Use & Care NotesLavender Plants
FW Whimsical Lavender: Pastel Pink and Lilac in Miniature
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FW Whimsical lavender lives up to its name with soft, pastel color: light pink to light purple flowers and matching light red-purple bracts on top of each head. The foliage runs silver to gray-green, and the plant stays compact and broadly upright, about 9 inches tall and wide.
It is a Lavandula pedunculata, part of the Spanish lavender family, so it flowers early, reblooms freely and carries a bold, herbal scent rather than the sweet English lavender kind.
FW Whimsical at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula pedunculata 'FW Whimsical' |
| Flowers and bracts | Light pink to light purple |
| Foliage | Silver to 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; resinous and herbal |
| Wildlife | Great for pollinators; deer resistant |
Where pastel works
Soft colors are easy to combine. FW Whimsical sits happily with white alyssum, pale yellow annuals or blue-gray foliage in a mixed container, and its silver leaves keep the planting looking light. It also makes a sweet single pot for a kitchen windowsill in summer, a bistro table or the front step. Because it stays under a foot tall, a few pots can line a railing without blocking the view.
The basic routine
- Sun: full sun outdoors through the growing season.
- Drainage: pot with a hole, gritty mix, no standing water in the saucer.
- Watering: soak when the top inch is dry; small pots may need it every day or two in midsummer heat.
- Feeding: light, once in spring. Too much fertilizer means more leaves and fewer flowers.
- Deadheading: remove faded heads regularly to keep the high rebloom going.
Light pruning, not hard cuts
After a big flush, trim the plant lightly into a rounded shape. Pedunculata lavenders do not always regrow from bare, woody stems, so keep every cut in leafy growth. A little legginess after winter indoors is normal; a light spring trim brings it back into shape.
Winter care
Before the first hard frost, bring FW Whimsical inside to a bright, cool window or a frost-free sunroom. Water sparingly over winter. Once frost danger has passed, set it back outside, first in light shade for a few days, then in full sun. The Frost Date Estimator gives you your local dates.
Using the flowers
FW Whimsical rates good for fresh and dried flowers. The pastel heads are pretty in a bud vase or dried for small crafts and cards. 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
How does FW Whimsical differ from FW Radiance?
They share a size and habit. Whimsical is lighter and more pastel with silvery foliage; Radiance has red-purple bracts and a warmer pink-purple look.
Can I keep it on a sunny windowsill year-round?
It does best outdoors in summer, where light is stronger and air moves freely. Indoors is a good winter holding spot.
Is it fragrant?
Its fragrance is moderate, with the resinous, herbal character typical of Spanish-type lavenders.
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