I have this (perhaps crazy) idea of having a long lavender border. The area is in full sun and is well drained.

Last year I had stuck 4 Lady Lavenders in a very hot, dry, poor soil area and they thrived. That wasn't the place I wanted them to live, so I foolishly attempted to move them. And of course, killed them.

I've talked with a lady in the lavender business, and she suggested that NE TX is too humid to grow most lavenders. Others have said that the lavenders that will grow here will be ugly and woody in a couple of years. Before I invest in that many plants, I figure I better get some advice!

What is your experience in growing lavenders in TX?

It doesn't do well in Austin. Blanco is where it's successfully grown. I've tried it and it just melts here. I believe it likes hot and dry weather.

Same luck as Sandi. It just did not want to survive for me, and I tried three different varieties!

I had French Lavendar for many years. Not sure why it finally died. I've got a small Spanish lavendar now. Lavendar needs very good drainage and enough sun.

This is the first summer I've managed to keep a lavender plant alive. Sorry, I do not know the cultivar of this lavender. It is planted under the eaves of the greenhouse in full afternoon/evening sun. It gained a bit of height early on but has been static through summer

It has not died but it has not thrived either. I did plant in a raised bed with good drainage, the other plants in the bed are succulents. I also mulched it with white crushed rock to keep the soil cooler and reflect the light back to the underside of the plant branches.

I don't think the problem is humidity as this has been one tough summer for humidity. I think too much ground moisture has been my problem in the past. Your lavender hedge sounds lovely and might be doable with the correct cultivar. Kristi
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There is a farm in Gainesville, Tx that has pick your own lavender, here is their site. http://www.lavenderridgefarms.... They have two acres of lavender, so it must grow alright.

I have spanish lavender which seems the most hardy but not the most aromatic. I was talking to someone at a farmers market that grows lavender (and sells the products...maybe the same as above) and she said you must plant it on it's own little individual drainage hill. I replace more than half the planting hole with expanded shale.to help with drainage and never mulch

Have had a Provence for about five years that is thriving.

Provence. Last Spring and this Spring. Trish, I think you have already seen this second photo, but I like it.


Also have a four-year-old Anouk that struggled with the last two years' drought, but is still putting out new growth when it gets water.

Anouk in the top middle of the photo from last Spring, then again this Spring (to the left of the poppies). Some die off and it is turning woody. Easy to propagate from cuttings, but I moved the container this Summer and the cuttings crispied up. Will try again soon.



Sarah, Lavance Purple, dentata, and Munstead did not survive. To be fair, I think I let them die, so those may not be truly representative.

Today I conducted an interview via phone with Cathy Slaughter of Gabriel Valley Farms, a lavender producer in Georgetown. We talked all about growing lavender in Texas. That interview will be published in audio form on ATP Sunday evening!

She has fabulous plants and sells at the Zilker spring festival each year. Look forward to the interview.

Thank you all so much!

Debra- I think you are as humid as we are, so that's encouraging!

Linda- I have a french lavender growing in our herb spiral. I hope it will continue to do well. It is supposedly not quite hardy for us, so it's good to hear that you are doing well with it!

Scooter- as someone who has lived in several parts of the state, I can tell you that each part of TX is unique in it's growing quirks!

I think I've officially given up on using lavender as a border, but that's ok. I'll probably stick few varieties in here and there that I can replace as needed.