What are the propagation methods for Lavandula pinnata?

Lavandula pinnata is a full-sun plant, but in the hot summer it must be grown under shade to avoid sunburn. Because Lavandula pinnata is a male-sterile line, its pollen develops incompletely, so it cannot self-pollinate and produce seeds. Artificial propagation of Lavandula pinnata can use cuttings or division.

Lavandula pinnata

I. Cutting propagation

Cuttings are generally taken in spring and autumn. Softwood cuttings in summer also work. The cutting medium can be 2/3 coarse sand mixed with 1/3 peat moss. Select vigorous, healthy stock plants, and take terminal buds from one-year-old semi-lignified branches with short, thick internodes that have not yet headed, cutting the cuttings at 8-10 cm from the tip. The cut on the cutting should be close to the stem node, and should be as smooth as possible, without breaking the phloem. Remove the leaves from the bottom 2 nodes, place in water for 2 hours, then insert into the soil; roots will form in about 2-3 weeks. You can also choose 8-10 cm one-year-old branches; under conditions of good drainage, maintained moisture, and a bed temperature of 20-24°C, they will root in about 40 days. Do not use terminal buds that have already produced flower heads for cuttings, because flowering branches have already aged and will root poorly, affecting future growth. For plastic-film cuttings, prepare the soil and make beds. Water thoroughly, then cover with film and insert the cuttings immediately. Depth 5-8 cm, row spacing 20-25 cm. Be careful to raise the soil temperature to promote root development; frequently prune extended branches, promptly remove flower heads, promote branching, and cultivate strong seedlings. Planting spacing 60 cm, row spacing 120 cm. Water immediately after planting.

II. Division propagation

This can be done in spring or autumn. Use 3-4 year old plants; in spring, in March-April, divide the old roots of mature plants, with each division retaining a bud eye.

Is Lavandula pinnata poisonous? How to grow Lavandula pinnata

Lavandula pinnata (Lavendula pinnat), native to the Canary Islands, is the pure ornamental variety with the longest flowering period, used for cut flowers, pressed flowers, or garden cultivation and aromatherapy. So, is Lavandula pinnata poisonous? How do you grow Lavandula pinnata? Let's take a look together with the editor below.

Is Lavandula pinnata poisonous?

Is rain-night lavender poisonous or not?

Lavandula pinnata (Lavendula pinnat), native to the Canary Islands, is extremely similar to Lavandula canariensis; the two are close relatives, but this species has a more compact flower form and darker color. It is now commonly cultivated in many places.

I. Morphological characteristics

Plant height: Lavandula pinnata grows 30-100 cm tall. Flowering period: it blooms all year round, but the main flowering period is concentrated from November to May-June of the following year; when summer is too hot, it stops flowering and goes dormant.

Fragrance: The fragrance of Lavandula pinnata resembles a mixture of geranium and rosemary; it is fairly strong, but has a heavy mixed scent. The leaves are fragrant, while the flowers have no fragrance.

Leaves and flowers: The leaf shape of Lavandula pinnata is bipinnatisect, with a relatively faint fragrance; the leaves are opposite, the leaf surface is covered with a powdery substance, and the leaf color is gray-green. The plant is spreading, a lush shrub, with deep purple tubular small flowers that have dark markings; the upper lip is more developed than the lower lip, with 2 lips.

Flowering period: The main flowering period of Lavandula pinnata is concentrated from November to May-June of the following year; when summer is too hot, it stops flowering and goes dormant. Under suitable, warm conditions it can bloom in all four seasons.

II. Ecological habits

Lavandula pinnata likes sunlight, tolerates heat, tolerates drought, is extremely cold-hardy, tolerates poor soil, and resists salinity and alkalinity. The cultivation site needs sufficient sunlight and good ventilation. Time required from sowing to flowering (or harvest): 18-20 weeks. Lavender is suitable for cultivation in large containers. But when potted, to prevent excessive moisture, you can choose a ceramic pot or a smaller plastic pot; it is not advisable to use a large pot unless it has already grown to a considerable size.

Lavandula pinnata cannot endure heat and humidity; if waterlogged for a long time, the roots rot and it dies. When planting outdoors, be careful not to let rain fall directly on the plants. After May, it needs to be moved to a place without direct sunlight, and ventilation should be increased to lower the ambient temperature and keep it cool, so that it can safely pass the hot summer.

How to grow Lavandula pinnata

Lavandula pinnata is a perennial small shrub, generally usable for about 10 years. The variety is undemanding, easy to cultivate, likes sunlight, tolerates heat, tolerates drought, is extremely cold-hardy, tolerates poor soil, and resists salinity and alkalinity. The cultivation site needs sufficient sunlight and good ventilation. Time required from sowing to flowering (or harvest): 18-20 weeks. Lavender is suitable for cultivation in large containers. But when potted, to prevent excessive moisture, you can choose a ceramic pot or a smaller plastic pot; it is not advisable to use a large pot unless it has already grown to a considerable size.

