Combining peonies and lavender creates a garden that appeals to multiple senses. This pairing offers visual beauty and an aromatic experience. This combination evokes a classic cottage garden aesthetic. It is popular among gardeners seeking elegance and sensory delight.
Why Combine Peonies and Lavender
Combining peonies and lavender offers several advantages for a harmonious garden. Their complementary blooming seasons extend garden interest, with peonies flowering in late spring to early summer and some lavender varieties continuing into summer. The soft pinks, whites, and reds of peonies contrast beautifully with lavender’s purple shades. This blend of colors and differing textures provides visual depth.
Beyond aesthetics, this combination offers practical benefits. Lavender’s aroma can deter some pests, and both plants attract beneficial pollinators, contributing to a healthy garden ecosystem. The result is a serene garden space combining beauty with functional advantages.
Essential Growing Conditions for Success
Establishing the right environmental conditions is fundamental for successful growth. Both plants require ample sunlight, ideally six to eight hours of direct sun daily, for robust growth and abundant flowering. Insufficient sunlight can reduce blooms for peonies and prevent flowering for lavender.
Well-draining soil is crucial for both species, as neither tolerates soggy conditions that can lead to root rot. Lavender prefers neutral to slightly alkaline soil, while peonies thrive in neutral to slightly acidic conditions. To accommodate both, excellent drainage is paramount. Soil pH can be managed with organic matter like compost to achieve a compromise range, typically between 6.0 and 7.0. For heavy clay, horticultural grit improves drainage.
Once established, both plants exhibit drought tolerance, but their specific watering needs vary. Peonies benefit from consistent moisture, especially during flowering and dry spells, requiring one to two inches weekly. Lavender prefers drier conditions, thriving when the soil dries out between waterings. A strategic approach involves deep watering peonies when needed, while keeping lavender’s root zone adequately dry. Good air circulation is also important for both to prevent fungal diseases.
Selecting the Right Varieties
Choosing appropriate varieties is important for a thriving combined garden.
Peonies
Gardeners can select from herbaceous, tree, or Itoh types, each with distinct growth habits. Herbaceous peonies die back in winter, tree peonies develop woody stems, and Itoh peonies are a hybrid. Varieties can also be chosen by bloom times—early, mid, or late season—to extend visual appeal. Popular herbaceous varieties include ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ (pure-pink, scented), ‘Karl Rosenfield’ (magenta-red), ‘Festiva Maxima’ (white with crimson flecks), and ‘Bowl of Cream’ (creamy white double blossoms).
Lavender
English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) varieties are often preferred for their hardiness and compact size. ‘Munstead’ and ‘Hidcote’ are popular English cultivars known for vibrant purple blooms. French (Lavandula dentata) and Spanish (Lavandula stoechas) lavenders offer distinct appearances and tolerate more humid conditions, but English varieties are generally more cold hardy. Consider mature size and USDA hardiness zones for long-term compatibility.
Designing and Planting Your Combined Garden
Careful design and precise planting contribute to the success of a combined garden. Site preparation should prioritize soil drainage, incorporating amendments like compost or horticultural grit as needed.
Peonies
For herbaceous peonies, dig a hole about one foot deep and wide, ensuring the root’s “eyes” are covered by 0.5 to 2 inches of soil (shallower in warmer zones). Planting too deeply can inhibit blooming. Space peonies 2.5 to 3 feet apart for mature growth and air circulation.
Lavender
Plant lavender at the same depth as their nursery pots. Gently firm the soil around them to eliminate air pockets. When arranging, place taller peonies behind or among shorter lavender for a layered effect. Adequate spacing between both plants promotes good air circulation, preventing fungal issues. After planting, thorough initial watering helps settle the soil.
Ongoing Care and Maintenance
Consistent care after planting ensures the long-term health and vibrancy of your combined garden. For established plants, watering needs differ: peonies require deep watering during dry periods, especially when flowering, while lavender prefers the soil to dry out between waterings. Overwatering lavender can lead to root rot.
Pruning is important for both plants. Deadhead herbaceous peonies after blooms fade to redirect energy to root development. Cut their foliage back to one to three inches above ground in fall after it yellows or dies, which helps prevent diseases. Lavender benefits from a light trim after its first bloom to encourage a second flush, and a more significant pruning in late summer or early fall (cutting back by about one-third) to maintain shape and vigor. Avoid cutting into old, woody growth.
Both peonies and lavender are not heavy feeders, so minimal fertilization is needed. Over-fertilizing, especially with high nitrogen, can lead to lush foliage at the expense of peony flowers. General pest and disease management involves ensuring good air circulation and cleaning up plant debris to prevent fungal issues like botrytis or powdery mildew. Lavender’s aroma can deter some common garden pests.
In colder climates, peonies require a chilling period and can benefit from a light layer of mulch for their first winter, removed in spring for new growth.