French Lavender also know as Top Lavender is originally from Spain. It has two to three petals at the top of the flowers followed by tiny dark purple flowers in clusters at the top of its long stems. It is different from other lavender plants because it has gray leave and stems when it is fully mature. French lavender also blooms early. It also has a very strong lavender flavor that is sweet and mellow which is prefect for use in cooking and as fragrance items such as perfume and soap. It is also a wonder pest deterrent as mosquitoes, flies, fleas, and moths do not like lavender. While lavender can be a pest control other beneficial insects love lavender such as honey bees and other pollinators. Below is the growing and care information to help you grow your own French Lavender flowers.

Sun – French Lavender loves suns and needs full sun in order to bloom. If you live in a hot climate they will also need shade in the heat of the day.

Soil – They like well draining alkaline soil but can tolerate well draining soil that is not alkaline rich.

Spacing – Plant French Lavender 12 to 18 inches apart so they have room to spread out, grow, and bloom.

Water – French Lavender is drought tolerant. They need to be water once a week with an inch of water, but will need to be water twice a week in hot climates.

Food – These flowers do not like to be fertilized and it can actually harm them. If you have them growing outside do not fertilize them. If you are growing them indoors in pots fertilize with a liquid organic fertilizer only when needed.

Annual or Perennial – French Lavender is a perennial that can live up to 15 years.

Climate/Hardiness – This type of lavender is not cold hardy. If you live in zones where it snows it can cause the plant to wether. Protecting it from freezing by covering it can help and also bringing it indoors for the winter.

Harvest – French lavender can be harvested once the flowers have bloomed.

Transplant – You can dig up and transplant French Lavender easily and without much worry for the roots as lavender is capable of regrowing in warmer months.

Tips – French Lavender can be propagated from cutting. Lavender doesn’t like to be over watered so it’s easier to propagate lavender in soil where it can dry out little and not get root rot.