Plant DetailShow Menu

Topped Lavender Lavandula stoechas

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', 'Anouk', 'Ballerina', 'Purple Ribbons'
Tags:
#evergreen#fragrant flowers#silvery#edible plant#fragrant leaves#nectar plant#rabbit resistant#deer resistant#long bloom time#potpourri#border planting#subshrub#dried arrangements#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#container plant#patio#hedge#herb garden#wildlife friendly
 
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', 'Anouk', 'Ballerina', 'Purple Ribbons'
Tags:
#evergreen#fragrant flowers#silvery#edible plant#fragrant leaves#nectar plant#rabbit resistant#deer resistant#long bloom time#potpourri#border planting#subshrub#dried arrangements#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#container plant#patio#hedge#herb garden#wildlife friendly
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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