Product Field NotesLavender Plants
Avice Hill Lavender: An Early June Start for English Lavender
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Avice Hill lavender is an English lavender that gets the season going. It starts blooming in early June and peaks by mid-June, ahead of many English cultivars. The plant forms a compact, rounded mound about two feet tall and wide, with green foliage and purple flowers held on stems about 12 inches long. The scent is strong, sweet and floral with very little camphor.
Botanically it is Lavandula angustifolia 'Avice Hill', rated for zones 5a to 9a.
Avice Hill at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula angustifolia 'Avice Hill' |
| Flower color | Purple |
| Foliage | Green |
| Size | About 24 inches tall and 24 inches wide |
| Stems | About 12 inches |
| Bloom | Starts early June, peaks mid-June, repeat blooming |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5a to 9a |
| Fragrance | Strong, sweet and floral, low camphor |
| Culinary | Rated great |
Why early bloom matters
Most English lavenders crowd into late June and July. An early cultivar like Avice Hill spreads the work and the color. Gardeners get purple weeks sooner, growers get a first harvest before the main rush, and bees get a nectar source in early summer. Pair it with mid-season and late cultivars and a single bed can stay in bloom for most of the summer. The Lavender Bloom Calendar helps you line up the sequence.
An early peak also means an early trim, which gives the plant time to push out a moderate second round of flowers later in summer.
Planting and spacing
Give it full sun, at least six to eight hours a day, and soil that drains quickly after rain. Sandy or loamy soil is ideal; in clay, raise the bed. Space plants about 24 inches apart so the rounded mounds just touch at maturity and air can still move between them.
Set the crown level with the soil, water deeply at planting and keep mulch off the woody base. In wet springs, a gravel mulch keeps the crown dry.
Care through the year
- First season: water when the top few inches of soil dry out.
- Established: low water needs.
- Winter chill: it needs a cold period to bloom well.
- After the June flush: harvest or trim spent stems promptly to encourage rebloom.
- Shaping: keep the mound rounded with a light trim after bloom, staying in leafy growth. See the Pruning Calendar.
Harvesting the first lavender of summer
Avice Hill's 12-inch stems are long enough for proper bundles, and it is rated good for cut and dried flowers. For bundles, cut when about a third of the flowers on each spike are open. For culinary buds, cut a little earlier, when buds are fully colored but few have opened. Either way, harvest on a dry morning after the dew lifts and hang small bunches upside down in a shaded, airy place.
It is rated great for culinary use. Use buds grown as a food crop and start with small amounts. The Harvest Calendar covers timing in more detail.
Choosing a plant format
Avice Hill is offered as a 3-inch plug, a 4-inch pot or a 1-gallon pot. See the product page for current sizes and availability, and use Notify Me there if it is not available right now.
Frequently asked questions
How early does Avice Hill bloom?
It starts in early June and peaks in mid-June, earlier than many English lavenders. Your local spring sets the exact date.
Is it good for bundles?
Yes. Its stems run about 12 inches, a comfortable length for dried bundles and small bouquets.
Will it bloom again?
Rebloom is moderate. Cutting promptly after the June flush gives it the best chance.
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