Lavender looks delicate, but it is a tough Mediterranean plant that actually prefers to be left alone. Here's what we've learned growing English lavender in Michigan, plus what to look for when a label says "organic."
Choose the right lavender
For cold winters, choose English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). It is the hardiest type and the best for cooking and tea. Classic varieties like 'Munstead' and 'Hidcote' are favorites for northern gardens. French and Spanish lavenders are lovely but usually will not survive a Michigan winter in the ground.
The four things lavender needs
- Full sun: at least six to eight hours a day.
- Sharp drainage: wet roots are the number one killer of lavender. Plant on a slope, in a raised bed, or mix gravel or sand into heavy soil.
- Lean soil: skip rich compost and heavy fertilizer. Too much feeding gives floppy plants with less fragrance.
- Air: space plants so breezes can move through them, which helps prevent rot.
Water and care
Water new plants regularly their first season while roots get established. After that, lavender is drought tolerant and usually only needs water in long dry spells. Mulch with gravel instead of wood chips, which hold moisture against the stems.
Pruning
Prune after the summer bloom, cutting back about a third of the green growth to keep the plant compact. Never cut into the old woody base, because it often won't regrow. A light shaping in spring once new growth appears is fine too.
Harvesting
Cut stems in the morning once the dew has dried, when about half the buds on each stem have opened. Bundle small handfuls and hang them upside down somewhere dark, dry and airy for a couple of weeks.
What to look for when a label says "organic"
Look for the USDA Organic seal and the name of the certifier on the label. If you don't see them, ask the seller who certified the product.
To be fully transparent about our own products: our lavender essential oils are USDA Certified Organic, sourced from certified organic growers. They are not distilled from our farm. The lavender we grow on our farm is farm-grown English lavender and is not certified organic, so we never call it organic.
Our farm
We have grown English lavender on our family farm in Michigan for years, and our new home at Murray Lake in Lowell, Michigan, opens summer 2027. You can find our harvest in our dried lavender collection and our culinary lavender.
Frequently asked questions
Will lavender survive a Michigan winter?
English lavender usually does, especially in well-drained soil. Wet, heavy soil in winter is a bigger danger than cold.
Is lavender safe around pets?
It depends on how the pet meets it. Eating is the concern: the ASPCA lists English lavender as toxic to dogs, cats and horses when ingested, with nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite as signs (ASPCA). Scent has actually been studied as calming for dogs. In a 2006 trial of 32 dogs that got worked up on car rides, dogs spent more time resting and sitting and less time moving and barking when lavender scent was in the air (source). A 2005 study of 55 shelter dogs found they rested more with lavender scent than with any of the other scents tested (source). Keep dried bundles where pets can't chew them, and ask your vet before using concentrated oils around animals.
Can I cook with lavender from my garden?
Only English lavender that has never been sprayed with pesticides. Many garden lavenders are not meant for eating.
