Lavender: Growing Calm in the Northern Garden
Lavandula angustifolia
Few plants carry a fragrance as recognizable as lavender. Across the Mediterranean and surrounding regions more than thirty species grow wild, each carrying the unmistakable scent that has made this plant beloved for centuries. The species most often used in herbal medicine is Lavandula angustifolia, commonly known as English lavender. Despite its name, it is native to the dry hillsides of southern Europe, where hot sun and rocky soil shape its character.
In colder climates like ours in Maine, not every lavender survives the winter. Over time we have found one variety to be especially hardy: Krajova. This plant originates in the Czech Republic and has proven remarkably reliable through our winters of constant freezing and thawing. I first discovered it through Strictly Medicinals and planted it in my very first apothecary garden in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Over the years it proved itself again and again, surviving winters that challenged many other varieties.
Today Krajova has become a quiet backbone of our gardens at Meeting House Farm. We have added it to nearly every full sun bed. Walking through the gardens now means moving along grass aisles lined with lavender plants. Their soft gray foliage and summer blossoms mark the beginning and end of each bed, guiding visitors through the garden in a way that feels both practical and beautiful.
Lavender thrives in conditions that mirror its Mediterranean home. It prefers full sun, dry air, and well-drained soil. Heavy, wet ground is its greatest challenge, particularly in colder climates where winter moisture can damage the roots.
Because of this, we are careful about where we plant it. Raised beds, well drained or sandy soil, and good air circulation make all the difference. When lavender is happy it forms tidy mounds of gray green foliage that remain beautiful long after the flowers have faded.
While lavender can be grown from seed, most gardeners find it easier to begin with young plants. Germination rates are often low, and seedlings require careful attention during their early stages. Softwood cuttings taken in midsummer can also produce new plants, though this method requires patience as well.
Harvest season arrives in midsummer in Maine (earlier in warmer zones), usually sometime between July and August. Lavender plants rarely flower heavily in their first year, and it may take several seasons before they produce the abundant spikes gardeners imagine when they first plant them.
The best moment to harvest is just before the buds open. At this stage the flowers are still tightly closed and the concentration of aromatic oils is at its peak. We gather the stems in small bundles and hang them upside down in a dark, airy space or lay them flat on screens in our dry room where they dry slowly over the course of a week or so.
Once dried, the tiny purple buds are easily removed from the stems and stored in glass jars away from sunlight. Their fragrance holds remarkably well.
Though lavender flowers are most often used, the leaves also contain valuable essential oils. When preparing extracts, herbalists often include both buds and leaves to capture the plant’s full medicinal character.
Lavender belongs to the Lamiaceae family, the same botanical family that includes many of our most aromatic herbs. Rosemary, thyme, mint, and sage all share similar patterns of volatile oils that influence both their fragrance and their medicinal qualities.
In lavender, the dominant constituents include linalool and linalyl acetate. These compounds are known for their calming influence on the nervous system and are largely responsible for lavender’s long reputation as a plant that quiets the mind and encourages rest.
Herbalists traditionally turn to lavender when the nervous system has become overstimulated. Restless sleep, tension headaches, and general nervous exhaustion are all situations where its gentle sedative qualities can offer support. Lavender does not force the body toward sleep but instead invites relaxation, helping the nervous system soften enough for rest to arise naturally.
Its actions extend beyond the nervous system as well. Lavender has long been valued for its antimicrobial and anti inflammatory qualities, making it a useful ally for minor wounds, burns, and irritated skin. When infused into oils or salves, it can soothe muscle tension and support the skin’s natural healing processes.
Many years ago, while studying with Deb Soule of Avena Botanicals, I learned that lavender can also be helpful for releasing deep chest congestion. Its pungent aromatic nature helps relax the lungs and allows excess mucus to move more freely.
To use lavender in this way, mix lavender essential oil into a salve and rub it onto the chest. I have also found that adding lavender to a vaporizer can be very effective for soothing deep respiratory congestion.
Taken internally, lavender has also been used to support digestion and respiratory comfort. Its warming aromatic qualities help move stagnant energy through the body, while its subtle bitterness supports digestive function.
Energetically, lavender carries a balance of warmth and light bitterness with a distinctly floral character. These qualities allow it to both calm and gently stimulate, making it particularly helpful when tension and stagnation appear together in the body.
Growing Lavender in Northern Climates
Lavender can thrive in Maine and other northern climates, but success comes down to a few key conditions. Unlike many garden plants, lavender prefers soil that drains quickly and air that moves freely around the plant. Heavy soil that holds water through winter is often the greatest challenge.
We have found that planting lavender in raised beds and well drained soil gives it the best chance for long term health. Full sun is essential. Lavender truly loves heat and light, and plants that receive at least eight hours of sun each day grow stronger and produce more flowers.
Winter protection can also make a difference. Once the ground begins to cool in late fall, we gently pack loose leaves around the base of the plants to help insulate the roots. After that we place a light row cover over the bed. This simple layer helps protect the plants from the harsh freeze and thaw cycles that are common in our climate.
With the right siting and a bit of winter care, lavender can live for many years in a northern garden.
A Lavender We Trust in Northern Gardens
For gardeners in colder climates, variety matters. Over the years we have tested several types of lavender, but one has proven itself again and again in our fields.
Krajova lavender has become our most reliable plant for northern gardens. Originally from the Czech Republic, it tolerates our winters remarkably well and produces beautifully fragrant blossoms each summer.
Because it performs so consistently here, it is the variety we recommend most often to gardeners who want to grow lavender successfully in Maine.
This year we will have Krajova lavender plants available at our Meeting House Farm plant sale. These are the same plants we grow throughout our gardens, and they have proven themselves season after season.
Lavender in This Month’s Apothecary Box
Each month our Apothecary Box highlights a single plant and explores the many ways it can be used in everyday life.
This month we are celebrating lavender.
Inside the box you will find a small collection of herbal preparations that invite this calming plant into daily use. Lavender has long been known for its ability to quiet the nervous system, soften tension, and support restful sleep. It is also a beautiful ally for the skin and a gentle addition to evening teas.
For those who love the scent of lavender in the garden, the Apothecary Box offers a way to bring that same sense of calm into the home.
For many, lavender becomes more than a garden plant. It becomes a companion through the rhythms of life. A cup of lavender tea in the evening, a few drops of oil rubbed into tired shoulders, or simply brushing your hand across the plant while walking through the garden can offer a quiet reminder to slow down.
In a world that often asks us to move quickly and carry much, lavender invites the nervous system to soften. It reminds us that calm is not something we must chase.
Sometimes it is something we grow in the garden. And sometimes it is something we grow within ourselves.