Butterfly Lavender Lavandula stoechas
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- lah-VAN-dew-lah STOW-kass
- Description
-
A woody evergreen sub-shrub with flowers on spikes that appear on top of leafless stems in spring and early summer. This species is more fragile than common lavender. Although it tolerates a range of situations, it is usually found in full sun in hot, sunny conditions with dry low-organic matter alkaline soil. Shear back lightly after summer bloom to encourage bushy growth and shorter flower stems. These plants do not like to be cut back to the ground and will often die after doing so.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Pollinator and Culinary Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
White blooms - 'Anouk'
Dark plum flower heads with blue-violet bracts - 'Ballerina'
Bi-color purple flowers with white flags - 'Purple Ribbons'
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Anouk', 'Ballerina', 'Purple Ribbons'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
White blooms - 'Anouk'
Dark plum flower heads with blue-violet bracts - 'Ballerina'
Bi-color purple flowers with white flags - 'Purple Ribbons'
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Anouk', 'Ballerina', 'Purple Ribbons'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lavandula
- Species:
- stoechas
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used to make essential oils or potpourri and other dried arrangments.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Wildlife Value:
- Nectar from flowers attracts bees and butterflies.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This plant is resistant to damage by deer.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Herb
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Habit/Form:
- Mounding
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
-
-
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
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Good Dried
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Dark purple flower spikes topped with four lighter purple bracts that resemble flags or ears.
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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 highly fragrant leaves are similar to rosemary.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
-
-
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
