Texas Hill Country Gillespie County Lavender Trial

Elizabeth McMahon, Gillespie County CEA-Horticulture

Summary

Thirteen lavender varieties were planted at the Gillespie County Extension Office on

May 10

, 2022. Plants began blooming as early as June 2022, though flower quality was low.

Flower quality was highest in November 2022. Survival steeply decreased after a hard freeze on

December 23

, 2023. Total survival of all varieties was 32% in December 2023. Foliage quality

improved by December 2023.

Objective

For a commercial grower, lavender plantings are an opportunity for agritourism and

essential oil production. For a homeowner or landscaper, lavender is a drought tolerant choice

that is an excellent pollinator attractor. Commercial lavender plantings in the Texas Hill Country

have problems with crown and root rots. This is one possible reason why lavenders are not

commonly used in local landscape plantings. A local former grower has created a lavender

variety list, but this was based upon her personal observations and has not been scientifically

tested, nor includes any Spanish or French varieties. This list is not easily available either. A

tested and widely available lavender variety list would be helpful for producers, landscapers,

nurserymen and homeowners. The objective of this lavender trial was to test thirteen varieties

for survival, heath, and flower production in the Texas Hill Country. This trial is part of a

statewide lavender trial with additional locations in Tarrant, Williamson and Bowie counties.

Materials and Methods

Lavender has many different types, and of these, different uses. Though all the lavender

species used in this experiment can be used for essential oil production, English lavender

(Lavandula angustifolia) and lavandin hybrids (Lavendula x intermedia) are most commonly used

for essential oil. Because of concerns for heat/humidity tolerance, no English lavender varieties

were used in this trial. Four lavandin types were used in this trial.

Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas), also known as butterfly lavender and French

lavender (Lavandula dentata), also known as fringed lavender, have become more developed

with new plant varieties every year. These two types are not as cold hardy as the English or

lavandin types. French lavender has not been widely planted in this area, but Becker’s Vineyard,

located outside of Fredericksburg, is planted in an unknown variety of Spanish lavender. Seven

varieties of Spanish lavender and two varieties of French lavender were included in this trial.

Please see appendix 1 for a complete listing of all varieties.

Trade names of commercial products used in this report is included only for better understanding and clarity. Reference to

commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by

Texas AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas A&M University System is implied. Readers should realize that results from

one experiment do not represent conclusive evidence that the same response would occur where conditions vary.

2022

Plants were transplanted as plugs into four-inch pots

filled with “Miracle Grow” potting mix on March 29

, 2022. They

were grown at the Texas AgriLife Extension Viticulture and Fruit

Lab greenhouse until they were moved out into the shadehouse

approximately two weeks before planting. Plants were not

fertilized while growing in the four-inch pots and many showed

nutrient deficiencies on the planting date.

The trial site was located at the Gillespie County

Extension Office. The planting location was a raised berm

comprised of a mix of fill dirt and topsoil. This soil was very

compacted. Two reps per variety of three plants each were

planted, and were randomly dispersed throughout the plot line.

Spacing was approximately two feet apart. Irrigation was

provided by one drip tape line with emitters spaced one foot

apart. Each plant had an emitter nearby. They were watered weekly until establishment, except

if there was a rain. After establishment plants were watered if light wilt was observed. Plants

were never fertilized. Plants were lightly mulched with organic wood chips.

Generic glyphosate herbicide was sprayed to control weeds around the plants on June

, 2022 and August 2022. Applications of “Amdro Fireant Bait” were applied on July 27

, 2022

and August 12

, 2022 to control fire ants. Data was taken monthly on foliage, vigor, flowering,

and overall quality.

2023

Plants were irrigated after intial wilt was observed, and then every two weeks until September.

Fipronil was applied on the ground to control for ants and agricultural termites on October 4

2023. Eraser glyphosate herbicide was applied at a 2% solution on 5/23/2023 and 11/7/2023 to

control weeds around the plants.

Results & Discussion

Survival

Overall survival of the entire planting was 95% on November 2022. December 2023

overall survival of the entire planting was 32%. A major frost event accounted for the majority of

plant deaths of the Spanish and French types of lavenders.

On December 21

, 2022 the high temperature was 53

F with a low of 31

F. The

temperature on December 22

was above 45

F until it dropped below at noon and reached the

teens at 5:40 pm. It was below 15

F from 7:40 pm 12/22/2023 until 9:40 am 12/23/2023. It

bottomed out at 9

F and stayed at that temperature for two hours.

