Product Field NotesLavender Plants
Green Lavender: A Fragrant French Lavender with Toothed Leaves
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Green lavender is a Lavandula dentata, the true French lavender. You can spot dentata by its leaves, which are finely toothed along the edges, a detail its botanical name points to. This one has gray-green foliage, pale purple flower spikes and a bushy, upright shape that can reach about 3 feet tall and wide where it is hardy.
Its fragrance is rated exceptional: fresh and herbal, with eucalyptus-like, camphorous and lightly floral notes. Brush the foliage and you will smell it, flowers or not.
Green lavender at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula dentata 'Green' |
| Common group | French lavender |
| Flowers | Pale purple |
| Foliage | Gray-green, toothed |
| Mature size | About 36 inches tall and 36 inches wide |
| Bloom | Everblooming; year-round in warm climates, peak around mid-July |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 8a to 10b |
| Fragrance | Exceptional; fresh herbal with eucalyptus-like notes |
How French lavender differs
English lavender needs a cold winter, blooms in a concentrated summer flush and has a sweet scent. French lavender like this one is the opposite on most counts: it does not need winter chilling, it flowers continuously in warm conditions, and its scent is sharper and more herbal. It is a Mediterranean shrub at heart, and it is not recommended for culinary use. For more on the groups, see Lavender Botanical Groups.
Where it fits
In zones 8 to 10, Green lavender can serve as a fragrant low shrub or informal hedge. Farther north, it is a patio and porch plant. A big pot by a door or along a sunny walk is ideal, since every brush of the leaves releases scent. It rates great for pollinators, and bees will find it throughout the summer.
Container routine
- Start in a pot a few inches wider than the root ball, with a drainage hole; size up as it grows.
- Use a gritty, fast-draining mix.
- Keep it in full sun outdoors from after the last frost until fall.
- Water thoroughly when the top inch or two is dry, then let it drain completely.
- Feed lightly in spring and early summer.
Winter indoors
Before frost, move the pot to your brightest cool room or a frost-free sunroom. Water sparingly and keep air moving. Growth slows and it may stretch a little in low light; a light trim in spring, staying in leafy growth, brings it back. Use the Frost Date Estimator to time the move back outdoors.
Pruning
Because it blooms continuously, snip spent spikes as you see them and shear the plant lightly a couple of times a year to keep it full. Avoid hard cuts into bare wood. Flowers rate fair for cutting and drying; most people grow it for the living plant and its scent.
Plant sizes
Choose 3-inch plugs, 4-inch pots or 1-gallon pots. See the product page for current sizes and availability.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called Green lavender?
Green is the cultivar name on this listing. The foliage is gray-green and the flowers are pale purple.
Is French lavender hardy in Michigan?
No. It is rated for zones 8a to 10b and needs protection from cold, wet winters, so bring it indoors.
Can I cook with it?
It is not recommended for culinary use. Choose an English lavender for the kitchen.
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