Lavender

Renee's Garden - Purple Ribbon's silvery-gray, drought-tolerant foliage is crowned with plump oblong purple flower bracts with a bright top knot of lavender petals. Both the foliage and flowers of these tough plants from the Mediterranean have a spicy pine fragrance. Purple Ribbons take unrelenting sun and heat. It performs well in both dry, hot landscapes and milder-climate cottage gardens. In cold winter areas, use Purple Ribbons as a handsome, aromatic container plant.  Characteristics:  Heirloom Herb  Perennial  Weather tolerant  Silvery foliage  Purple flower  Spicy scent  Approx 40 seeds   Instructions - In early spring, sow lavender seeds 1 inch apart in a container of seed starting mix, cover very lightly and keep at 65°F (18°C). Keep the container moist but not soggy until seedlings slowly emerge over 14 to 25 days, providing a good light source. When seedlings have several sets of leaves, transplant 2 inches apart into deeper containers. Plant outside in a well-drained sunny spot when plants are 2 to 3 inches tall after gradually acclimating to outdoor conditions.  Plant in: February - May  Full sun  Cover lightly  Plant 1/2 - 1 inch apart  14-25 days to germinate  Mature Height: 1.5 - 2 feet  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers due to availability. 

Renee's Garden - Fernleaf looks distinctively different than other garden lavenders. It has deeply lobed fern-like, silvery leaves that give the foliage a handsome lacy appearance and long stems topped with graceful blue-violet trident-form flowers. Easily grown from seed, this first-year flowering perennial has a bushy habit and blooms all summer long. Fernleaf foliage is highly aromatic with a hint of oregano and highly attractive to butterflies. Great for borders, beds, and containers. Characteristics:  Renee's Garden Exclusive  Perennial  Butterfly Herbs  Violent and blue flowers  Approx 45 seeds   Instructions - In early spring, sow lavender seeds 1 inch apart in a container of seed starting mix. Cover very lightly and keep at 60 to 70°F (16-21°C). Keep evenly moist but not soggy until seedlings slowly emerge over 14 days, providing a good light source. When seedlings have several sets of leaves, transplant 2 inches apart into deeper containers. Plant outside in a well-drained sunny spot when plants are 2 to 3 inches tall after gradually acclimating to outdoor conditions. Because perennial lavender’s small seeds germinate slowly and unevenly, we strongly recommend starting them indoors so you can tend them carefully.   Plant in: February - May or August - October  Sun or partial shade  Plant 1 inch apart  7-14 days to germinate  Mature Height: 1.5 - 2 feet  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers due to availability. 

Renee's Garden - No lavender lover should be without White Ice, our award-winning hardy white Lavender, bred by our most respected Dutch seed producers. These compact, softly vase-shaped plants grow 12 to 14 inches tall and, if started early, they reliably begin flowering the first season from seed. The fragrant white flower bracts have an especially sweet, clear lavender scent. Long blooming White Ice shows off beautifully in patio pots and is particularly striking at the front of garden borders. Characteristics:  Renee's Garden Exclusive  Perennial  Compact and graceful plants  Sweetly fragrant  White flower  Attracts pollinators  Approx 25 seeds   Instructions - In early spring, sow seeds about 1 inch apart in a container of seed starting mix, cover very lightly and keep at 60-70°F (16-21°C) in a spot with good air circulation. Keep evenly moist but not soggy. Seedlings emerge slowly and unevenly over 18 to 28 days. Provide a good light source. When seedlings have several sets of leaves, transplant into 4-inch plastic pots. Provide consistent water, but let the soil dry out on top between waterings. Feed every few weeks. Plant outside when plants are 2 to 3 inches tall after gradually acclimating to outdoors. Plant in: May - June in cold winters and February - May  Full sun  Plant 1/2 - 1 inch apart  Cover Lightly  21-28 days to germinate  Mature Height: 12-14 inches  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers due to availability. 