Figure 1. Lavender plants in shadehouse.

1 Shonkwiler, V., Eason, N. , Campbell, B.2023.”

Considerations for Starting a Lavender Business in Georgia”. Journal of the NACAA.Vol16:

According to the 2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map, plants that are rated for zone 8,

as the French variety lavenders were, cannot tolerate cold temperatures past 10

F. These

lavenders were obviously dead on January 2023, and seeing that it reached below 10

F, this result

should be expected.

The Spanish lavender varieties are zoned at least zone 7, which is supposed to tolerate

temperatures to 0

F. No Spanish varieties except “Anouk” and “Anouk Supreme” survived this

freeze event. If the plants had been more mature and received a gradual lowering of

temperatures, instead of an abrupt temperature swing, they may have been more likely to

survive the single digit temperature. Temperature swings are common in Texas though, so a

plant that is not adapted to them likely will not do well here long term as a perennial.

Of the plants that died over the summer, it is not known why they died. The lavandin

varieties that died, except for one, all initially had sections of the canopy wilting. More and more

of the canopy would wilt, until the entire plant was dead. The wilting always appeared first on

the south side of the plant. When the trunks of the

wilted sections were examined, the bark was gone.

It is possible that this is crown rot, but could

also be due to delayed cold damage. Dirt was found

mounded up against the stems of some of the dead

plants. Agricultural termites or ants, gnawing on the

bark, could have killed sections of the canopy as well.

An additional stress factor may have been that the

plants were not watered enough.

One plant’s death was clear. The only

“Phenomenal” variety of lavender that died was due

to an animal digging at its base. There was some

branch wilting on a different “Phenomenal” plant

right beside it, but this did not kill it.

Kind Variety 11/2022 1/2023 3/2023 5/2023 6/2023 7/2023 8/2023 9/2023 12/2023

French Dentata French 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

French Imperial 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Lavadin Dilly Dilly 83 83 83 83 83 83 83 67 67

Lavadin Phenomenal 100 100 100 100 100 83 83 83 83

Lavadin Provence 83 83 83 83 83 83 83 67 67

Lavadin Sensational 83 83 83 83 83 83 83 67 67

Spanish Anouck 100 100 67 67 67 67 67 67 67

Spanish Anouck Supreme 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 83 67

Spanish Anouk Deep Rose 100 67 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Spanish New Madrid Purple 100 67 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Spanish New Madrid Rose 83 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Spanish Papilion Rose 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Spanish Primavera 100 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Table 1. Survival of lavender varities across several months.

Figure 2. “Phenomenal” lavender plant that was dug up by

either a hog, dog or human.

Trade names of commercial products used in this report is included only for better understanding and clarity. Reference to

commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by

Texas AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas A&M University System is implied. Readers should realize that results from

one experiment do not represent conclusive evidence that the same response would occur where conditions vary.

Plant loss slowed to only one death between September and December 2023. More rain

was received at this time, the weather became cooler and fipronil was sprayed on the ground

around the plants on October 4

, 2023. Wilting in the canopy was not noted in December 2023

on any plants.

Overall Appearance & Foliage

Foliage quality was low after planting in 2022 due to inadequate fertilization, but plants

recovered. Foliage quality decreased in all varieties again after the December 2022 freeze.

Overall foliage quality had increased by June for the lavandin varieties, but decreased afterwards.

All plants had good foliage quality by December 2023.

The two Spanish varieties that survived the December 2022 freeze event had poor quality

foliage afterward. The quality was so poor, if these plants had been planted in a landscape, they

would have been removed. They did slowly recover though, and in December 2023 the foliage

was as high of quality as that of the lavandin types. Stem wilt was observed on some of these,

but it wasn’t as numerous as it was on the lavandin types, though that could be because they

plants were not as big. The decrease of foliage quality in the lavandin types was mainly due to

wilted branches, not discolored foliage.

Fertilizer was not added in 2023. Considering the quality of foliage without it, the mulch

around the plants may have provided sufficient fertilizer or lavender has low fertilizer needs, if

any.

Flowering

2022

Flowers appeared on lavender varieties “New Madrid Purple”, “Anouk Supreme”,

“Primavera” and “Papillion Rose” as early as June 2022. However these flowers were initially of

poor quality. Flowering quality was highest in November 2022, but was held back by not all plants

of a variety flowering consistently. For example, “Provence”, the only lavandin variety with

blooms, only had two out of the five living plants blooming. “Primavera”, a Spanish type, had

four out of six blooming in November 2022. It is unknown why not all plants of a variety are

blooming at the same time. Consistent blooming is needed for commercial lavender producers.

