Product Field NotesLavender Plants
Bowles Early Lavender: A 1913 Heirloom for Tall, Narrow Hedges
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Bowles Early lavender has been grown since 1913, which makes it older than sliced bread. It is an English lavender with violet, strongly aromatic flowers over green foliage, and it grows taller and narrower than most of its relatives, with a habit that naturally lines up into a hedge.
Botanically it is Lavandula angustifolia 'Bowles Early'. True to the name, it starts blooming in mid-June, and its high rebloom rating means it often brings back a second wave later in summer.
Bowles Early at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula angustifolia 'Bowles Early' |
| Introduced | 1913 |
| Flower color | Violet |
| Foliage | Green |
| Habit | Medium-height and hedge-forming |
| Mature size | About 35 inches tall and 19 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts mid-June, peaks mid-July, high rebloom later in summer |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5a to 9b |
| Fragrance | Strongly aromatic |
The case for an heirloom
A lavender that has stayed in cultivation for more than a century has been tested in countless gardens and climates. Bowles Early has held on because it is dependable: it flowers early, reblooms well, smells strongly of classic lavender and holds a great culinary rating like other English types.
It is also a nice story plant. If you enjoy heritage roses, old apple varieties or a cottage garden with some history, a row of 1913 lavender fits right in.
Using its tall, narrow shape
Most lavenders are as wide as they are tall, or wider. Bowles Early grows up more than out, which is useful where space is tight. Plant it along a fence, a narrow bed beside the house or the back of a border where you want height without a deep footprint. Spaced about 18 inches apart, plants knit into a continuous hedge.
Its green foliage gives a slightly different look from silver-leaved lavenders, and the violet spikes stand out well against it. Bees visit heavily and deer tend to leave it alone.
Planting and care
- Sun and soil: full sun and fast-draining soil. Raise beds in clay.
- Chill: it needs winter cold to bloom well, which Michigan provides.
- Water: deeply during the first season, then only in long dry spells.
- Feeding: minimal. Rich soil makes tall plants flop.
- Pruning: after the first flush, shear spent stems and a bit of leafy growth to set up the rebloom. In spring, tidy winter damage once new growth shows. Never cut into bare wood.
For timing, see the Pruning Calendar. A taller lavender can open up in the middle as it ages, and regular light shearing is the best prevention.
Harvest and uses
For culinary buds, cut in the morning once dew dries, when buds are fully colored but before most flowers open. Dry in the shade and rub the buds free. Use only buds from plants grown as a food crop, and start with a small amount.
Bowles Early is rated good for fresh and dried flowers. Because it reblooms, you can often take a June harvest and still have a later round of color in the garden.
Formats offered
Bowles Early is listed as a 3-inch plug, a 4-inch pot or a 1-gallon pot. For hedges, plugs keep a long row affordable; gallon pots give height sooner. See the product page for current sizes and availability, and use Notify Me if it is not ready yet.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called Bowles Early?
The "Early" points to its bloom time, which starts in mid-June, earlier than many lavenders.
How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?
About 18 inches apart works well, since it grows roughly 19 inches wide.
Does it rebloom?
Yes. It has a high rebloom rating, especially when sheared after the first flush.
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