Renee's Garden - Our wonderful Hidcote has the loveliest perfume of all the English lavenders. The long-blooming plants with their soft narrow silvery foliage and vivid, deep purple velvety calyxes make beautiful landscape plants. Cut and hang the richly scented flower spikes upside down in a cool place for fragrant long lasting bouquets and sachets, or leave the blooms to charm your senses and attract a flotilla of summer butterflies.  Characteristics:  English lavender Perennial  Perfumed flowers  Deep purple flower  Approx 205 seeds   Instructions - In early spring, sow lavender seeds 1 inch apart in a container of seed starting mix, cover very lightly and keep at 65°F (18°C). Keep the container moist but not soggy until seedlings slowly emerge over 14 to 25 days, providing a good light source. When seedlings have several sets of leaves, transplant 2 inches apart into deeper containers. Plant outside in a well-drained sunny spot when plants are 2 to 3 inches tall after gradually acclimating to outdoor conditions.  Plant in: February - May  Full sun  Cover lightly  Plant 1/2 - 1 inch apart  14-25 days to germinate  Mature Height: 1.5 - 2 feet  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers due to availability. 

Lavender Hyssop - A native commonly found in the north central United States. It prefers dry woodlands and prairies and readily adapts to garden environments without standing water.  The leaves are scented like licorice and it is often referred to Anise Hyssop because of this. Butterlfies and other pollinators will stay busy gathering pollen and nectar. It is used by a variety of beneficial insects as well. It is often used in boquets Botanical Name: Agastche foeniculum Characteristics:  Biennial/perennial that self seeds easily Hardy to zone 4 Plants grow up to 3 feet Purple flowers and leaves that smell of licorice .75g or 250 Seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds indoors just beneath surface of soil. Seeds can also be directly sown outdoors as soon as soil can be worked in spring. Does best in well-drained soil. Sow seed indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost Germination 30-90  days Plant 12" apart Full Sun to Partial Shade Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - Jan Suchomel of Van Horne, Iowa, discovered this poppy growing in the backyard garden when she moved to Van Horne from Cedar Rapids in 1967 and proceeded, over the next three decades, to give its seeds to all her family members. She was so taken with the flower that she even planted some of its seeds at the senior complex she moved to in 2003 so that she could continue to enjoy its colorful blooms. All plant parts except the seeds are toxic. 91 days.  Characteristics:  From the Collection for 2023  Self-seedling annual  Beautiful double lavender blooms  Organic  Grows 2 to 3 feet tall  Blooms June - July  Instructions - Direct seeding is preferable, as poppies do not like to have their roots disturbed. Sow seeds outdoors in the early spring when the soil is still cool and light frost is possible. Can also be sown in the fall just before the ground freezes. Plants will tolerate poor soil.  Direct Seed: 1/4" Deep  Germination: 10-15 days  Thin: 8-10" Apart  Light: Fall Sun    Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability

Renee's Garden - Our easy-to-grow Munstead has the perfume of authentic English lavender – a clear, sweet fragrance without medicinal overtones. The semi-dwarf plants grow into 1 1/2 to 2 foot, silvery-green mounds with plump lavender-blue flower spikes. Use these plants in landscape borders for a wave of soft color in early summer. Their grey-green foliage and aromatic blooms will charm your senses and attract a flotilla of summer butterflies.  Characteristics:  Heirloom Herb  Sweetly perfumed  Plump flower spikes  Attracts butterflies  Approx 145 seeds   Instructions - In early spring, sow lavender seeds in a container of seed starting mix, cover very lightly and keep at 60-70°F (16-21°C). Keep the container moist but not soggy until seedlings slowly emerge over 14 to 28 days, providing a good light source. When seedlings have several sets of leaves, transplant into individual 4-inch pots. Plant outside in a well-drained sunny spot when plants are 2 to 3 inches tall after gradually acclimating to outdoor conditions.  Plant in: February - May  Full sun  Cover lightly  Plant 1/2 - 1 inch apart  14-28 days to germinate  Mature Height: 1.5 - 2 feet  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers due to availability. 

The Seed Savers Exchange - This essential herb bears fragrant grey-green, needlelike foliage and spikes of violet-blue flowers. Also known as True lavender, this Mediterranean native is highly valued for cutting and drying, as well as the aromatic fragrance and essential oils it produces. Plants grow 12-20" tall. Perennial in zones 5-9. Characteristics:  A perennial plant in zones 5-9 Plants grow to 12-20 inches Short spikes of violet-blue flowers Good for cutting, drying, and essential oils Instructions - Sow seeds indoors just beneath the surface of the soil. Success is greatly improved if seeds are placed with soil into a plastic bag and refrigerated for 4-6 weeks. Once removed from refrigeration, place in an area that is between 55- 65°F. Plant out after the danger of frost has passed in late spring. Prefers well-drained, somewhat poor soil and is tolerant of drought. Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before planting Germination 15-45 days Plant 18-24" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of availability. Lettuce leaf basil is shown in the picture