A lavender as a standard stem is a particularly unusual eye-catcher. Such a tree looks particularly good in a pot that is as spacious as possible on the balcony or terrace. When it comes to care, the same rules apply to the lavender tree as to any other lavender plant.
How do you care for a lavender tree?
A lavender tree is a special lavender bush that was grown as a standard tree. For care it requires sandy, loose substrate, little fertilizer, regular watering, a sunny location and two cuts per year. Winter hardiness depends on the lavender variety.
A lavender with a stem?
The sight of a lavender standard is very attractive to many people, as the plant is primarily known as a lushly growing shrub. What is less known, however, is that lavender is not a perennial (as is often assumed), but is instead a subshrub. As such, lavender becomes woody as it ages and can also form a trunk if trained appropriately. However, to ensure that the lavender tree does not “run wild” again and fall back into its natural growth form, appropriate care and pruning measures are necessary.
Treating lavender trees as bonsai
Just as lavender can be trained into a standard tree, the plant can also be designed as a bonsai. However, it is important to proceed with a lot of sensitivity and patience, because lavender is quite sensitive due to its widely branched and deep root system.
Caring for the lavender standard
When it comes to care, the same rules apply to the lavender tree as to any other lavender; after all, it is not a separate species, but just a lavender bush that has been grown in a special way. In particular, the pot must be as large as possible - unless you want to grow a bonsai, which also needs to be carefully accustomed to the typical flat bowls - because the roots of the lavender need a lot of space. Otherwiseapplies
- sandy, nutrient-poor and loose substrate
- little to no fertilizer
- water little but regularly
- a full sun, protected location
- cut twice a year
Is the lavender tree hardy?
Whether the standard tree is winter hardy depends on the specific lavender variety from which it was grown. Only real lavender is considered to be truly hardy, which is why it is the only one that should be planted in the garden in Germany. In some milder regions (e.g. wine-growing regions), the winter-hardy Speiklavender and Lavandin are also allowed outside in the winter under protection. All other varieties should overwinter under cold house conditions, otherwise they will freeze to death.
Tips & Tricks
Lavender is not very suitable as a houseplant. Therefore, if possible, the lavender tree should not be in the room, but is better off in the garden or on the balcony.