Welcome back.
Forecasts can change. We check destination weather again before live plants leave the farm. Non-plant lavender goods continue shipping normally.
Real dishes from our Field Notes recipes, shared by the people who made them.
Your reaction votes in that category and also adds one equal point to the photo's overall Lavender Crown total.
Category accolades: the photo leading each emoji earns that badge; one photo can earn several. Overall Lavender Crown: all four emoji counts combine, and the highest monthly total wins. Monthly counts restart, but approved photos stay enrolled. Cultivar-confidence votes are separate.
Lavender companion · grow guide
Fire Pink · Silene virginica
Plant in part sun in sharply drained, sandy, gravelly or rocky soil. This native wildflower is often short-lived, so let it self-seed to keep it around.
Check my zone & planting dates
Part sunLight
Low waterFast drainage
pH 5.0–6.5Soil
Zones 4a–8bHardiness
14″ tall10″ wide
Some resistanceDeer · rabbits some resistance
Not known toxicPets
Huckleberry saysTell me where you grow and I’ll check if Jackson Valentine will thrive there.
Hardy in zones 4a–8b
Spring after frost, or early fall.
Your year with Jackson Valentine
When it arrives
Plugs arrive in active growth. Water the tray right away, set it in bright light out of harsh wind, and plant within a few days. If you wait, bump them into 3–4" pots. Harden off for a week before planting out, and keep the root ball moist the first 3–4 weeks.
Spring after frost, or early fall.
Set the crown exactly at soil level; a little gravel around the crown helps prevent rot.
About 12" apart.
Sandy, gravelly or light loam; slightly acidic · pH 5.0–6.5
Fix-it tip: Add grit or plant on a slope or rock garden. Avoid rich, heavy soil that stays wet.
Part sun (tolerates full sun with afternoon shade; part shade).
Morning sun with afternoon shade suits it best.
Don’t give up on it
Low rosettes of leaves green up in early spring, followed by bright red flowers in mid to late spring.
Enjoy red spring flowers.
Let seed ripen; it rests in heat.
Leave seedlings in place.
Keep soil from staying wet.
First season: Water when the top inch dries during the first season.
After that: Drought tolerant once established; water only in long dry spells.
Not needed; rich feeding shortens its life.
Let some flowers set seed so it can reseed. Trim faded stems afterward if they look untidy.
Rarely needed; it's short-lived and best renewed by seedlings.
Hardy to zone 4. Wet winter soil, not cold, is what kills it.
Often goes quiet or partly dormant after blooming in summer heat; that's normal.
Plant gone after 2–3 yearsLikely cause: Naturally short-lived
What to do: Let seed ripen; leave seedlings in place
Rotting crownLikely cause: Wet or heavy soil
What to do: Replant in gritty, sloped soil
Leaves fading in JulyLikely cause: Normal summer rest
What to do: Leave it be; water lightly in drought
Yellowing and a rotting crown mean too wet. Wilting in heat on young plants means water deeply once.
Not listed by ASPCA; no known toxicity reported. Discourage pets from chewing any garden plant.
Deer: somewhat resistant · Rabbits: somewhat resistant
Finnegan saysStill not sure what’s wrong? Ask Plant Health — describe it or add a photo.
Good in pots · 1 gallon+
Good in a rock-garden pot or trough with gritty mix.
Outdoor plant
Not suited to indoor growing.
Best after a cold winter
Native perennial that expects a winter rest.
Plugs from the tray
3–4 inch pots for 3–5 weeks, until roots hold the soil
Garden bed or a 1 gallon potTime to move up? Slide the plant out: if white roots wrap the outside of the soil, it’s ready for the next size.
Planting with lavender
Plant it near your lavender
Shares lavender's love of sharp drainage but prefers afternoon shade. Plant it at the partly shaded edge of a lavender planting or rock garden.
Community Grower Report
Real results from gardeners who grow it, including how it does beside lavender. Answer only what you have experience with.
Loading community reports…
Overall
recommendation
Optional. The farm reads every tip before it appears on this page.
Grower-sourced information. Results reflect real gardens and farms and vary with climate, soil, plant age and care.
Great Lakes Lavender Farm
Use our evidence-led health checker for a practical recovery plan, staff review, or a second opinion from the Grower Community.
Reviews from growers, gardeners and shoppers.
Plants, lavender products, apparel, gifts and growing supplies.
You may also like
Here to help while we’re tending the farm
Hi! I’m Lavender Grower, Great Lakes Lavender Farm’s automated assistant.
I can help with growing lavender, choosing plants, orders, wholesale, claims, reviews, or the Farm Simulator.
