Lavender Lavandula × chaytoriae 'Richard Gray'

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Lavandula × chaytoriae 'Richard Gray', commonly known as lavender, features a distinctive appearance that makes it a favorite among gardeners and landscapers. The plant is characterized by its bushy form and the silvery-gray foliage that sets a beautiful backdrop for its flowers. The leaves are notably velvety, providing a soft texture to the touch. They are narrow and elongated, with a tendency to curl slightly at the edges, adding to the overall plush appearance of the plant. As for its flowers, 'Richard Gray' lavender boasts stunning spiky blooms, typically in shades of violet and purple, creating a striking contrast against the silver-tinted leaves. These flowers are arranged in dense terminal spikes that rise elegantly above the foliage, attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies. The blooms carry the classic, highly aromatic scent that lavenders are known for, which can fill the surrounding air, especially on warm days. The vibrant flowering spikes add a splash of color that can last throughout the summer months, making it both an aesthetic and sensory addition to any setting. Overall, the 'Richard Gray' lavender is celebrated for its unique color palette and its capacity to bring a touch of Mediterranean charm to gardens.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Lamiaceae
- Synonyms
  Richard Gray Lavender, Lavender 'Richard Gray'
- Common names
  Lavandula × chaytoriae 'Richard Gray'.
Toxicity
- To humans
  Lavender (Lavandula × chaytoriae 'Richard Gray') is generally not considered toxic to humans. However, like with many plants, ingestion in large amounts could potentially result in mild gastrointestinal upset or other symptoms in sensitive individuals. It's always prudent to avoid consuming any garden plants that are not explicitly grown for culinary purposes. In general, however, the risk of serious toxicity from ingesting lavender is low.
- To pets
  Lavender is generally considered to be non-toxic to cats and dogs. While it’s not common for pets to ingest large amounts of lavender, if they do, they might experience mild gastrointestinal discomfort, such as vomiting or diarrhea. As with any non-food plant, it's advisable to prevent pets from consuming lavender to avoid any potential discomfort or allergic reactions. However, lavender is not known to cause severe poisoning in pets.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Evergreen
- Color of leaves
  Silver-grey
- Flower color
  Lavender
- Height
  2 feet (60 cm)
- Spread
  2 feet (60 cm)
- Plant type
  Shrub
- Hardiness zones
  8
- Native area
  Hybrid

Benefits

General Benefits
- Aesthetic Appeal: 'Richard Gray' lavender is highly valued for its striking silvery foliage and vibrant purple flowers that enhance the beauty of any garden.
- Fragrance: This lavender variety emits a pleasant and strong scent that can freshen up outdoor spaces and can be used in sachets and potpourri.
- Drought Tolerance: It is well-suited to low-water conditions, making it ideal for xeriscaping and drought-prone areas.
- Low Maintenance: Lavender 'Richard Gray' requires minimal upkeep, is pest-resistant, and has low fertilization needs.
- Attracts Pollinators: The blooms attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators, promoting biodiversity in the garden.
- Culinary Use: Although culinary use should be with caution and knowledge, this variety of lavender can be used to flavor dishes and beverages.
- Landscape Versatility: Can be used in a variety of garden styles, including formal, cottage, and rock gardens as well as in borders and containers.
Medical Properties
- This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Drawer and Closet Freshener: Lavender's pleasant scent can be used to freshen up drawers and closets by placing dried lavender bundles or sachets with the flowers inside them. This can help impart a gentle fragrance to clothing and linens.
- Natural Insect Repellant: Because of its strong scent, Lavender is often used as a natural insect repellent, particularly effective against moths, mosquitoes, and flies when planted near windows or doors, or when the oils are applied to the skin.
- Culinary Ingredient: Culinary-grade Lavender can be used to add a unique floral flavor to baked goods, such as cakes and cookies, or to create aromatic sugars and syrups for use in desserts and cocktails.
- Craft Projects: Lavender flowers can be incorporated into various craft projects such as wreaths, potpourri blends, and decorative displays for their color and fragrance.
- Sleep Aid: Dried Lavender or Lavender-filled pillows are commonly placed near the bed or inside pillowcases to help promote a relaxing atmosphere conducive to sleep.
- Natural Carpet Deodorizer: Dried Lavender can be sprinkled onto carpets and then vacuumed to help deodorize and freshen the room.
- Homemade Soap and Bath Products: Lavender is a popular addition to homemade soaps, bath bombs, and bath salts due to its relaxing scent and natural cleansing properties.
- Photography Prop: Lavender's attractive blooms and foliage are often used as a beautiful and natural prop in photography, enhancing the aesthetics of the photos.
- Wedding Decor: Lavender can be used in various aspects of wedding décor, from the bridal bouquet to table centerpieces, for its beauty, color, and scent.
- Linen Spray: A Lavender-infused spray can be applied to linens and bedding before ironing to impart a fresh and calming scent.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Lavender is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Lavender is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Serenity: Lavender, including the variety 'Richard Gray', is often associated with tranquility and calmness due to its soothing fragrance.
- Healing: The aroma of lavender is believed to have healing properties, promoting relaxation and well-being, hence it symbolizes health and restoration.
- Purity: Due to its clean and fresh scent, lavender is commonly associated with purity and cleanliness.
- Devotion: Lavender can symbolize devotion and loyalty, as it has been used in the past to express faithfulness in relationships.
- Protection: Historically, lavender was believed to ward off evil spirits and protect against bad luck, making it a symbol of safeguarding.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