Lavender cannot endure heat and humidity; if waterlogged for a long time, the roots rot and it dies. When planting outdoors, be careful not to let rain fall directly on the plants. After May, it needs to be moved to a place without direct sunlight, and ventilation should be increased to lower the ambient temperature and keep it cool, so that it can safely pass the hot summer. Pay attention to sunlight, water, temperature, and patience.

1. Soil

Lavandula pinnata is suitable for slightly alkaline or neutral sandy soil. Special attention must be paid to choosing a well-drained medium; you can use 1/3 perlite, 1/3 vermiculite, and 1/3 peat moss mixed together. If cultivating in open ground, pay attention to soil drainage; you can pile the soil up into beds before planting.

2. Watering

Lavandula pinnata does not like water to remain around the roots often. After one thorough watering, wait until the soil is dry before watering again, with the surface growing medium dry and the interior moist as the standard, and slight leaf wilting as the main indicator. Water in the morning, avoid sunlight, and do not splash water on the leaves and flowers, otherwise they easily rot and breed pests and diseases. A continuously humid environment will prevent the roots from getting enough air to breathe, leading to poor growth or even sudden death of the whole plant; this is often where lavender cultivation fails.

3. Light

Lavandula pinnata is a full-sun plant and needs sufficient sunlight and a suitably moist environment. It is better to provide a full-sun environment; it can also grow in half sun, but it will bloom less. In summer, at least 50% of sunlight should be shaded out, and ventilation increased to lower the ambient temperature; although growth will weaken this way, it will not die. In winter, lavender can grow well on flat ground and should be cultivated under full sun.

4. Temperature

Lavandula pinnata is semi-heat-tolerant, prefers coolness, and likes warm winters and cool summers. Suitable growth temperature: 15-25°C; it can grow at 5-30°C. Limiting temperature: above 35°C; if above 38-40°C for a long time, the top stems and leaves turn yellow and wither. In northern winters, when it remains below 0°C for a long time, it begins dormancy; during dormancy, mature seedlings can withstand low temperatures of -20 to -25°C.

5. Fertilizing

For fertilizing Lavandula pinnata, bone meal can be placed in the pot soil as a base fertilizer (use once every three months). For small seedlings, Hyponex No. 2 (20-20-20) can be applied; after the plant matures, apply a fertilizer higher in phosphorus, such as Hyponex No. 3 (20-30-20). Apply dilute fertilizer.

6. Pruning

The flowers of Lavandula pinnata have the richest essential oil content. When using them, the flowers or flower heads are the main part. To make harvesting easier, in the early cultivation stage some small flower heads may as well be trimmed flat entirely with large scissors; the newly grown flower heads will then be uniform in height, which helps with harvesting in one go. Some varieties can reach 90 cm in height; this method is also used to keep the plant low and promote more branching and flowering, increasing the harvest. After flowering ends, pruning must be carried out; the plant can be pruned to 2/3 of its original size, and the plant shape will be more compact and favorable for growth. Pruning should be done in cool seasons such as spring and autumn; generally prune in spring, as pruning in autumn will affect cold hardiness. When pruning, be careful not to cut into the lignified parts, so as to avoid weakening and death of the plant.

Propagation methods of Lavandula pinnata

1. Cutting propagation

Lavandula pinnata is generally propagated by cuttings. It can also be propagated by sowing in spring, and will bloom in about two to three months.

2. Management methods

It is relatively heat-tolerant by nature, and drainage and sunlight must be good. Too much light easily causes lignification, but this is less obvious than in other varieties. In summer it needs shading. Its cold hardiness is semi-cold-hardy; below minus five degrees Celsius in winter it needs protection, and it does not tolerate snow accumulation. Generally place it in a ventilated spot; in summer, keeping it indoors or in a stuffy, humid place risks sudden death.

Pest and disease control of Lavandula pinnata

Lavandula pinnata rarely suffers from insect pests.

The main disease of Lavandula pinnata is root rot, with the highest incidence under high temperature and waterlogged conditions. Control method: drench the roots with an 800-fold solution of carbendazim or chlorothalonil, once a month, especially from June to October; be careful to prevent waterlogging and keep the air dry.

Cutting propagation method for Lavandula pinnata

Cutting propagation time for Lavandula pinnata

Cutting propagation of Lavandula pinnata is suitable in spring, autumn, and winter.

Selection of cuttings for Lavandula pinnata

Choose healthy and strong branches; you can cut from the third stem segment above the terminal bud.

Cutting propagation method for Lavandula pinnata

If the cutting has flower heads, first cut off the flower heads, leave the lowest pair of leaves, moisten the medium, and then insert the cutting. After the cutting roots, it can be directly potted for final planting or planted in a flower bed.