Product Field NotesLavender Plants
Bogong Lavender: A Green-Leaved Lavandin with a Gentle Scent
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Bogong lavender is a lavandin that breaks a couple of the usual rules. Instead of silver-gray, its foliage is mid-green, and instead of the bold, sharp scent many lavandins carry, its fragrance is subtle and pleasant. What it shares with its relatives is size and vigor: an upright plant around 30 inches tall with deep violet spikes on long, elongated stems.
As a Lavandula × intermedia, it is a hybrid of English lavender and spike lavender, a group grown on farms for big harvests of stems and oil.
Bogong at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula × intermedia 'Bogong' |
| Flower color | Purple to deep violet |
| Foliage | Mid-green |
| Habit | Upright and vigorous |
| Mature size | About 30 inches tall and 36 inches wide |
| Stems and spikes | Stems about 14 inches; spikes about 2 to 2.4 inches |
| Bloom | One main flush; sources range from May through July, so check the listing for timing |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5a to 9b |
| Fragrance | Mild, subtle and pleasant |
A lavandin for people who find lavandin too strong
Lavandins are often chosen for their powerful scent, but not everyone wants a hedge that smells like a soap aisle. Bogong offers the lavandin benefits, big plants, long stems and heavy flowering, with a gentler fragrance that suits patios, seating areas and entry walks where you will brush past it often.
Its green foliage changes the look as well. Against a backdrop of silver lavenders, a row of Bogong adds depth, and its deep violet spikes stand out sharply against the green leaves.
Where it fits
Bogong carries excellent ratings for cut flowers, dried flowers, oil, u-pick bundles and commercial fields. That makes it a strong choice for production rows and market gardens, and for home gardeners who want a sturdy hedge or a back-of-border anchor. It is an excellent pollinator plant and deer tend to leave it alone.
Planting and spacing
Choose a site with full sun and soil that drains quickly. Lavandins tolerate summer heat well once established, as long as the roots never sit wet. In heavy soil, plant on raised rows or mounds. Space plants about 3 feet apart in a row, a little more in humid spots, so air moves freely.
Like other lavandins, it needs a winter chill to bloom well. Use the Frost Date Estimator to plan spring planting after the risk of hard frost.
Care and harvest
- Water: deeply during establishment, then rarely. It has low water needs.
- Feeding: skip it. Lean soil gives the strongest stems.
- Harvest: cut stems when most buds are colored and a few flowers have opened. Hang in small bundles in a dark, airy spot to dry.
- After harvest: shape the plant into a rounded mound, staying in leafy growth. Expect little rebloom.
- Spring: remove winter-damaged tips once new growth appears.
On flavor, lavandins tend to taste stronger and more camphor-forward than English lavender. Bogong holds a good culinary rating, but most cooks prefer English types for baking. See the Harvest Calendar for cutting windows.
Formats offered
Bogong is listed as a 3-inch plug, a 4-inch pot or a 1-gallon pot. Plugs make planting a long row affordable; gallon pots establish faster in a feature spot. See the product page for current sizes and availability, and use Notify Me if it is not ready yet.
Frequently asked questions
Why are Bogong's leaves green instead of gray?
Its foliage is naturally mid-green. Lavender foliage color varies by cultivar, from silver to gray-green to green.
When does Bogong bloom?
It blooms in one main flush. Sources list anywhere from May to July, which varies with climate, so check the listing for current details.
Is it strong-smelling like other lavandins?
No. Its fragrance is described as mild and subtle, softer than most lavandins.
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