Product Field NotesLavender Plants
Blue Ice Lavender: Pale Flowers for a Cool, Quiet Garden
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Blue Ice lavender is for gardeners who like their lavender a little understated. Its buds start out a frosty ice blue, then open into white to pale blue flowers above a compact, bushy mound of aromatic gray-green foliage. In a bed full of deep purples, it reads like a cool breeze.
It is an English lavender, Lavandula angustifolia 'Blue Ice', also listed under the name 'Dow3'. That puts it in the hardiest group of lavenders, a good fit for gardens with real winters.
Blue Ice at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula angustifolia 'Blue Ice' (syn. 'Dow3') |
| Flower color | White to pale blue, opening from ice-blue buds |
| Foliage | Gray-green, aromatic, evergreen |
| Habit | Compact and bushy |
| Mature size | About 20 to 24 inches tall and about 20 inches wide |
| Bloom | Summer, starting late June to mid-July depending on the source, with moderate rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5a to 8b |
| Fragrance | Moderate |
Using a pale lavender in the garden
White and pale blue lavenders do a different job than purple ones. Placed between darker cultivars, Blue Ice keeps a long row from looking heavy. Along a patio or beside a bench, its light flowers catch the last of the evening sun and stay visible after the purples fade into the dusk, which makes it a natural for moon gardens.
It also pairs well with silver foliage, white roses and soft yellow perennials. Bees and butterflies visit it as readily as darker lavenders, and deer tend to leave it alone.
Planting and spacing
Plant in full sun, six to eight hours or more, in soil that drains fast. Sandy, gravelly or loamy ground is ideal. Clay should be raised or heavily amended, because standing water around the roots is the leading cause of lost lavender. Space plants about 18 to 24 inches apart so air moves between mounds.
English lavenders need a winter chill to bloom well. Sources differ a bit on Blue Ice's exact bloom timing and height, so check the listing for the current details and use the Bloom Calendar to see how it lines up with other cultivars.
Care through the year
- Establishment: water deeply when the top few inches dry out. After the first season it needs little extra water.
- Feeding: skip it. Rich soil leads to soft, sprawling growth.
- Trimming: after the first flush fades, shear spent stems and shape the mound to encourage a second, lighter round of flowers.
- Fall: avoid hard cuts late in the season. Never cut into bare wood.
- Winter: keep the crown dry and free of heavy, wet mulch.
The Care Calendar lays out these tasks month by month.
Harvest and uses
Like most English lavender, Blue Ice carries a great culinary rating, and its pale buds make a pretty, unexpected garnish. Harvest when buds are colored but before most flowers open, dry in a shaded, airy spot and use sparingly, from plants grown as a food crop.
It is rated good for fresh and dried flowers. In mixed bundles, a few pale Blue Ice stems brighten a handful of deep purple ones nicely.
Formats offered
Blue Ice is listed as a 3-inch plug, a 4-inch pot or a 1-gallon pot. Plugs work well for groups and rows, while the larger pots suit containers and spots where you want a fuller plant right away. See the product page for current sizes and availability, and use Notify Me if it is not ready yet.
Frequently asked questions
Is Blue Ice white or blue?
Both, in a way. The buds are ice blue, and the open flowers range from white to pale blue, so the plant has a soft, frosted look.
Does a pale lavender smell different?
Blue Ice has a moderate, pleasant lavender scent, and its gray-green foliage is aromatic too. Color does not determine fragrance on its own.
What should I plant next to it?
Deep purple English lavenders make the strongest contrast. The Compare tool helps you match bloom times and sizes.
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