Use & Care NotesLavender Plants
FW Radiance Lavender: A Tiny Butterfly Lavender for Pots
Save
FW Radiance lavender is a small Lavandula pedunculata, a close cousin of Spanish lavender sometimes called butterfly lavender. It grows into a compact, broadly upright plant only about 9 inches tall and wide, with gray-green leaves and light purple flowers crowned by red-purple bracts that give the whole plant a warm pink-purple glow.
It is the kind of lavender you can fit on a windowsill-sized patio table, and it keeps flowering in waves through the warm season.
FW Radiance at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula pedunculata 'FW Radiance' |
| Flowers | Light purple with red-purple bracts |
| Foliage | Gray-green |
| Mature size | About 8.9 inches tall and 8.4 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early May, peaks late May in warm climates, high rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 8b to 9a |
| Fragrance | Moderate; bold, resinous and herbal |
| Wildlife | Great for pollinators; deer resistant |
Small plant, big color
Most lavenders need a couple of feet of space. FW Radiance needs less than one. That opens up spots where lavender usually will not fit: window boxes, small terra cotta pots on steps, the edge of a mixed container, or a tabletop centerpiece for a summer party. The red-purple bracts on top of each flower head do most of the color work, and they last longer than the tiny flowers beneath them.
Container care
- Pot: a 6 to 8 inch pot with a drainage hole suits a single plant.
- Mix: fast-draining potting mix with added grit or perlite.
- Sun: as much direct sun as you can give it.
- Water: when the top inch is dry. Small pots dry quickly in summer, so check often, but never leave it sitting in water.
- Feeding: a light feeding in spring is enough.
Deadheading for rebloom
Rebloom is rated high. Snip each faded head back to the foliage as it browns, and lightly shape the plant after a heavy flush. Avoid cutting into woody, leafless stems.
Winter plan
With hardiness limited to zones 8b to 9a, FW Radiance needs indoor shelter anywhere with hard freezes. Before frost, move the pot to a bright, cool window or sunroom. Water lightly over winter and return it outside after your last frost; the Frost Date Estimator gives you the date. Grown as a seasonal plant instead, it still gives months of color.
Cutting and drying
FW Radiance rates good for both fresh and dried flowers. The short stems suit tiny posies, bud vases and craft projects. Cut heads as the bracts color up and dry them in a dark, airy spot. It is not recommended for culinary use.
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
What does FW stand for?
It is part of the cultivar name. The FW lavenders in our catalog are compact Lavandula pedunculata selections that differ mainly in flower and bract color.
How is it different from Spanish lavender?
It is closely related and looks similar, with showy bracts on top of each head. L. pedunculata typically has flower heads on longer stalks. See Lavender Botanical Groups.
Can I plant it in the ground in Michigan?
You can for a season, but it will not survive winter outdoors. A container makes overwintering easy.
Share how it went in your field