For centuries, lavender has been a key ingredient in soaps, shampoos, perfume, lotions, sachet bags, potpourri, and seasoning blends. Lavender is an integral part of herb gardens. It also makes a good addition to perennial borders, annual gardens, and as edging for shrub borders. The flower spikes that appear in summer can range in color from white to pink to purple. The flowers are often used for decorative arts and crafts.
Lavender prefers a sunny site and well-drained soils.
While lavender thrives in many areas of the country it is not reliably cold hardy in many areas in Iowa. Iowa gardeners should select cold hardy cultivars, such as 'Munsted' and mulch the plants with straw in the fall. Another possibility would be to grow lavender in pots. The potted lavender can be brought inside in the fall and placed in a bright sunny window. Prepared by Cindy Haynes , Department of Horticulture Iowa State University , Ames, Iowa.