Product Field NotesLavender Plants
Blueberry Ruffles Lavender: Spanish Flair in Purple-Blue
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Blueberry Ruffles lavender is a Spanish lavender with a purple-blue color as rich as its name suggests. Like other Lavandula stoechas, it carries plump flower heads topped with little petal-like flags, so each bloom looks a bit like it is wearing a hat. It flowers early and reblooms freely, which keeps a patio pot colorful for a long time.
Spanish lavenders are less cold-hardy than English types, so in Michigan this is a plant for containers, warm microclimates or summer color.
Blueberry Ruffles at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula stoechas 'Blueberry Ruffles' |
| Flower color | Purple-blue |
| Foliage | Gray-green |
| Habit | Bushy and compact |
| Mature size | About 24 inches tall and 24 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early May and peaks late May in warm climates, with high rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 7a to 9b |
| Fragrance | Strong, bold and resinous-herbal with eucalyptus-like notes |
| Culinary use | Not recommended; grow as an ornamental |
Why gardeners love Spanish lavender
Spanish lavender brings a completely different look from the slim spikes of English lavender. The chunky flower heads and their flags give it a playful, ruffled shape, and it blooms much earlier in the season. It does not need a winter chill to flower, so a new plant often blooms soon after it goes into the pot.
Its high rebloom rating means it keeps sending up new flowers when you remove the old ones. That makes it a favorite for front-step containers, deck rails and mixed planters. Pollinators visit it steadily, and deer tend to leave it alone.
Growing it where winters are cold
In zones 7a to 9b, Blueberry Ruffles can stay in the ground in a sunny, sharply drained spot. In colder areas, including most of Michigan, choose one of these:
- Container plant: grow it in a pot with a gritty mix and a drainage hole, then move it to a bright, cool, frost-free spot for winter. Water sparingly until spring.
- Summer color: enjoy it for the season in a mixed planter, much like an annual.
- Warm microclimate: a raised bed against a south-facing wall gives it its best chance, though it remains a gamble.
Use the USDA Zone Finder and Frost Date Estimator to plan when it goes out and comes in.
Everyday care
- Sun: full sun, the more the better.
- Water: let the top of the mix dry between waterings. Pots in summer heat may need more frequent checks.
- Deadheading: snip faded flower heads back to the foliage to keep new ones coming.
- Shaping: trim lightly after a big flush to keep the mound compact. Avoid bare wood.
- Feeding: a little in containers is fine, but go light.
Using the flowers
Blueberry Ruffles is rated good for fresh flowers and fair for drying, so it is at its best in a small vase or a fresh bouquet. It is also rated for large u-pick bundles, a nod to how many stems it produces. Its scent is bold and resinous rather than sweet, and culinary use is not recommended, so leave the baking to English lavender.
Formats offered
Choose a 3-inch plug, a 4-inch pot or a 1-gallon pot. A gallon plant makes an instant container centerpiece; plugs and 4-inch pots tuck into mixed planters. See the product page for current sizes and availability, and use Notify Me if it is not ready yet.
Frequently asked questions
What are the little flags on top of the flowers?
They are colorful bracts, a signature of Spanish lavender. They give the blooms their ruffled look.
Is Blueberry Ruffles the same as Boysenberry Ruffles?
They share a similar size and habit, but Blueberry Ruffles is purple-blue while Boysenberry Ruffles runs mauve, lilac and pink.
Can I eat it?
Culinary use is not recommended. Choose an English lavender for the kitchen.
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