Product Field NotesLavender Plants
Cedar Pink Lavender: Pale Pink Buds for Tea and Dessert
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Cedar Pink lavender is a newer English lavender, introduced in 2016, with pale pink flowers on a compact, dense mound. Its sweet buds are documented as mild, which makes it a natural for anyone who wants lavender in teas and desserts without the flavor taking over the cup.
As a Lavandula angustifolia, it is among the hardier lavenders and needs a winter chill to bloom well, a good match for Great Lakes gardens.
Cedar Pink at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula angustifolia 'Cedar Pink' |
| Introduced | 2016 |
| Flower color | Pale pink |
| Foliage | Gray-green |
| Habit | Compact and dense |
| Mature size | About 24 inches tall and 36 inches wide |
| Stems | About 10 to 14 inches |
| Bloom | Starts early June, peaks mid-June, moderate rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5a to 8b |
| Fragrance | Strong, sweet and floral with low camphor |
Why a mild lavender is a good thing in the kitchen
Lavender's biggest kitchen problem is overpowering flavor. A heavy hand, or a strongly camphor-scented variety, can push a cookie from floral to soapy fast. Cedar Pink's mild, sweet buds give you more room for error. They suit delicate uses: a pinch steeped with black or green tea, folded into whipped cream, infused into simple syrup or sprinkled over a lemon cake. The pale pink color is a pretty bonus when the buds are used whole as a garnish.
Lavender is still potent, so start with a small amount and taste as you go.
Growing a dense, healthy mound
- Sun: full sun, the more the better.
- Soil: fast-draining sandy or loamy soil. Raise beds in clay.
- Spacing: about 3 feet apart. A dense plant needs airflow around it to stay healthy in humid weather.
- Water: deeply during the first season, then sparingly.
- Feeding: very little. Lean soil keeps the mound tight.
- Food-crop habits: since you will be eating the buds, skip garden products that are not labeled for edibles.
The Plant Care Guide covers the fundamentals.
Harvesting for tea and baking
Cedar Pink peaks in mid-June. For culinary buds, cut on a dry morning when buds are fully colored and only a few flowers have opened. Hang small bundles in a dark, airy room until crisp, then rub the buds off over a bowl and pick out stems. Store in an airtight jar away from light; pink buds fade with exposure, and darkness keeps their color longest.
After harvest, shear the plant lightly into a neat mound, staying in leafy growth, to encourage a smaller second round of flowers. The Harvest Calendar helps you plan.
In the garden
Pale pink reads softly, so plant Cedar Pink where it can be seen up close or in generous groups. It pairs beautifully with white and deep purple lavenders and with silver foliage. Its 10- to 14-inch stems are long enough for small bouquets, and it is rated good for fresh and dried flowers. It is a great pollinator plant, and deer tend to leave it alone.
Formats offered
Cedar Pink is listed as a 3-inch plug, a 4-inch pot or a 1-gallon pot. A few gallon plants make a quick start on a kitchen bed. See the product page for current sizes and availability, and use Notify Me if it is not ready yet.
Frequently asked questions
Does pink lavender taste different?
Cedar Pink's buds are documented as sweet and mild. Flavor varies by cultivar more than by color.
How much should I use in tea?
Start with a small pinch per cup, steeped with your usual tea, and adjust to taste.
Will the pink color last when dried?
Pink buds tend to fade with light. Dry and store them in the dark to hold the color.
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