English lavender with its aromatic leaves and flowers, is a herbaceous perennial with a semi-woody growth habit.
Grow English lavender in full sun. Shady locations usually cause the plant to get leggy, with reduced flower production. In very hot climates, though, the plants respond well to some shade in the heat of the afternoon. English lavender must be planted in a relatively sandy, well-drained soil; damp soils frequently cause root rot. Strive for a soil similar to its native Mediterranean region; adding organic material to the soil is not only unnecessary but may cause problems. To combat humidity problems, it is best to mulch them with rock or gravel rather than organic mulch. Young plants should be watered well, but once established they are quite drought-tolerant and don't like too much water. Water mature plants as needed for your climate, increasing the frequency after flower buds form to promote a healthy harvest.
