Lavender Lavandula × intermedia Heavenly Night = 'Dowphnight' (PBR) (Heavenly Series)
ABOUT
The plant known commonly as Lavender, specifically the Heavenly Night variety from the Heavenly Series, presents a captivating aesthetic. It features slender stalks from which emerges the plant's most distinct characteristic—its flowers. The blossoms are shaped in tapered spikes, with a multitude of small, tubular individual flowers densely packed together. The color of these flowers leans toward a dark purplish-blue hue, a color reminiscent of the night sky, which likely inspired the 'Heavenly Night' name. The leaves of this Lavender variety have a muted green-gray coloration, and they typically exhibit a narrow, lance-shaped formation, often described as having a slightly furry or downy texture. The overall arrangement of the flowers and foliage is dense, giving the plant a lush and full appearance. Its visual appeal is further enhanced by the evergreen nature of the leaves, ensuring year-round interest. The Lavender Heavenly Night variety is not just visually appealing, but also olfactory, as it emits the quintessential Lavender scent: a sweet, floral fragrance with herbal undertones and a hint of earthiness, which can be quite potent, especially during the blooming season. The flowers are particularly attractive to pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, who play a pivotal role in the ecological story of the plant, visiting the blooms and contributing to their pollination. In gardens, the Lavender Heavenly Night serves multiple roles—centerpiece for its beauty, border plant for its form, and aromatic provider for its scent. It's also commonly used in dried flower arrangements and for extracting essential oils due to its strong and appealing fragrance. The plant's overall presence is one of elegance, with captivating flowers and a distinctive aroma that can transport one to a serene, pastoral setting.
About this plant
NamesSynonyms
Lavender Heavenly Night, Dowphnight Lavender
Common names
Lavandula × intermedia Heavenly Night = 'Dowphnight' (PBR) (Heavenly Series).
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Evergreen
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Purple
Height
2-3 feet (60-90 cm)
Spread
2-3 feet (60-90 cm)
Plant type
Shrub
Hardiness zones
5-9
Native area
Mediterranean
Benefits
General Benefits- Aesthetic Appeal: The plant adds visual interest to gardens with its deep purple flowers and silvery-green foliage.
- Fragrance: It emits a pleasant scent which can enhance the sensory experience of a garden or outdoor space.
- Attracts Pollinators: The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators, supporting biodiversity.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, it is relatively drought-resistant, requiring less watering compared to many other plants.
- Low Maintenance: It typically requires minimal care, making it suitable for gardeners of all skill levels.
- Herbal Use: The flowers can be used in the creation of herbal products like sachets and potpourri (excluding direct medical use).
- Culinary Use: Some parts of the plant can be used to flavor food and drinks (excluding medicinal applications).
- Landscape Versatility: It can be used in various garden designs, from borders to rock gardens and as ground cover.
Medical Properties- This plant is not used for medical purposes
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Lavandin potpourri: Leaves and flowers of Lavandula × intermedia can be dried and used in potpourri to provide a long-lasting fragrance for the home.
- Crafting lavender wands: Stems of Lavandula × intermedia can be woven into decorative wands that, when dried, can serve as natural scent diffusers.
- Floral displays: Fresh or dried, Lavandin stems can serve as an aromatic addition to bouquets and floral arrangements.
- Cooking ingredient: Lavandin can be used as an herb in cooking, where it can add a floral hint to baked goods and desserts.
- Natural moth repellent: Dried Lavandin can be placed in sachets and used to protect wool clothes from moths.
- Homemade soap: Lavandin can be infused into homemade soaps for its calming scent and aesthetic appeal.
- Lavender syrup: The flowers can be used to make lavender-flavored syrup for use in cocktails and culinary confections.
- Aromatic bedding for pets: Dried Lavandin can be mixed with pet bedding to provide a pleasant scent and potentially deter insects.
- Linen water: Lavandin can be steeped in water to create a lightly fragranced linen spray for freshening up clothes and beddings.
- Lavender photography: Due to its attractive appearance, Lavandin can be planted as part of a garden that forms the backdrop for outdoor photography.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe plant Lavender is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe plant Lavender is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Calmness: Lavender is widely known for its soothing and calming properties, making it a symbol for tranquility and relaxation.
