Hidcote Superior Lavender Seeds: The Darkest Purple You Can Sow

Hidcote Superior Lavender Seeds grow an English lavender with some of the darkest purple flowers you will find in the genus. Introduced in 2002, it was developed as a seed-raised selection, which makes it a natural fit for anyone who wants to start a dramatic border from a packet.

Hidcote Superior at a glance

Designing with very dark lavender

Dark purple reads as depth in a planting. A row of Hidcote Superior along the front of a border makes lighter flowers behind it look brighter, and it looks especially sharp next to white or silver plants. Because the plants stay compact, they suit smaller beds, front edges and spots where a big, sprawling lavender would swallow the path.

Want to see how it stacks up against other English lavenders? The Compare tool lines up size, color and bloom side by side.

Sowing and growing on

• Stratify: a few weeks of cool, slightly moist storage in the refrigerator helps encourage sprouting.
• Surface sow: press seeds onto the mix and leave them uncovered, since they need light.
• Bottom water: watering from below keeps tiny seeds from washing around and helps keep the surface from staying soggy.
• Pot up: move seedlings to their own pots once they have a few sets of true leaves.
• Plant out: after hardening off, into full sun and lean, fast-draining soil.

First-year care

Water deeply while the young plants settle in, then let the soil dry between drinks. Skip rich compost and fertilizer, which push soft growth instead of tight, colorful mounds. After the main bloom, trim spent stems and lightly shape the plant, staying in the leafy growth. The Pruning Calendar lays out the timing.

Frequently asked questions

Will seedlings look like the parent plant?

Hidcote Superior was developed to be grown from seed, so it tends to be more consistent than many named lavenders started this way, though small differences between plants are still normal.

Does it rebloom?

It is known for one main bloom. Trimming after flowering keeps the plant tidy and well shaped for next year.

Keep exploring

• Hidcote Superior Lavender Seeds
• Lavender Seeds, All Varieties
• Lavender Plant Library
• Compare cultivars