40%

Humidity

🪴

Every 2-3 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring to Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
For Lavender 'Richard Gray', watering should be done carefully to avoid overwatering, as they prefer drier conditions. Water them once or twice a week, providing about 1 gallon of water each time during the growing season, and reduce watering in the winter months. Ensure the soil dries out between watering sessions to mimic their native Mediterranean environment. Overhead watering should be avoided to prevent fungal diseases; instead, water directly at the base of the plant.
Light
Lavender 'Richard Gray' thrives in full sun, requiring at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily. The ideal spot for this plant is in an area that is exposed to the unfiltered sunshine for the majority of the day, such as a south-facing garden spot, without any shade from trees or buildings.
Temperature
Lavender 'Richard Gray' is tolerant of a range of temperatures, but it grows best in conditions that mirror its native Mediterranean climate. It can survive minimum temperatures of around 10°F but prefers temperatures between 50°F and 80°F. It is important to protect the plant from extreme cold, especially if temperatures dip below the minimum threshold.
Pruning
Prune Lavender 'Richard Gray' annually to maintain its shape, encourage new growth, and prevent it from becoming woody. The best time for pruning is in the early spring, just as the plant begins to show new growth. Cut back about a third of the plant to keep it compact, but be careful not to cut into the old wood as this can damage the plant.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
The Lavender 'Richard Gray' flourishes best in well-draining sandy or gravelly soil with a neutral to alkaline pH of 6.5 to 8.0. A mix of two parts coarse sand, one part perlite, and three parts compost or organic matter is ideal.
Repotting
Lavender 'Richard Gray' should be repotted every two to three years to refresh the soil and accommodate root growth.
Humidity & Misting
Lavender 'Richard Gray' prefers low to moderate humidity levels and is well-suited to the typical dry air found in most home environments.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place in a south-facing window; ensure good air flow.
- Outdoor
  Plant in full sun, well-draining soil; protect from harsh winds.
- Hardiness zone
  5-9 USDA
Life cycle
Lavandula × chaytoriae 'Richard Gray', commonly known as lavender, begins its life cycle when seeds are sown in the soil and germinate, typically in spring or early summer. The seedlings grow, developing a root system and foliage through a vegetative stage. As the plants mature, they enter a flowering stage usually in late spring to summer, with the characteristic fragrant purple flowers attracting bees and other pollinators. After pollination, the flowers produce seeds which can be dispersed to start new plants. Lavender is a perennial, so after flowering, the plant goes into a period of dormancy in the winter, with growth slowing down significantly. The following spring, the cycle continues as the plant resumes growth and prepares for another flowering season.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring to Summer
- The plant Lavandula × chaytoriae 'Richard Gray', more commonly known as lavender, can be effectively propagated through softwood cuttings. The best time to take softwood cuttings is in the spring, when the plant's new growth is tender and flexible. To propagate lavender using this method, one would cut a 3 to 4-inch length (approximately 7.5 to 10 centimeters) from the tip of a healthy, non-flowering shoot. The lower leaves are then stripped, and the base of the cutting is dipped in rooting hormone powder to encourage root development. The cutting should be placed in a well-draining soil mixture and kept moist until roots have developed enough to support the new plant, which usually takes a few weeks. It is important to provide a warm environment and sufficient light without direct sunlight. This popular method is valued for its simplicity and effectiveness in producing true-to-type offspring of the mother plant.