Lavender

There's no question that lavender is one of the best aromatic flowers around. This delicate beauty not only smells amazing, but it lends itself to many different uses, including teas, soaps, potpourri, insect repellent and even as an anti-inflammatory. Perhaps one of the best characteristics about lavender, beyond its incredible fragrance, is that it's really easy to grow.

A low-maintenance plant

Lavender grows best in a sandy, free-draining soil, especially on a sloping hillside. It doesn't like wet feet or soil with rich organic matter. This Mediterranean herb is also drought tolerant and therefore doesn't need a lot of moisture. In fact, depending on how dry your climate is, watering needs may be met with natural rainfall alone, and no supplemental irrigation may be needed. If it's a fresh transplant however, you'll want to water every few days until it's well established.

Don't amend your soil with compost when planting lavender. It will rot if you give it really rich soil.

Fertilize once a year with a tablespoon of all-purpose fertilizer for each plant. Each plant can get fertilized in spring, and let rain wash it in. Prune lavender once a year — ideally in early autumn after the flowers fall.