Product Field NotesLavender Plants
Hidcote Lavender: The Dark Purple English Lavender Standard
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Hidcote lavender is the English lavender many people picture when they think of dark purple lavender. Historically associated with Hidcote Manor, it is a compact, dense, mounded evergreen shrub with gray-green foliage and deep violet-purple to dark purple-blue flowers that open in mid-June and peak in early July.
It stays small, about 18 inches tall and 2 feet wide, and measurements from a Midwest botanic garden trial put it at 12 to 18 inches tall and about 24 inches wide, flowering mainly in June and July. In other words, it stays the tidy size you expect in a cold-winter Midwest garden, too.
Hidcote at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote' |
| Flowers | Deep violet-purple to dark purple-blue spikes, about 1.6 inches |
| Stems | About 7.9 to 11.8 inches |
| Foliage | Gray-green, evergreen |
| Habit | Compact, dense and mounded |
| Mature size | About 12 to 18 inches tall and 24 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts mid-June, peaks early July, moderate rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5a to 8b |
Why Hidcote stays popular
Dark color, compact size and reliability are a hard combination to beat. Hidcote's deep flowers hold their color well when dried, its dense mound looks tidy with minimal pruning, and its sweet, low-camphor scent makes it a favorite for culinary use. It rates excellent for both fresh and dried flowers, which is unusual for such a small plant.
Where to plant it
- Low hedges: along walks, around patios or framing herb and vegetable beds.
- Edging: at the front of a perennial or rose border.
- Containers: its small size suits large pots with fast drainage.
- Color contrast: beside white or pink lavenders, which make its dark purple look even deeper.
Planting and care
Give Hidcote full sun and soil that drains quickly. Space plants 18 inches apart for a hedge or 24 inches for separate mounds, keep the crown at soil level and water deeply at planting. Through the first summer, water when the top few inches dry; afterward, it needs little. It benefits from a winter chill to bloom well.
After the main bloom, cut the flower stems and shear the mound lightly in green growth. Finish by late summer, then tidy winter tips in spring. The Pruning Calendar has the timing.
Harvest
For dried bundles with the deepest color, cut when buds are fully colored and just a few flowers are open, then hang them in a dark, airy place. For culinary buds, harvest from food-grown plants at the same stage, dry, and use sparingly.
Four ways to buy
Hidcote is offered as individual 3-inch plugs, 4-inch pots and 1-gallon pots; as 72-cell and deep 20-cell plug trays for growers and long hedges; and as bare root plants for direct planting. See each product page for current sizes and availability, or the Wholesale Hub for tray and bare root orders.
Frequently asked questions
How tall does Hidcote get?
Listings put it around 18 inches tall and 2 feet wide, and garden trial measurements came in at 12 to 18 inches tall.
Hidcote or Munstead?
Both are compact English lavenders. Hidcote is known for darker flowers. Line them up in the Compare tool.
How do I plant bare root Hidcote?
Plant promptly. Soak the roots briefly, spread them in a wide hole, set the crown at soil level and water in well.
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