How to Grow Spanish Lavender

For a fragrant addition to an herb garden or flower border, Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas) is hard to beat. Sometimes called "rabbit ears" because of the shape of its bloom spike, Spanish lavender grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 9 and is adaptable to most conditions, including hot, humid weather. This is an easy-to-grow plant that only needs some basic care at planting and a bit of extra care and pruning to keep it doing well.

Sow Spanish lavender seeds indoors during the winter in a lightweight, soil-less mix or fine vermiculite to ensure good drainage. Seeds germinate in about two weeks; keep seedlings in a sunny spot and water them whenever the top of the mix is slightly dry.

When weather warms and temperature stays above about 60 degrees Fahrenheit, harden off seedlings by moving them into a partially shaded, sheltered spot for a week or two before planting. For less fuss, purchase Spanish lavender seedlings for planting directly in the ground.

Mature plants are bushy and 1 1/2 to 3 feet tall, so space them about 18 to 24 inches apart to give plants room to fill out without crowding. Spanish lavender grows in a container, but choose one that has one or more drainage holes, and never leave the saucer filled with water.

Spanish lavender flowers resemble small, dark maroon pineapples topped by several modified leaves called bracts -- the rabbit ears. The plant needs full sun to grow well and produce the most flowers. Although it's quite tolerant of drought once established, flowering depends on a good supply of soil moisture, so don't let the soil dry out at all, and give supplemental water as needed when rain is scarce.

Spanish lavender is native to Mediterranean and North African regions with poor soil and does best without any fertilization, but it requires excellent drainage for good growth. If the soil is high in clay and drains slowly, add some coarse sand at planting to improve its drainage.

Adding mulch to the soil under Spanish lavender plants helps keep down weeds that can compete for soil nutrients and water, but keep mulch back a few inches from the each plant's base and use a nonorganic mulch such as pea gravel to deter fungal growth.

Harvest lavender as cut flowers or for drying once blossoms show deep color, cutting stems during the cool morning hours once dew has dried from the plants; keep flowers cool and out of the sun to preserve their fragrance. Wipe cutting blades with rubbing alcohol between each cut to prevent spread of plant disease.

Pruning Spanish lavender regularly helps encourage branching and a second flush of flower buds. Remove about one-third of each plant's stems, being careful not to remove all leaves, and cut off any remaining spent flowers.

Like other lavenders, Spanish lavender is usually free of insect problems, although it might attract spittle bugs, named for the frothy secretions that betray their presence. Although they can be unattractive, spittle bugs cause little or no harm to the plant.

Spanish lavender is rarely troubled by any plant diseases except fungal problems, which are best prevented by placing the plant where air circulation is good and by watering at the plant's base to keep foliage dry.

When the growing season ends in fall, avoid pruning the plant because leaving old growth in place helps protect it from winter weather. In especially cold areas, add evergreen boughs as an extra mulch to prevent damage from the elements.