Lavender has become one of the most popular plants for Illinois homeowners looking to brighten up their outdoor spaces. This beautiful purple herb offers so much more than just pretty flowers.
From keeping pesky bugs away to filling your patio with a wonderful scent, lavender brings countless benefits to your backyard oasis.
1. Natural Mosquito Repellent That Actually Works
Mosquitoes hate the smell of lavender, making it your best friend during Illinois summer evenings. When you plant lavender near your patio, the oils released from its leaves and flowers create a barrier that bugs simply avoid.
You won’t need to spray harsh chemicals around your outdoor dining area anymore. Your family can enjoy barbecues and outdoor gatherings without constant swatting and itching.
Plus, lavender works against other annoying insects too, including flies and moths.
2. Beautiful Purple Blooms All Summer Long
Lavender produces stunning purple flower spikes that bloom from June through August in Illinois. Your patio becomes a colorful paradise without requiring constant replanting or maintenance.
The silvery-green foliage looks attractive even when the plant isn’t flowering. Many homeowners love how lavender adds texture and color contrast against brick patios or wooden decks.
Different lavender varieties offer slightly different shades, from deep violet to soft lilac, letting you customize your outdoor color scheme perfectly.
3. Heavenly Fragrance Fills Your Outdoor Space
Walking onto your patio becomes a sensory experience when lavender surrounds the area. The calming, sweet scent naturally perfumes the air, especially on warm sunny days when the oils are strongest.
Brushing against the plants releases even more fragrance, creating a spa-like atmosphere right at home. Many homeowners say the smell helps them relax after stressful workdays.
Unlike artificial air fresheners, this natural aroma won’t trigger allergies or headaches for most people.
4. Low Maintenance Plant Perfect For Busy Families
Lavender thrives on neglect, making it ideal for homeowners who don’t have hours to spend gardening. Once established, it needs watering only during extremely dry periods.
Illinois’s natural rainfall usually provides enough moisture for healthy growth. Lavender doesn’t require fertilizer, special soil amendments, or complicated pruning schedules like many ornamental plants.
Simply trim it back once after flowering ends, and you’re done for the year. Even gardening beginners find success with this forgiving herb.
5. Attracts Butterflies And Helpful Pollinators
Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds flock to lavender flowers like kids to ice cream trucks. Your patio becomes a wildlife watching station where you can observe nature up close.
Children especially love seeing colorful butterflies dancing among the purple blooms. Supporting pollinators helps your entire garden thrive, including any vegetable plants you might grow nearby.
Unlike some bee-attracting plants, lavender’s pollinators are generally gentle and won’t bother people sitting nearby enjoying their coffee.
6. Harvest Fresh Herbs For Cooking And Crafts
Many Illinois homeowners don’t realize they can use their patio lavender in the kitchen. Culinary varieties add unique floral notes to baked goods, lemonade, and even grilled meats.
Dried lavender bundles make wonderful homemade gifts or can be used in sachets for drawers and closets. You can create your own relaxing bath products or natural room fresheners.
Having a constant supply right outside your door means you’ll never run out of this versatile herb.
7. Survives Illinois Winters Better Than Expected
Despite lavender’s Mediterranean origins, many varieties handle Illinois cold surprisingly well. English lavender types can survive temperatures down to negative twenty degrees when properly established.
Your investment in patio lavender pays off year after year without replanting. Good drainage proves more important than cold protection in helping lavender survive harsh Midwest winters.
Planting near your patio often provides extra warmth from your home’s foundation, giving lavender an additional advantage during freezing months.
8. Creates Natural Privacy Screen With Pleasant Bonus
Planting multiple lavender bushes along your Illinois patio edge forms a living border that defines your outdoor space. Unlike traditional fences or hedges, lavender provides privacy while still feeling open and inviting.
Mature plants can reach two to three feet tall and wide, creating substantial visual barriers. Neighbors will appreciate the view more than looking at plain wood or vinyl fencing.
Your privacy screen also smells amazing, repels bugs, and attracts beautiful wildlife all at once.