Hopefully this is only due to the plants being young, and plants will become more consistent as

they get older. Varieties “Dilly Dilly”, “Sensational”, “Anouk Deep Rose”, “Phenomenal”, and

“Anouk” have not bloomed as of November 2022.

2023

In 2023, on a scale of 0-10, with 0 being no bloom and 10 being a plant completely covered

with flowers, for the average of all living remaining plants of a variety, no variety was ranked

greater than a “1” in regards to flowering. The plants bloomed very poorly and inconsistently, if

1 Shonkwiler, V., Eason, N. , Campbell, B.2023.”

Considerations for Starting a Lavender Business in Georgia”. Journal of the NACAA.Vol16:

at all. Varieties “Dilly Dilly”, “Sensational” and “Phenomenal” did have plants bloom in 2023,

though with only a few flowers.

Deer Tolerance

2022

Deer numbers are high in the Texas Hill Country, and any new plant that can resist them

would be of strong interest to local homeowners and landscapers. All four lavandin varieties

“Dilly Dilly”, “Sensational”, “Provence” and “Phenomenal”, as were the French dentata varieties,

were browsed lightly the first month of the trial. These are the varieties with the largest leaves.

Though there was some insect damage later, no deer damage was detected after June 2022. Deer

droppings were consistently found around the trial, indicating the lavenders were not of interest

and possibly resistant to deer browsing.

2023

In 2023, Gillespie County was in a severe drought for much of the year. During drought

years, whitetail deer often eat plants they consider undesirable. Though signs of deer were noted

in the area, deer did not eat the lavender foliage. Lavender appears to be highly deer resistant.

Conclusions

A commercial lavender operation requires the plants to bloom. If the plants do not

bloom, opportunities for oil production and agritourism are non-existent, making the plants

useless. Additionally, plant foliage quality needs to be high if the grower is hosting agritourism

events. Showing off lavender plants with wilted sections of canopy or yellowing foliage does not

reflect well for tourists.

In this trial, it could be that the plants were too young to produce flowers, and bad

weather two years in a row could have been a factor as well. However this is the Texas Hill

Country, and good weather with consistent temperatures and rainfall is unusual. Considering

the lack of flowering in the first two years and an average survival of 4-6 years in the Southeast

(Shonkwiler, V 2023)

is commercial lavender production worth the risks?

This risk is possibly reflected in the current state of commercial lavender operations in

the Texas Hill Country. The current number of lavender commercial producers that appear to

actively be growing lavender in the Texas Hill Country is three: Hill Country Lavender located in

Blanco, Becker Vineyards located outside Fredericksburg and a grower located in Comfort.

With the poor survival and flowering in this trial and the decreased interest in lavender

production in the Texas Hill Country, there is no justification to continue this trial. Other

horticulture crops hold more potential.

While the lavandin type lavender plants are very attractive with their shape and foliage

in a landscape, I do not think any lavender plants will ever survive well enough to be rated a

“Texas Superstar”. The French Dentata varieties grew very quickly and bloomed very prettily in

their first year. These plants could hold potential for planting as an annual in the Texas Hill

Trade names of commercial products used in this report is included only for better understanding and clarity. Reference to

commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by

Texas AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas A&M University System is implied. Readers should realize that results from

one experiment do not represent conclusive evidence that the same response would occur where conditions vary.

Country, and possibly as perennial further south. Other lavenders should be grown for novelty

purposes only, with the expectation that replacement will occur. The lavandin variety

“Phenomenal” appears to be the best choice as demonstrated by it’s survival in this

experiment.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Dr. Mengmeng Gu for the plants used in this trial. Thanks are extended to the

Texas AgriLife Viticulture and Fruit Lab in Fredericksburg staff for greenhouse and shade area

use. Thanks much to Sydney Boyer, former Gillespie County Assistant ANR agent for her help in

transplanting and planting the plants.

