Until now, lavender has been the characteristic plant of High Provence. Every year, thousands of people make a pilgrimage to the southern French province and admire the lush, purple-flowering fields. In addition, there are larger growing areas in other Mediterranean countries, even in India. It is hard to imagine that commercial cultivation in German wine-growing regions will also succeed in a few years.
No commercial cultivation in Germany yet
The climate is changing gradually. It is true that many a mocker may deny this; However, statistical evaluations of the weather records have shown that the temperature has risen continuously in recent years - by up to one to two degrees Celsius, depending on the region. That may not seem like much at first glance, but for Mediterranean plants such as lavender, this means an opportunity to also become native to Germany. So it's not surprising that the first trial plantings are already taking place, especially in the Moselle area - after all, the hardy lavender, also from German gardens, is going wild by sowing itself.
Real lavender in particular feels good
Of all the lavender varieties, true lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, as it is botanically correctly called, is the sturdiest. This lavender variety is hardy and gets along very well in many areas of Germany - provided there is an appropriate location. Lavender needs a very sunny location that is as warm as possible with sandy, well-drained soil. Nutrient-rich, humus-rich soil, peat soil or loamy soil, on the other hand, are less suitable, but can at least be worked on accordingly in the home garden. The history of lavender shows that this Mediterranean plant has been around since the Middle Ages - the abbess and healer Hildegart von Bingen described the medicinal herb.
Lavender overwintering
Only the real lavender should overwinter outdoors - depending on the region and climate, with protection from brushwood or frost protection mats. Other lavender varieties, on the other hand, are sometimes hardy, but far from hardy. They belong in frosty temperatures under cold house conditions in sheltered rooms or in a (non-heated) greenhouse.
tips and tricks
Lavender is also very suitable for balcony planting. The balcony should be as sunny as possible (facing south or south-west) and also offer protection from bad weather.
IJA