Lavandula multifida
Lavandula multifida · Lamiaceae
📷 Laitche · Public domain
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around lavandula multifida and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Scientific name
- Lavandula multifida
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Form
- Shrub
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Flowering
- May to July
- Mature size
- 0.60 to 1.20 m in height
- Hardiness
- Zones 8 to 10 (-10 to 0 °C)
- Origin
- Spain, North Africa, Middle East
Care
Sunlight
Fernleaf lavender demands maximum sunlight: at least 6 hours of direct sun daily. The more light it receives, the more abundant and fragrant its blooms will be. Avoid partial shade, which would slow its growth and weaken flower production.
Soil and drainage
Choose well-draining, light, even gravelly or sandy soil. This lavender hates stagnant moisture and quickly rots in heavy clay soil. Adding sand or pozzolana at planting time will greatly improve drainage.
Watering
Water regularly during the first year of establishment, then gradually reduce. Once established, it tolerates drought and only needs occasional watering during heat waves. Let the soil surface dry between waterings.
Pruning and care
Prune lightly after flowering (July-August) to maintain a compact shape and prevent bare patches. A harder trim in spring (April) encourages branching. Avoid pruning too late in autumn, as this would weaken the plant before winter.
Fertilizer
Fertilizing is rarely necessary, as this lavender thrives on poor soils. Light compost or balanced fertilizer in spring is more than enough. Excess nitrogen promotes foliage at the expense of flowers.
Diseases and pests
Fernleaf lavender is rarely affected by disease if drainage is adequate. Watch for root rot if waterlogged. Powdery mildew and spider mites can occasionally appear in hot, dry climates; good air circulation prevents these issues.
Did you know?
Fernleaf lavender, native to the Mediterranean basin and Middle East, is remarkable for its highly divided and branched flower spikes, unique among cultivated lavenders. Its name "multifida" literally means "finely divided," referring to the complex form of its violet flowers. Used since Antiquity in perfumery and traditional medicine, it secretes an essence rich in aromatic compounds, particularly prized in Eastern herbalism.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- LavenderLavandula angustifolia
- ThymeThymus vulgaris
- SageSalvia officinalis
- BasilOcimum basilicum
- RosemarySalvia rosmarinus
- BugleAjuga reptans
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.