Lavandula stoechas
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Stoechas officinarum
- Phonetic Spelling
- lah-VAN-dew-lah STOW-kass
- Description
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Spanish lavender is an aromatic, compact, woody evergreen subshrub native to the Mediterranean coastal region, including parts of France, Portugal, and Spain. The specific epithet stoechas refers to a group of islands off the coast of France formerly known as Stoechades. The plant was prolific on the islands 2000 years ago. This species is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae) and is more fragile than common lavender. It grows 2-3 feet tall and equally as wide, with narrow, scented, soft grayish-green leaves and a dense cluster of purple flower heads topped with bracts that look like "rabbit ears" or "flags." The flowers bloom atop each stem and appear from mid-spring to late summer. Flower nectar and pollen draw many different pollinators.
Prefers full sun and gritty, sandy, or loamy, well-drained soil. It is poor-soil- and drought-tolerant and deer- and rabbit-resistant. It is hardy in zones 8-9 and thrives in hot weather. Spanish lavender requires excellent soil drainage and good air circulation. Use mulch or burlap to protect the plant from harsh cold winters. Shear back lightly after summer bloom to encourage bushy growth and shorter flower stems. These plants do not tolerate being cut back to the ground, which can cause them to die. Best propagated by seeds, cuttings, or division.
Spanish lavender is striking as a mass planting or along a mixed border, and a perfect selection for a cottage, Mediterranean, or pollinator garden. Containers of Spanish lavender on a patio or in a small garden will add texture, fragrance, and beauty to your landscape.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Usually pest- and disease-resistant. Monitor for aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, and thrips. Avoid overwatering or poorly drained soils, which can cause root rot. Provide good air circulation, especially in hot, humid environments, to prevent fungal diseases such as leaf spot and powdery mildew. Inadequate sunlight and high nitrogen levels from fertilizer can cause poor flowering. Prune regularly to prevent woody growth. It can be a short-lived specimen.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Pollinator and Culinary Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Alba'
Grows 2-3 ft. tall, compact, with large white flower heads and white bracts, and grayish-green foliage - 'Anouk'
Grows 1-2 ft. tall, hardy in zones 6-10, with dark plum flower heads and violet-blue bracts, and silver foliage - 'Ballerina'
Grows 1-2 ft. tall, hardy in zones 8-9, with bi-color purple flowers with white flags and silvery aromatic foliage - 'Bandera Deep Rose'
Grows 6-9 in. tall, hardy in zones 7-10, dark mauve flower heads and pink bracts - 'Ever Great Blue'
Grows 1-2 ft. tall, good disease resistance, hardy zones 7-10, dark blue-violet flowers and bracts, green foliage - 'Fathead'
Grows 1-2 ft. tall, compact, hardy in zones 8-9, with plump rounded flower heads, dark purple bracts, fading to pink - 'Kew Red'
Grows 1-2 ft. tall, hardy in zones 7-9, with bi-color deep crimson-pink flower heads and pale pink bracts - 'Otto 'Quast'
Grows 1-2 ft. tall, with purple flower heads and large purple bracts, and grayish-green foliage. - 'Primavera'
Grows 16-18 in. tall, hardy zones 7-9, with purple flower heads and burgundy bracts, and grayish-green foliage - 'Purple Ribbons'
Long-blooming, dark purple flower heads - 'Regal Splendour'
Grows 2-3 ft. tall, hardy in zones 8-9, with violet-blue flower heads and pinkish-purple bracts - ' Silver Anouk'
Grows 14-18 in. tall, hardy in zones 6-9, with dark purple flower heads and light purple bracts and silvery aromatic foliage
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Anouk', 'Ballerina', 'Bandera Deep Rose', 'Ever Great Blue', 'Fathead', 'Kew Red', 'Otto 'Quast', 'Primavera', 'Purple Ribbons', 'Regal Splendour', ' Silver Anouk'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
Grows 2-3 ft. tall, compact, with large white flower heads and white bracts, and grayish-green foliage - 'Anouk'
Grows 1-2 ft. tall, hardy in zones 6-10, with dark plum flower heads and violet-blue bracts, and silver foliage - 'Ballerina'
Grows 1-2 ft. tall, hardy in zones 8-9, with bi-color purple flowers with white flags and silvery aromatic foliage - 'Bandera Deep Rose'
Grows 6-9 in. tall, hardy in zones 7-10, dark mauve flower heads and pink bracts - 'Ever Great Blue'
Grows 1-2 ft. tall, good disease resistance, hardy zones 7-10, dark blue-violet flowers and bracts, green foliage - 'Fathead'
Grows 1-2 ft. tall, compact, hardy in zones 8-9, with plump rounded flower heads, dark purple bracts, fading to pink - 'Kew Red'
Grows 1-2 ft. tall, hardy in zones 7-9, with bi-color deep crimson-pink flower heads and pale pink bracts - 'Otto 'Quast'
Grows 1-2 ft. tall, with purple flower heads and large purple bracts, and grayish-green foliage. - 'Primavera'
Grows 16-18 in. tall, hardy zones 7-9, with purple flower heads and burgundy bracts, and grayish-green foliage - 'Purple Ribbons'
Long-blooming, dark purple flower heads - 'Regal Splendour'
Grows 2-3 ft. tall, hardy in zones 8-9, with violet-blue flower heads and pinkish-purple bracts - ' Silver Anouk'
Grows 14-18 in. tall, hardy in zones 6-9, with dark purple flower heads and light purple bracts and silvery aromatic foliage
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Anouk', 'Ballerina', 'Bandera Deep Rose', 'Ever Great Blue', 'Fathead', 'Kew Red', 'Otto 'Quast', 'Primavera', 'Purple Ribbons', 'Regal Splendour', ' Silver Anouk'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lavandula
- Species:
- stoechas
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used to make perfumes, essential oils, or potpourri and other dried arrangements. The Romans and Greeks used Spanish lavender as a fragrance in their bath water.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mediterranean coasts including France, Portugal, and Spain.
- Distribution:
- Native: Algeria, Baleares, Corsica, Cyprus, East Aegean Islands, France, Greece, Italy, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Morocco, Palestine, Portugal, Sardinia, Sicily, Spain, Tunisia, and Turkey. Introduced: Canary Islands, South New Zealand, and Tasmania.
- Wildlife Value:
- Nectar and pollen from flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Fragrance
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This plant is resistant to damage by deer.
- Edibility:
- Not recommended for culinary use due to strong camphor flavor and piney scent.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Habit/Form:
- Mounding
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Dark purple flower spikes topped with four light purple bracts that resemble flags or rabbit ears. The flower head is 0.75 inches long, and the bracts are 0.5 to 1 inch long. The flower head and bracts are arranged atop the flower stalk.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Velvety
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Acicular
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Silvery-green, highly fragrant, linear leaves resemble rosemary. The leaves are about 0.5-1.5 inches long, and their margins are curved downwards.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Description:
- The flower stalks are leafless, measuring 4-12 inches long.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Patio
- Slope/Bank
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Edible Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat
- Poor Soil
- Rabbits
