How far apart to plant lavender
Space English lavender 18 to 24 inches apart, as Utah State University Extension recommends, into light, gravelly, well drained soil. In rows, Colorado State University Extension sets plants 2 to 3 feet apart within the row and 3 to 6 feet between rows, depending on the size of the cultivar. English lavender grows about 1 to 2 feet tall and wide, so plants at 18 to 24 inches just meet when grown.
The calculator opens at 21 inches each way, the middle of Utah State's range.
How many lavender plants for a bed or a hedge
| Space | Plants at 21 in |
|---|---|
| 4 × 4 ft bed | 4 |
| 4 × 8 ft bed | 8 |
| 3 × 6 ft bed | 3 |
| 4 × 12 ft bed | 12 |
| 10 ft low hedge | 5 |
| 25 ft low hedge | 14 |
| 50 ft low hedge | 28 |
| 100 ft low hedge | 57 |
Counts keep half a spacing clear at the bed edges and the ends of the row, the way the calculator counts. For a hedge along a path, choose Row or hedge and enter its length. In a 4 ft wide bed at 21 inches the plants sit in two rows, which is why a 4 × 4 ft bed holds only four.
English lavender or lavandin?
- English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) grows 1 to 3 ft tall, per Utah State and NC State Extension, and Colorado State rates it hardy to zone 5. It suits the 18 to 24 inch spacing.
- Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia) is a hybrid that reaches about 3 ft, taller than English lavender, and NC State notes it yields far more flowers and oil per acre. Give it the wider end of Colorado State's 2 to 3 ft spacing.
Utah State says lavender takes about 3 years to reach full size and can live 10 to 15 years with good care. Space for the grown plant, not the small pot you buy; the gaps fill in over those three years.
Soil and drainage come first
Utah State grows lavender in dry, sandy, well drained soil at pH 6.5 to 7.5 and warns against saturated or soggy ground. Colorado State prefers an alkaline soil with very little organic matter and amends heavy soils for drainage before planting. Both want full sun.
When to plant and how to start plants
Buy or raise transplants: Utah State does not recommend direct seeding because germination is low. Seed indoors sprouts best at 70 °F and usually begins to come up in 14 to 21 days. Utah State sets new plants out after the last spring frost; Colorado State plants from spring through fall and finds fall plantings survive better, establish more quickly and flower more the next season.
Prune every year once plants are established. Utah State shears plants back by half after flowering, and Colorado State removes about a third of the top.
Companions and related tools
Utah State pairs lavender with gaillardia, salvia, echinacea, daylilies, rudbeckia and iris. For a longer or mixed hedge, use the hedge spacing calculator; to plan a herb bed, the raised bed planner. For another herb, see basil spacing.