Lavender
Fragrant purple flowers on a shrub that hates wet feet.
- Scientific name: Lavandula angustifolia
- Family: Mint family
Lavender is a Mediterranean plant that is ornamental, aromatic and useful at once. There is one rule worth memorising: drainage matters more than watering. What kills lavender in Saudi gardens is not the heat but heavy soil holding water around the roots.
At a glance
- Plant typeHerbaceous shrub
- WateringWeekly
- LightFull sun
- Comfortable range5 – 35 °C
- Height50 cm – 2 m
- SpreadUp to 1 m
- FloweringMid spring through summer
- HarvestLate summer to early autumn
Care guide
Watering
Moderate weekly watering. Once established it is genuinely drought-tolerant, and the common mistake is over-watering on the assumption that heat demands it.
Light and heat
Full sun and moving air. It prefers a 5 to 35 °C range and struggles in extreme heat combined with high humidity.
Soil and feeding
Relatively poor, free-draining soil — rich soil produces soft growth and weaker scent. Feed only twice a season: a balanced mix in spring and a high-phosphorus one before flowering.
Pruning
Prune in late winter or early spring by about a third of the height, and deadhead spent flowers as they fade. Never cut into bare old wood — it will not regrow.
Propagation
Cuttings in spring and summer — straightforward, with a high success rate given enough warmth and humidity.
In Saudi conditions
In heavy clay soil, plant lavender on a raised bed or in a raised container so it drains properly. That single step is the difference between a shrub that lives for years and one that dies in its first summer.
Common problems
- Root rot from over-watering or poor drainage — the leading cause of death
- Bare, woody bases after years without pruning
- Mealybug and scale insects
- Weak fragrance in over-rich soil or partial shade
Need a hand?
Building raised beds and free-draining soil mixes before planting is part of our garden preparation work.
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