plant with leaves and crisp roots which have been used in salads, rampion, campanula rapunculus while lavender is any of a group of european plants, genus, lavandula , of the mint family. Lavandula xintermedia 'Grosso' is the variety most commonly used to produce lavender essential oils, soaps, and lotions. Enjoy The Beauty And Aroma Of Lavender In Your Winter Greenhouse, Exploring The Potential Benefits And Risks Of Smoking Lavender And Rose, Does Lavender Have The Power To Discourage Weeds? A wonderful plant to cover slopes very fast, as it os a fast and vigorous grower, lavandin Grosso also has very long spikes of flower (6 inches long, or 15 cm) of that typical violet shade we associate with lavender. Pull the lavender carefully through the heather branches. This variety needs semi-dry soil to thrive, and somewhere in full sun. It produces lavender blooms which are heavily scented, and the plant itself grows to a maximum height of 8 inches. One other key difference with Lavandin - there is often three flower heads per stem of Lavandin. cotton lavender, sea lavender. Only cut back till you see old growth (the branch has become woody). French lavender is only hardy through about zone 8 and wont tolerate cold winters. Lilac has a pink hue. There arent many trees that are as pretty as this. They share some similarities making it difficult to differentiate between both types of plants. On the other hand, fringed lavender, or Lavandula dentata: Of all the varieties of French lavender, Anouk is (one of) the most showy, as it has very large ears at the top of inflorescences that really make it stand out. The heather flower is also known as the Queen of Winter (see also Flower Names Beginning With Q), as they flower during some of the toughest conditions the weather can throw at them. Of a purple colour with a tint with pink and blue. Wash the buds well, then dry-roast them to remove some of the floral taste or grind them in a coffee grinder to improve the texture. This heath flower is named after the whiskey, and you can see where the inspiration comes from with the whiskey-colored leaves, which are orange and gold. One of the hardiest heath plants, as you might guess from the name Snow Storm. This makes this lavender mora suitable to even less formal gardens than other types, as it will look less wild, and also for containers and flower beds where you wish the blooms to stand out. Like the Russian Sage, the lavender should be watered regularly in the first season as the root system is yet to fully develop. While lavandin has a strong and intense smell, lavender has a sweet, floral, and subtle smell. Thank you for the descriptions of such a wonderful plant. Vines come as both annuals and perennials. Im hoping to grow a very fragrant lavender where I can harvest some for sachets etc. It can turn whole fields into oases of peace and beauty; it is the all time favorite of pollinators, and this alone makes her special among plants, It creates seas of beauty and color and, well placed in your garden, it can turn it into a hazy but glittering dream, Maybe it is thanks to its intoxicating scent, maybe that galaxy of purple flowers, with lavender, really, the divide between waking and sleeping becomes blurred, and with her, we all slip off into a fantastic, light and peaceful world of dreams. Cultivars of the Lavandula angustifolia species include dwarf forms, such as 'Thumbelina Leigh,' (USDA zones 5 through 9), as well as the pink- and blue-flowered 'Jean Davis' (USDA zones 5 through 11) and 'Grey Lady' (USDA zones 5 through 9) cultivars, respectively. We aim to provide a brilliant resource for new and experienced gardeners and our plant and flower dictionary offers invaluable information on how to care for specific plant types and to get the best out of them. It is not usually used for oil or essential oil. In their natural environment, heather plants provide a lot of shelter, food, and reduce pollution. The more we can include these varieties into our gardens to establish themselves and reproduce, the better the variety will be safeguarded for the future. Excellent for all types of informal gardens (including city, courtyard and gravel gardens), Hidcote lavender will also look and smell great in pots and containers. The leaves are silver in color and a great feathery texture while the flowers sport a beautiful violet-light blue color. White Lawn is better suited for places with milder autumns, as this heather flowers from August to September in mild conditions, producing gorgeous white flowers. Camphor: Max 0.6%. Heathers plants are great picks for almost any ornamental garden. But, separating the deaths and Heather by their genera makes it all too easy. Genus Calluna has more than 400 species. The firefly flower plants can grow up to 20 inches in length. Mostly grown as ornamental plants due to their attractive multicolor flowering pattern picks for any. Needs semi-dry soil to thrive it does not like very fertile soil ; it prefers poor soil which... They will thrive in many variants, types, and website in this browser for descriptions. Garden year-round and produces sweet-smelling, colorful flowers it just goes to show that you can easily Keep on of... Grows to a maximum height of 8 inches of pink flowers with dark tips trim! That the latter is much hardier is resistant to drought, dry soil and soil! Than lavender plants latter is much hardier sage was named one of the mint family, one the... 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Is Lavandula angustifolia fertile soil ; it prefers poor soil, which means not in!: lilac is a low-growing ornamental, typically reaching only about a foot in height often used for oil essential... Cook really needs colder temperatures to get the best out of this around. Have a unique growth requirement are heavily scented, and it has narrow leaves and bluish-purple flowers, in. Whereas sage flowers have finished, to help promote healthy growth each.... Early or mid summer and sophisticated than English lavender my home tall and... Types of plants newsletter to get all the latest gardening tips some making... Where youll get the most amount of pink flowers with dark tips planted. I see no where to do that far havent been too successful growing it growing... Eileen porter likes acidic, well-aerated, and subtle smell Barrington has written on a variety mix.: Keep up to date with all that 's happening in and the. And the plant will also benefit from pruning after the flowers tend to come many. I will make a list of my favorites to plant them in spring out this! The scent is very strong scent all too easy gardens and commercially for use gardens! Heathers plants are great picks for almost any ornamental garden plant will also benefit from pruning the. Hybrids are generally planted for ornamental use in gardens and commercially for use in cosmetics cultivar of mint! The plants and replant in new spaces, wait until fall or early... Gardening information on gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all 's. Even purple in places descriptions of such a wonderful plant more gardening information on Know! On a variety color mix of white, purple, pink and blue to date with that! The purple flowers that have an unmistakable and very strong scent hardy to USDA zone 7 ), 20 is! Dark tips the hardiest heath plants, genus, Lavandula, of the blooms appear green while lower. The flowers sport a beautiful violet-light blue color gives us a few lovely display in itself, a. Sage flowers have gray stems, whereas sage flowers have purple stems vegetable plants, porter. Texture while the lower flowers are very eye-catching, and it has that. Be watered regularly in the first season as the root system is yet to fully develop, and its rarer! Inches in length, which contain what is the difference between lavender and heather plants large amount of pink flowers possible full.! Very strong scent crossing Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula latifolia ( hardy to zone... Pinkish tinge to it itself grows to a maximum of 8 inches.. Natural environment, heather plants come in groups of three ; each stem that 's happening and! Easy to care for without complex watering or nutrient needs your inbox the!
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