Alden Lane Nursery - 981 Alden Lane - Livermore, CA 94550 - (925) 447-0280 ph - (925) 443-8512 fax
Spring & Summer Hours: Open 8:30 am - 6:00 pm Daily
Few perennials have the long history of treasured cultivation of the Lavender plant. While written records only go back as far as 2,500 B.C., hieroglyphics, drawings and paintings showing lavender plants go back much farther than that.

Scent the Garden with Lavender
In the Western world, Lavender has been treasured since the middle ages as a medicinal herb; food enhancement and sweetener and even an insect repellant -- once it was discovered that fleas do not like the scent of lavender which is so appealing to us humans.

In modern times, lavender is the basis for many balms and cosmetics. Its fragrance occupies center stage in soaps, perfumes, aromatic pillows, room fresheners, laundry detergents and a host of others too numerous to mention.

With all that going for it, you need hardly be surprised to find out that it is a great looking perennial plant that is easy to grow, low maintenance, sun-loving, drought resistant and tolerant of benign neglect -- which makes it ideal for busy Valley residents who need to leverage their gardening time. By the way, lavender plants also make great additions to cut flower bouquets and are an ideal colorful fragrant enhancement to dried flower arrangements.

Every Valley gardener should have some lavender plants to make their landscape complete and enjoy the many benefits of this perennial of the perennials.

We know and appreciate lavender for the lovely scent of the flowers and foliage as well as the gray to gray-green color it brings to our gardens.

Lavender, a Mediterranean native adapts nicely to garden soils that are fast-draining. Plant in an area that receives full sun - at least six hours. It makes an excellent low hedge, bedding border for a perennial garden or an accent in an herb garden. If you wish to save the flowers for sachets cut the flower heads or strip the flowers from the stems just as color shows. Dry them upside down in a cool, shady place. Try some of these varieties of lavender in your garden!

L. angustifolia (English lavender). This is the classic variety of lavender used for sachets and perfumes. Grows 3-4 feet high and wide. Gray foliage and lavender flowers that bloom in July-August. There are also compact varieties of this lavender available on the market. They include 'Compacta' which growers 8 inches tall and up to 15 inch cross. "Hidcote" is a slower growing variety to 1 foot tall with very gray foliage and deep purple flowers or "Munstead" which is the most popular of the dwarf varieties. It reaches a height of 1½ feet with deep purple flowers that bloom a month earlier than the standard variety.

L. dentata, (French lavender) This lavender is crowned with short spike like cluster of lavender purple flowers. Can reach 3 feet tall and in mild winter areas it blooms continually.

L. stoechas, (Spanish lavender), Narrow gray leaves, dark purple flowers blooms in early summer. Stocky plant, 1'-2' tall.

Lavendula 'Goodwin Creek'  (One of our favorites in the landscape.)
Lavendula 'Mustead'
(Dwarf English Lavender)
Lavendula dentata
(French Lavender)
Lavendula angustifolia
(English Lavender)
Serving You Since 1955 - www.aldenlane.com
Lavender