Lavender, Unlimited

An expert's advice on growing this garden favorite where winters are cold and even wet

- AMY GRISAK

LAVENDER ALWAYS SEEMED EASY TO GROW in my Ohio garden.

Once in a while I’d lose a plant over the winter, but for the most part they gave me a bounty of spikes of deep purple flowers without much thought.

After I moved to central Montana (USDA Zone 4) I just about gave up on growing lavender—until I visited Longview Lavender Farm in Somers, a community in the Flathead Valley, on the west side of the Rockies.

Acre upon acre of fragrant lavender plants, some several feet tall, stood out against the stunning backdrop of the Swan Mountains. I knew that Mike Sullivan, the mastermind behind this glorious farm, could offer advice on growing lavender in a harsh northern climate.

Success with lavender in the north starts with choosing the right varieties. The English lavender 'Hidcote' (in full bloom) and the taller lavandin variety Phenomenal (beginning to bloom) can take the harsh winter.

Up for a Challenge

Mike and his family raise 8,000 plants of up to a half-dozen varieties on the 5-acre farm. They welcome visitors to harvest their own lavender blossoms, attend a distillation workshop or simply enjoy the ambience. On a warm summer day, it feels more like Provence than a mountain valley in Montana.

The rich soil in this area supports high-quality hay, grains and specialty crops like hops, dill and mint, but the erratic winter weather is problematic for Mediterranean-adapted perennials like lavender. Far from the sun-kissed climate of its origin, here the freeze-thaw cycle can force plants out of the ground and biting winter winds burn exposed stems.