12 Beautiful Reasons to Grow Lavender in Your Garden

Have you ever been in a lavender field? It’s like being under a magic spell. A calm, almost spiritual light grows inside you with pure peaceful energy and, all of a sudden, you feel calm, happy, relaxed. It’s not just the amazing sea of waving blooms that enchants you, of course – it is the heady and heavenly fragrance of this most iconic aromatic shrub. And the thousands and thousands of bees, butterflies and pollinators that dance all over the vibrant blossoms only add the serenity of the experience.

So, first of all, if you have a chance, do visit a lavender field. But why don’t you grow this sweet-smelling flowering shrub in your garden? Or even in containers on your terrace? Ok, you won’t have an endless landscape like heaven till your eye can see, but you can still get a flavor of that amazing “fairy world”.

And this is only the first reason why you should be growing lavender yourself in your garden – I have 12 more for you, because Lavandula has many uses and properties; it’s not just beautiful. Here they are…

Reason to Grow Lavender Nr 1 – Lavender Is Your Garden’s Best Friend!

I am not just talking about its beauty and fragrance, no… Lavender is arguably the greatest pollinator magnet in the world! We love it, and so do bees, bumble bees, beetles, butterflies and so many other beneficial insects.

Just look at a lavender shrub, especially the English variety (Lavandula angustifolia): you will see swarms of flying pollinators all around it, feeding on the sweet nectar of its flowers, and bringing your garden alive with joyful life!

The good news is that these insects will also pollinate the other plant varieties in your garden, after having been lured from a distance by the powerful fragrance of lavender. So, you will get better crops as well!

“This is when lavender is in bloom,” true, and it’s a pretty long period; but even when the blossoms are spent, the shrubs (especially bigger varieties) still offer protection to small fauna.

The extra bonus you get from lavender is that it is a natural pest repellent, because it contains camphor. So, it will attract beneficial insects and keep the naughty ones away!

Finally, lavender is good to stop soil erosion; it has long and strong roots, capable of finding moisture in arid areas – do you want my advice? The best place to grow this miraculous shrub is on a slope – it also makes harvesting it easier, as you don’t need to bow down.

And while you enjoy the view and scent of lavender working for your garden, why don’t you sip on this soothing and refreshing cocktail?

Reason to Grow Lavender Nr 2 – It Has Amazing Calming Effects

We humans must have found out very early that lavender has calming and relaxing properties. In fact, it was already used in Ancient Egypt, more than 3,000 years ago. But now we know why. This fragrant shrub contains substances like:

• Linalool, which stops our brain from getting excited, and it reduces cortisol (the stress hormone).
• Linalyl acetate, which has a mild sedative effect.
• Terpinen-4-ol & camphor, which balance our mood.

…And many others, and its fragrance alone makes us produce serotonin, the “happiness hormone”!

So, if one day you cannot go to sleep, use some of the lavender from your garden to make this sleepy time lavender milk drink, and you will have sweet dreams all night:

Reason to Grow Lavender Nr 3 – Lavender Isn’t Just Beautiful; It MAKES You Beautiful

Did you know that lavender is good for your skin as well? Maybe you did, because there are many beauty products containing its super-fragrant essence. In fact, its oils contain anti-inflammatory compounds such as linalool and linalyl acetate suppress inflammatory cytokines (like TNF-α and IL-6).

What’s more, lavender accelerates wound healing, it balances the skin (whether you have it dry or greasy – it works for both) and it stimulates collagen production.

On top of this, lavender is good for these skin complaints:

• Insect bites
• Acne
• Rashes
• Eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis
• Sunburn and rosacea

Don’t spend money on expensive products though; grow your own lavender and use this recipe for your own home-made lavender cream, it works for acne as for all other skin problems:

 “But it uses lavender essential oil,” you may say. True – but you can make your own; check it out!

Reason to Grow Lavender 4 – Its Fresh Flowers Have an Exquisite Flavor!

Most people don’t know that fresh lavender flowers have a really exquisite flavor – yes, that’s the best word for it. It is unique, delicate and very complex in notes and aftertaste. But now you know, and you can actually use the buds or blooms raw, in salads or to add a twist to fruit salads or other dishes.

How could I describe the flavor of fresh lavender flowers? It has a bouquet of:

• Floral: the dominant note is a delicate, perfumed floral essence, similar to rose or violet but with a more herbal edge.
• Herbaceous: fresh, green, slightly grassy quality, akin to rosemary or thyme (all plants from the Lamiaceaefamily).
• Sweet: with a mild honey-like sweetness lingers, especially when used in desserts or syrups.
• Citrusy: some varieties have a faint lemony brightness, adding a refreshing touch.
• Slightly bitteronlyif overused: if overused, lavender can taste soapy or medicinal due to its potent essential oils.

