Like other plants in the mint family, lavender will repel bugs such as mosquitos, fleas, moths, and ticks. Not only is it great at repelling nuisance bugs, but lavender also attracts beneficial pollinators to its fragrant blooms. Adding lavender to your garden will attract butterflies, bees, and other helpful insects.
Should I plant lavender in my garden?
Growing lavender is easy and rewarding. Lavender can be grown in garden beds or in pots. To grow lavender successfully it needs well-drained soil and full sun. In arid climates lavender grows well as a perennial, but in humid climates it is often grown as an annual.
Why do people plant lavender?
Benefits of Growing Lavender
As with many plants, lavender is naturally very beneficial for a multitude of reasons. According to the The Old Farmers’ Almanac, lavender is “prized for its fragrance, medicinal properties… beautiful color,” and the fact that it attracts pollinators, like butterflies.
What do lavender plants attract?
Ecological Uses: Lavender attracts butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects to the garden, making it a great choice for pollinator gardens! It’s also a natural pest and deer repellant, thanks to its high essential oil content.
Where do I put lavender in my garden?
Plant lavender in a spot that gets at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight each day (“full sun”). Lavender thrives in most soil qualities, from poor to moderately fertile. Lavender makes only one demand of soil: It must drain well. Standing water and wet areas could encourage root rot.
What animals does lavender attract?
Lavender also has many benefits for wildlife, especially pollinators. Flowers attract hummingbirds and many species of butterflies including painted ladies, woodland skippers and tiger swallowtails, all three of which are urban species.
Does lavender keep bugs away?
Lavender has a strong scent that can repel moths, flies, fleas, and mosquitoes. Use it fresh or dry some of the flowers to hang around the house or put in with your clothing to keep bugs out.
Why is lavender so special?
Lavender oil is believed to have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to heal minor burns and bug bites. Research suggests that it may be useful for treating anxiety, insomnia, depression, and restlessness.
Do lavender plants attract spiders?
Whether in plant form or as an essential oil, lavender (Lavandula, USDA plant hardiness zones 5-9) is a completely natural spider repellent useful for indoors or outdoors.
What pests does lavender attract?
Lavender.
About the only insects you see around lavender are bees. They love the flowers, but other bugs stay away. Lavender has a pleasant scent that comes from the essential oils in the leaves of the plant, but the bugs hate it.
Is lavender worth growing?
Growing lavender for profit on your farm can be a lucrative undertaking. In addition to being a high-value crop, lavender is also low maintenance. It’s a perennial plant that will continue producing year after year.
Does lavender spread in the garden?
How much is it likely to spread? Lavender is a small shrub that usually grows 20 to 24 inches tall and wide. The height includes the flower stalks, so when not in bloom, the foliage may be only a foot tall. The plant does not spread as thyme, oregano, and other herbs tend to.
Is lavender an invasive plant?
No, lavender is not considered on official invasive species. Although the plant is non-native in North America, it does not currently pose a threat to indigenous species nor threaten human health and safety.
What can you not plant next to lavender?
What should you not plant near lavender?
- Mint – Mint requires greater moisture in the soil than lavender can tolerate.
- Shade-Loving Perennials and Annuals – Plants and flowers that prefer the shade, like Coleus, Hosta, Impatiens, Fuchsia, and Camellias, likely won’t be your best choice of a buddy plant for lavender.
Are bees attracted to lavender?
While both bumblebees (Bombus spp.) and honey bees (Apis mellifera) are attracted to lavender (Lavandula spp.), the plant is more popular among bumblebees.
Does lavender come back every year?
If you have lavender plants that are hardy in your growing zone (see our Lavender 101 post for more information on this), it is likely that they will return year after year for a decade or two. But even the toughest perennials may still look quite grisly after their long winter dormancy.