Product Field NotesLavender Plants
Exceptional® Lavender: A Hardy White Lavandin into Autumn
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Exceptional® lavender is a white-flowered lavandin, the cultivar 'Hillav', sold under the Exceptional trade name. It grows into a bushy, mounding, upright plant about 32 inches tall and wide, with silver-green to gray-green foliage, and it is described as hardy, with flowers from midsummer into autumn.
White lavandins bring the big size, long stems and strong fragrance of lavandin in a color that brightens the whole planting. The scent is strong and floral-herbal, sweet lavender with a fresh camphor note.
Exceptional® at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula × intermedia 'Hillav' |
| Trade name | Exceptional® |
| Flower color | White |
| Foliage | Silver-green to gray-green |
| Mature size | About 32 inches tall and 32 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early June, peaks mid-July, can continue into autumn |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5a to 8b |
| Fragrance | Strong floral-herbal lavandin |
A long season of white
Lavandins usually put on one strong summer show. Exceptional® is documented flowering from midsummer into autumn, which gives you white flowers in the garden for longer than most. Use it to carry a planting past the July peak, alongside late-blooming perennials like asters and ornamental grasses. It is also a natural partner for purple lavandins: plant them in alternating groups and the white keeps the purple from reading as one solid mass.
Its silver-green foliage and white flowers look especially good in evening light, so a patio or seating area is a good home for it.
Planting and spacing
- Sun: full sun.
- Soil: lean, fast-draining; raised beds or berms on clay.
- Spacing: about 32 to 36 inches apart.
- First season: water deeply when the top few inches dry, then cut back once established.
It needs a winter chill to flower well, and its listed zones are 5a to 8b. Check yours with the USDA Zone Finder.
Pruning a later bloomer
Because flowers can continue into autumn, prune with a little judgment. Cut stems for harvest through summer as they are ready. After the main flush, trim the plant lightly to keep it rounded, staying in green growth. Finish any heavier shaping by early fall so new growth can harden before winter, and tidy winter tips in spring. Never cut into bare wood. See the Pruning Calendar.
Harvest
Exceptional® rates excellent for fresh bouquets and dried flowers. White stems mix beautifully with purple lavender in a bundle. Cut for drying as the first flowers open and dry quickly in a dark, airy place; white lavender generally dries to a soft cream. Lavandin rates good for culinary use, but its camphor is stronger than English lavender.
Plant sizes
Offered as 3-inch plugs, 4-inch pots and 1-gallon pots. See the product page for current sizes and availability.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it listed as Hillav?
Hillav is the cultivar name. Exceptional® is the trade name it is sold under.
Does it rebloom?
Its rebloom rating is low, but its flowering season is documented as running from midsummer into autumn.
Is it good for bees?
Excellent. Late-season flowers are especially useful when other forage is fading.
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