Product Field NotesLavender Plants
Flirt Purple Lavender: A Freely Branching Spanish Lavender
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Flirt Purple lavender is a small Spanish lavender, about nine inches tall and eight inches wide, with a broadly upright, freely branching habit. All those branches mean plenty of flower heads: purple flowers topped with violet bracts, starting early and continuing from late spring into summer. The foliage is green and the scent moderate and resinous.
The cultivar name is Lavandula stoechas 'BKLVSTFPU', sold as Flirt Purple. It was raised from open-pollinated seed of another stoechas selection.
Flirt Purple at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula stoechas 'BKLVSTFPU' |
| Trade name | Flirt Purple |
| Flowers | Purple to violet with violet bracts |
| Foliage | Green |
| Size | About 8.9 inches tall and 8.4 inches wide |
| Habit | Compact, broadly upright, freely branching |
| Bloom | Starts early May, peaks late May, high rebloom into summer |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 8a to 10b |
| Fragrance | Moderate, resinous and herbal |
Getting the most flowers from a small plant
On Spanish lavender, every branch tip is a potential flower head, so more branches mean more color. Flirt Purple already branches freely, and a little handling helps it along:
- Pinch once when young. On a plug or 4-inch plant, pinch off the tip of each main stem just above a pair of leaves. Each pinch becomes two shoots.
- Deadhead weekly. Snip faded heads at the base of their stems rather than just popping off the head. That clears the way for new ones.
- Shear after a big flush. A light trim over the whole plant resets it for the next round.
- Feed lightly. A dilute liquid feed every few weeks supports steady flowering in containers.
Containers and placement
At under nine inches each way, Flirt Purple fits a 6- to 8-inch pot, a railing planter or the front of a mixed container. Use a gritty, free-draining mix and a pot with a drainage hole, and place it in full sun, six hours or more. Water deeply when the top inch dries, and let it dry again before the next watering. It also attracts pollinators, so a pot near a vegetable garden does double duty.
Winter planning
Flirt Purple is rated for zones 8a to 10b, warmer than most of the Great Lakes region. Many gardeners enjoy it as a long-blooming seasonal plant from spring to fall. To keep it, move the pot into a cool, bright, frost-free spot before hard frost and water sparingly until spring. In zones 8 and warmer, it can go in the ground in full sun and sharp drainage. The Frost Date Estimator gives local dates.
Using the flowers
Its listed best uses are pollinators, fragrance, dried flowers and fresh bouquets, and it is rated good for both cut and dried use. Save the best heads when you deadhead and dry them on a screen out of direct sun. Culinary use is not recommended.
Choosing a plant format
It is offered as a 3-inch plug, a 4-inch pot or a 1-gallon pot. Plugs and 4-inch pots are the best size for pinching. See the product page for current sizes and availability, and use Notify Me there if it is not available right now.
Frequently asked questions
Is Flirt Purple the same as BKLVSTFPU?
Yes. BKLVSTFPU is the cultivar name, and Flirt Purple is the name it is sold under.
Will pinching delay the flowers?
Briefly. A single early pinch costs a week or so of bloom and pays it back in extra flower heads.
Can it stay outside over winter?
Only in zones 8a to 10b. In colder areas, bring it inside to a cool, bright spot.
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