The leaves too have a similar flavor, but they are not great to eat raw – you can still use them in cooked dishes though.

Fancy trying this delicacy, freshly picked lavender flowers in a simple summer recipe? Here it is:

Reason to Grow Lavender 5 – It Is Great for Cooked Dishes as Well

Of course, lavender can add a touch of refined class to your cooked meals as well, especially bakes. And in this case, you can use both flowers and leaves, fresh, but also dry!

And, on top of all the flavor notes we saw in the previous section, if you use dry lavender flowers and leaves, you will also get an extra earthy and woody touch. But don’t worry; it is not unpleasant at all. On the contrary it is deep and almost like that of a herb tea.

Lavender works well in cooked dishes with a delicate flavor for example…

In sweet dishes like:

• Bakes (shortbread, scones, cakes, biscuits)
• Deserts (chocolate truffles, poached fruits)
• Breakfast dishes (pancakes, yogurt etc.)

But also in savory dishes like:

• Sauces and marinades
• Bread and grains
• Meat and poultry
• Seafood

There are so many recipes with cooked lavender, but maybe you could start with this rice pilaf?

 …Or a lavender and blackberry chocolate cake for dessert?

Reason to Grow Lavender Nr 6 – Bring Its Fragrance and Freshness Indoors and Clean Your Home…

Yes, you guessed, lavender is also great for house cleaning products! I actually think it’s far better than those chemical detergents you buy from stores. And it’s not just for the experience of the real fragrance and because it is fully natural. Let me try to convince you.

Lavender contains:

• Linalool (25–45% of lavender essential oil), a primary antimicrobial agent, which kills bacteria (e.g., E. coli, S. aureus) and even some viruses It also has a degreasing effect, breaking down oils and grime.
• Linalyl acetate (20–50%), which is antiseptic and antifungal and it is also effective against mold and mildew. On top of this, it neutralizes odors instead of masking them.
• Terpinen-4-ol (3–10%), which is a strongdisinfectant and it is used in hospital-grade cleaners and it fights even stubborn fungi (e.g., Candida).
• Camphor (0.5–5%), a famous antiviral and insect-repellent.
• Limonene (trace amounts), which has solvent properties, and it cuts through grease and sticky residues.
• Isn’t it amazing? You get all the chemical detergents you need in one!
• You can use lavender oil in your cleaning products, which is easier to make than the essence, just follow these simple instructions:

And if you want an all-round house cleaning product with the fragrance and power of lavender, here it is!

Reason to Grow Lavender Nr 7 – It Will Help Your Digestion Too!

Lavender has a carminative effect, e medical word, which means that it relieves bloating and it relaxes your digestive muscles, and this is only one of the many properties that Lavandula has for your stomach.

Lavender also facilitatesperistalsis, which is the movement of the intestine, it combats harmful bacteria in your guts, it soothes the walls of your stomach and intestines, it prevents cramps and spasms, it fights inflammation and it has anti-nausea effects as well!

I think we have quite a few good reasons to grow lavender in your garden and heal your digestive system.

Of course, yet again, you can use lavender any way to give your digestive system a helping hand, but if you want to make and keep a bottle of liquor ready for when your stomach needs it, here’s a great recipe for you:

Reason to Grow Lavender Nr 8 – It Will Help Your Hair as Well

Strange, I don’t see many lavender-based hair products on the market – and this is really surprising, because it has so much to offer! Maybe they want us all to have sick hair or go bald? Never mind; you can grow your own and make your own “potions”.

In fact, here’s a list of what lavender can do for your hair:

• It promotes hair growth:in fact, it stimulates blood circulation in the scalp, encouraging follicle activity. And scientific studies suggest lavender oil may extend the hair growth phase (anagen phase).
• It reduces hair loss and breakage, strengthening hair shafts with antioxidants, reducing brittleness. Massaging lavender oil into the scalp may prevent stress-related shedding.
• It alsotreats dandruff and dry scalp, thanks to itsantifungal and antibacterial properties that combat Malassezia (the fungus behind dandruff), while soothing itchiness and flakiness at the same time by moisturizing the scalp.
• It prevents scalp infections;lavender’santiseptic nature helps with scalp acne, folliculitis, or eczema.
• It adds shine and softness,because it conditions hair naturally, leaving it smoother and glossier without buildup.
• It repels lice naturally,thanks to itsstrong scent it acts as a natural lice deterrent (mix with coconut oil for prevention).
• Finally,it balances your scalp’s oil production – great for both oily and dry scalps, as it regulates sebum secretion.

