Aromatico Blue Lavender provides a popular and fragrant addition to many gardens. This specific lavender variety is known for its appealing characteristics, making it a favored choice for those seeking both beauty and aroma in their outdoor spaces.
Understanding Aromatico Blue Lavender
Aromatico Blue Lavender, botanically known as Lavandula angustifolia ‘Aromatico Blue’, is a compact, bushy, evergreen shrub. It features aromatic, silvery-grey leaves that maintain their color throughout the year, sometimes with hints of silver or turning coppery-bronze in fall. The plant produces abundant spikes of deep violet-blue flowers, sometimes described as eggplant-purple, that rise above the foliage. These richly colored blooms appear from late spring through late summer, offering a long season of interest.
Mature plants reach a height of 14 to 20 inches and a width of 10 to 12 inches, making it suitable for various garden applications. The flowers are strongly scented, contributing a sweet fragrance to the garden, and are also excellent for drying.
Cultivating Aromatico Blue Lavender
Light Requirements
Aromatico Blue Lavender thrives in full sun exposure, needing at least six hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth and abundant flowering. Insufficient light can lead to leggy growth and reduced flower production.
Soil Preferences
This lavender variety prefers lean, loose, and fast-draining soil. It adapts well to sandy and loamy soil types and performs best in slightly alkaline to neutral pH conditions, though it can tolerate a range from acidic to alkaline. Good drainage is essential, as lavender does not tolerate heavy, soggy, or waterlogged soils, which can lead to root rot. Incorporating grit or sand into the planting area can improve drainage if your soil is heavy.
Watering Needs
Aromatico Blue Lavender requires regular watering during its first growing season to establish a strong root system. Once established, it becomes drought-tolerant and needs infrequent but deep watering. Allow the soil to dry out almost completely between waterings to prevent root rot. Overwatering, especially in poorly draining soil, is detrimental to the plant’s health.
Pruning Techniques
Pruning is important for maintaining the shape, promoting bushiness, and encouraging more blooms. A light trim can be performed after the first flush of flowers to encourage rebloom. A more significant pruning should occur in late summer or early fall after the last flush of flowers has faded, or in early spring to remove winter damage and promote new growth. When pruning, aim to cut off about one-third of the plant’s height, always cutting above a set of leaves and avoiding the old, woody parts of the plant, as lavender does not regenerate well from old wood.
Climate and Hardiness
Aromatico Blue Lavender is hardy in USDA Zones 5 through 9. It exhibits heat, wind, and drought tolerance, making it a resilient choice for various climates.
Enhancing Your Garden with Aromatico Blue Lavender
Aromatico Blue Lavender offers significant ornamental value, making it suitable for various garden designs. Its compact, mounded form and vibrant violet-blue flowers make it an excellent choice for border edging, mass plantings, rock gardens, and containers. The plant attracts beneficial pollinators like bees and butterflies to the garden. Its strong, sweet fragrance lends itself well to sensory gardens or planting near doors and walkways where its aroma can be enjoyed. It is a low-maintenance shrub once established.
Troubleshooting and Tips for Aromatico Blue Lavender
Ensuring good air circulation around Aromatico Blue Lavender plants helps prevent fungal diseases. Proper spacing between plants facilitates this air movement. Overwatering is a frequent problem, leading to root rot, which can be avoided by allowing the soil to dry out between waterings and ensuring adequate drainage.
If the plant exhibits leggy or sparse growth, it often indicates a need for proper pruning. Consistent pruning after flowering and in early spring helps maintain a compact, bushy form and encourages continuous blooming. Selecting a site with full sun and well-draining soil from the outset is important for the plant’s long-term success.