Appendix 1

Lavender Variety List

1 Shonkwiler, V., Eason, N. , Campbell, B.2023.”

Considerations for Starting a Lavender Business in Georgia”. Journal of the NACAA.Vol16:

Foliage Quality of Surviving Plants

2022

2023

Variety June July August September October November

Provence

6.67 8.17 6.17 8.00 7.60 8.40

Dilly Dilly

7.50 8.50 8.17 6.60 8.00 8.00

Sensational

7.00 8.83 7.83 6.67 7.50 7.20

New Madrid Purple

4.00 6.33 6.67 5.83 7.50 6.67

Anouk Deep Rose

5.00 4.67 6.33 5.50 6.33 6.83

Phenomenal

8.00 8.83 8.17 6.17 8.00 8.00

Dentata French

4.50 6.17 6.50 8.50 7.33 7.33

Anouk Supreme

6.00 7.17 6.67 6.00 7.17 7.83

Primavera

3.33 5.50 5.50 6.33 7.33 7.50

Imperial

4.50 7.67 7.00 7.50 8.00 8.33

Anouk

4.67 6.00 5.67 6.00 7.33 8.17

Papillion Rose

4.00 5.67 6.00 6.83 7.83 7.00

New Madrid Rose

3.67 5.33 5.17 5.17 5.80 6.80

Variety January March May June July August September December

Provence

8.00 7.80 7.80 8.00 7.80 6.60 5.20 6.60

Dilly Dilly

8.00 7.40 7.40 8.20 7.80 6.20 7.50 6.75

Sensational

7.40 6.60 7.00 7.60 7.60 7.00 5.75 8.25

New Madrid Purple

1.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Anouk Deep Rose

1.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Phenomenal

8.00 8.00 9.00 9.67 8.00 6.40 4.40 9.00

Dentata French

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Anouk Supreme

2.33 2.33 4.00 4.17 4.50 5.00 3.20 8.00

Primavera

1.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Imperial

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Anouk

2.33 2.50 4.75 5.25 5.50 6.25 4.25 8.50

Papillion Rose

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

New Madrid Rose

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Trade names of commercial products used in this report is included only for better understanding and clarity. Reference to

commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by

Texas AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas A&M University System is implied. Readers should realize that results from

one experiment do not represent conclusive evidence that the same response would occur where conditions vary.

Flowering Quality of Surviving Plants

Variety January March May June July August September November

Provence

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.25

Dilly Dilly

0.00 0.00 0.60 1.00 0.60 0.00 0.00 0.00

Sensational

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.40 0.40 0.00 0.00 0.00

New Madrid Purple

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Anouk Deep Rose

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Phenomenal

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.33 0.40 0.00 0.00 0.00

Dentata French

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Anouk Supreme

0.00 0.33 0.00 0.17 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Primavera

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Imperial

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Anouk

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Papillion Rose

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

New Madrid Rose

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

2022

Variety June July August September October November

Provence

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.80 1.60

Dilly Dilly

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Sensational

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

New Madrid Purple

0.33 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.00 1.67

Anouk Deep Rose

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Phenomenal

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Dentata French

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.67 4.17

Anouk Supreme

0.33 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Primavera

1.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.17 3.83

Imperial

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.17

Anouk

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Papillion Rose

0.33 0.00 1.00 0.33 4.00 1.67

New Madrid Rose

0.00 0.00 0.33 0.17 0.20 0.00

2023

1 Shonkwiler, V., Eason, N. , Campbell, B.2023.”

Considerations for Starting a Lavender Business in Georgia”. Journal of the NACAA.Vol16:

Progression of Lavender Varieties

1/2023

11/2022

6/2022

Imperial

1/2023

11/2022

6/2022

French Dentata

1/2023

11/2022

6/2022

Anouk Deep Rose

12/2023

11/2022

6/2022

Anouk Supreme

Trade names of commercial products used in this report is included only for better understanding and clarity. Reference to

commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by

Texas AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas A&M University System is implied. Readers should realize that results from

one experiment do not represent conclusive evidence that the same response would occur where conditions vary.

1/2023

11/2022

6/2022

New Madrid Purple

1/2023

11/2022

6/2022

New Madrid Rose

1/2023

11/2022

6/2022

Papillon Rose

1/2023

11/2022

6/2022

Primavera

Progression of Lavender Varieties

1 Shonkwiler, V., Eason, N. , Campbell, B.2023.”

Considerations for Starting a Lavender Business in Georgia”. Journal of the NACAA.Vol16:

12/2023

11/2022

6/2022

Dilly Dilly

12/2023

11/2022

6/2022

Phenomenal

12/2023

11/2022

6/2022

Provence

12/2023

11/2022

6/2022

Sensational

Progression of Lavender Varieties

Trade names of commercial products used in this report is included only for better understanding and clarity. Reference to

commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by

Texas AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas A&M University System is implied. Readers should realize that results from

one experiment do not represent conclusive evidence that the same response would occur where conditions vary.

12/2023

11/2022

6/2022

Anouk