So, don’t waste time and money looking for a lavender hair product on store shelves; make your natural lavender shampoo!

Reason to Grow Lavender Nr 9 – Keep Your Clothes Fresh and Moth-Free!

Get the best of both worlds – lavender is both a moth repellent (and more) and it smells like heaven – so can your clothes! And it’s fully natural and non-toxic for you, your kids and your pets. Grow it, then put it in your wardrobe then!

In fact, thanks to its compounds like linalool and linalyl acetate, Lavender overwhelms moths, because they cannot stand their strong floral bouquet (they have bad taste with smells…) but there is even more. Lavender literally kills moths’ larvae!

You can also use lavender to freshen up stinky shoes, and why not, put it in a potpourri and keep your whole house fresh and pest-free, including mosquitoes.

How can you use it easily? I personally put a few drops of lavender essential oil in a spray bottle and then I freshen up my home and clothes, but I also have some of these in my wardrobe:

Reason to Grow Lavender 10 – Lavender is the Queen of Aromatherapy!

Lavender sends you straight into a meditative, peaceful and blissful state with its fragrance. And in aromatherapy, this wonderful plant has all the other positive effects we have seen so far, and all the others we have no time to talk about.

There are many simple ways you can use lavender in aromatherapy. As we have said, you can simply add a few drops or dry stems to your potpourri, or you can leave sachets around your home. Even growing a shrub of the English variety, or Lavandula angustifolia (especially – it’s the strongest and it’s not soapy like others), just by your door will welcome you and your guests with its bliss…

Yet another way to use lavender for aromatherapy is to burn the dried stems, you don’t need the flowers for this, actually you get more fragrance out of bloomless stems, and you can do it all year round.

But if you want to use lavender for aromatherapy like a pro, here is a simple, step-by-step method for making heavenly scented candles…

Reason to Grow Lavender 11 – It Works Wonders on Your Muscles Joints and Back Pain

Are you a sporty sort of person? Or maybe you just have muscle aches, or you have a sedentary job and at the end of the day your back is in agonizing pain? Lavender can help you here as well!

In fact, as it soothes the mind and heart, lavender also loosens muscles, and here’s why:

• Lavender eases muscle tension and spasms; its antispasmodic compounds (like linalool) relax tight muscles, ideal for post-workout soreness or stress-related stiffness.
• It reduces inflammation and pain; lavender’s anti-inflammatory effects soothe conditions like muscle strains, arthritis, or fibromyalgia discomfort.
• Itimproves blood circulation; massaging with lavender oil boosts blood flow, speeding up recovery and reducing cramping.
• Lavender calms nerve related pain;in fact, ithelps with sciatica or pinched nerves by dulling pain signals (studies suggest it works similarly to mild analgesics).
• It offers stress relief for tense muscles; anxiety often manifests as physical tension—lavender’s calming scent helps release stress-induced tightness (e.g., neck or shoulder knots).

You can use lavender oil as it is to relieve muscle, joint, neck or back pain, but you could also try this super-powerful potion:

Reason to Grow Lavender 12 – It Is Ideal for Xeriscaping And Deer and Rabbit Resistant Too

It’s time to go back outside, because there are two things I didn’t tell you about why you should be growing lavender in and for your garden; I have kept them for last. Lavender is great for xeriscaping and both deer and rabbits hate it!

Xeriscaping is technical for “gardening in dry places” where water and precipitation are scarce. Of course, if this is your case, you will already know that your choice of plant varieties is limited, especially flowering ones.

Thankfully, lavender is really super drought tolerant, and it can go for weeks without water, even a moth for plants that are at least 2 years old!

But there is more… Both deer and rabbits have bad taste when it comes to smells, like moths and pests. They absolutely hate lavender! And if you have a problem with these hungry, leaf-munching (though cute) animals, just grow a lavender hedge all around your garden, and they will keep off your property!

And while you look at deer and rabbits from a distance, why don’t you entertain your friends in your garden with one of these 10 fresh lavender cocktails of your choice?

Grow Lavender and Fill Your Life with Blissful Happiness and Serenity!

These are only 12 of the many reasons why you should be growing lavender. A medicine, a soothing presence, a bright beauty in your garden – Lavandula is really your best “green” friend ever!