Goodwin Creek Lavender is a highly favored selection among gardeners, admired for its resilient nature and striking beauty. This particular lavender variety offers a captivating presence in various garden settings, making it a popular choice for those seeking both aesthetic appeal and ease of cultivation. Its adaptability provides a rewarding experience for both novice and experienced growers.
Understanding Goodwin Creek Lavender
Goodwin Creek Lavender, botanically known as Lavandula x ginginsii, is a distinctive hybrid resulting from a cross between Lavandula dentata and Lavandula lanata. This robust plant typically reaches a mature size of about 2 to 3 feet in height and spreads between 2 to 4 feet wide, forming a dense, mounding shrub. Its evergreen foliage features soft, woolly, silvery-grey leaves that are finely toothed, providing unique texture and year-round visual interest.
The plant produces an abundance of deep purple-blue flowers on variable-length spikes, contributing vibrant color to the garden. These blooms emerge from late spring and can continue through fall, and even into winter in milder climates, offering an extended flowering season. Goodwin Creek Lavender is also prized for its rich, sweet rosemary-lavender fragrance, released from both its flowers and foliage. This variety demonstrates notable cold hardiness, thriving in USDA Zones 6 through 9, and can withstand winter temperatures as low as -20°F.
Planting and Growing Conditions
Establishing Goodwin Creek Lavender successfully begins with selecting an appropriate site that offers optimal environmental conditions. This plant requires full sun exposure, ideally receiving at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day to promote vigorous growth and abundant flowering. While it can tolerate some partial shade, particularly in hotter climates, maximum sun exposure is generally preferred. Good air circulation around the plants is also beneficial, helping to prevent potential fungal issues.
The most crucial factor for this lavender’s health is well-draining soil, as it is highly susceptible to root rot in waterlogged conditions. Sandy or loamy soil types are ideal, allowing water to drain quickly, and a lean, fast-draining substrate is preferred. Goodwin Creek Lavender thrives in slightly alkaline soil, with an optimal pH range of 6.0 to 7.0, though it can tolerate up to 7.5. When planting, spring or fall are generally the best times, or in late spring to early summer once soil temperatures reach at least 60°F (21°C).
To plant, dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball, ensuring the plant’s crown sits slightly above the soil line to prevent moisture accumulation around the base. If planting multiple lavenders, space them 18 to 24 inches apart to ensure adequate airflow and room for mature growth. After planting, water thoroughly to help the roots establish. For mulching, a thin layer of gravel or compost around the base is recommended, but avoid wood or leaf mulches, which can retain too much moisture and contribute to root rot.
Ongoing Care and Maintenance
Once Goodwin Creek Lavender is established, its care regimen shifts to maintaining its health and promoting continuous blooms. During the first growing season, regular watering is important to develop a robust root system. However, mature plants are remarkably drought-tolerant and require infrequent watering; allow the soil to dry completely between waterings to prevent root rot. Overwatering is a common pitfall for lavender, so a “less is more” approach is effective for established plants.
Pruning is a key maintenance task for Goodwin Creek Lavender, essential for maintaining its shape, encouraging new growth, and maximizing flower production. The best time to prune is after the main flush of flowers, or in early spring before new growth begins. A light trim, shaping the plant into a ball-like form, encourages regeneration and prevents the plant from becoming woody over time. Avoid cutting into old, woody stems, as lavender may not regrow from these sections. Pruning the undersides of the plant also enhances air circulation, further deterring fungal diseases.
Goodwin Creek Lavender is generally low-maintenance regarding fertilization. It thrives in less fertile conditions, so heavy feeding is unnecessary. If desired, a balanced fertilizer can be applied sparingly in the spring, but high-nitrogen formulas should be avoided as they promote foliage growth over flowering. This lavender variety is also notably resistant to many common pests and diseases when grown in ideal conditions. While aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies can occasionally appear, good air circulation and well-draining soil largely prevent issues like powdery mildew and root rot. In colder climates (Zone 6), applying mulch around the base insulates roots for winter protection, or plants can be brought indoors.
Best Uses and Companion Plants
Goodwin Creek Lavender is a versatile plant that seamlessly integrates into various garden designs, offering both visual appeal and aromatic qualities. Its dense, bushy growth habit and attractive silvery-grey foliage make it an excellent choice for creating defined borders, informal hedges, or edgings along pathways. It also performs well in containers, allowing for flexible placement on patios or balconies, and can even be trained as small topiaries. Its compact size and drought tolerance make it particularly suitable for rock gardens and mass plantings.
Beyond its structural contributions, this lavender enriches the garden with its strong, soothing fragrance, making it a desirable addition to sensory gardens. The flowers are excellent for cutting, whether for fresh arrangements or dried for potpourri, sachets, and crafting. Goodwin Creek Lavender also plays an ecological role by attracting beneficial pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to the garden.
When considering companion plants, select those that share similar growing preferences for full sun and well-drained soil. Compatible choices include ornamental grasses, coneflower (Echinacea), yarrow (Achillea), Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Rosemary, and Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum x superba). These plants not only thrive in similar conditions but also provide complementary textures and colors that enhance the beauty of the lavender.