- Purity: The clean and fresh fragrance of lavender often represents purity and cleanliness.
- Devotion: Due to its perennial nature and the fact that lavender can survive in harsh conditions, it can symbolize devotion and enduring love.
- Protection: Historically, lavender was used in various cultures to ward off evil spirits, so it has come to symbolize protection.
- Healing: With its various medicinal properties, including its ability to alleviate stress and promote sleep, lavender is often associated with healing.
- Serenity: The calming effect of its scent and the serene appearance of its blooms make lavender a symbol of peace and serenity.
- Silence: In some traditions, lavender is associated with silence, possibly due to its use in promoting a peaceful and quiet atmosphere.
- Elegance: The delicate flowers and the noble appearance of the lavender plant give it a symbolic meaning of elegance and grace.
WaterLavender, known for its drought tolerance, requires less frequent watering once established. Water newly planted lavender deeply but infrequently, about once every two weeks, providing enough water to saturate the root zone. Adjust to weekly if conditions are extremely hot or dry. Established plants prefer drier conditions, so reduce watering to every two to three weeks, using about half a gallon per plant. Always allow the soil to dry out between waterings to prevent root rot.
LightLavender thrives in full sun and should be placed in a location where it receives at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily. The best spot for lavender is an area with clear exposure to daylight without any shade, as ample sunlight is crucial for the production of the essential oils that give the plant its fragrance and flavor.
TemperatureLavender is hardy and can withstand a range of temperatures, ideally thriving between 60°F and 70°F. It can survive brief periods of cold down to about 10°F but should be protected from prolonged freezes. The plant's tolerance to heat extends to temperatures above 100°F, making it adaptable to various warm climates.
PruningPruning lavender promotes bushy growth and prevents the plant from becoming woody. Prune in early spring by removing about a third of the plant's height, focusing on cutting back the previous year's growth while avoiding older woody stems. Additionally, deadheading spent flowers during the blooming season encourages a second bloom. Annual pruning after the last frost helps maintain the plant's shape and health.
CleaningAs needed
SoilLavender prefers well-draining, sandy or gravelly soil with a pH between 6.5 and 8. A mix of one-third garden soil, one-third sand or perlite, and one-third compost or organic matter is ideal.
RepottingLavender, commonly known as Lavandin, should be repotted every 1-2 years or when it outgrows its current pot, ideally in spring.
Humidity & MistingLavender thrives in dry conditions and does not require high humidity; aim for 40-50% relative humidity for optimal growth.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Place Lavandin near sunny window, minimal watering.
Outdoor
Full sun, well-drained soil, low watering, protect from cold.
Hardiness zone
5-9 USDA
Life cycleThe life cycle of Lavandula × intermedia Heavenly Night, commonly known as Lavender 'Heavenly Night', begins with seed germination, where seeds require well-draining soil and adequate warmth and light to sprout. The seedlings then grow into juvenile plants, developing a robust root system and foliage. As the plant matures, it enters the vegetative stage, during which it produces dense, silver-green leaves and woody stems. The subsequent flowering stage sees the emergence of long, elegant spikes crowned with deep violet-purple flowers, usually blooming in mid to late summer. After pollination, which is often facilitated by bees and other insects, the plant sets seeds, completing the reproductive cycle. In the post-flowering stage, Lavender 'Heavenly Night' may undergo pruning to encourage bushy growth and prepare for dormancy in winter, only to begin the cycle again in spring.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring-Summer
Propogation: The most popular method of propagating Lavender, including the variety Lavandula × intermedia Heavenly Night = 'Dowphnight' (PBR) from the Heavenly Series, is through semi-hardwood cuttings. This is typically done in late summer. Cuttings of about 2 to 4 inches long are taken from the current year's growth, just below a node. The lower leaves are stripped, and the cut end is often treated with a rooting hormone to encourage root development. These prepared cuttings are then placed in a mix of perlite and peat, or fine grit, ensuring that the node is below the surface. It's important to keep the cuttings moist but not waterlogged, and they are usually kept in a well-lit area without direct sunlight. Roots typically develop within a few weeks, after which the new plants can be gradually acclimated to outdoor conditions before planting out.
