Use & Care NotesLavender Plants
La Diva Papillon White Lavender: Compact White Butterflies in Spring
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La Diva Papillon White lavender is a white Spanish lavender with an upright, mounding habit and what its documentation calls compact vigor: it grows strongly while staying about 14 inches tall and 12 inches wide. White flower heads and flags sit over green foliage, and the fragrance is rated strong.
It is Lavandula stoechas, rated for USDA zones 6a to 9b, and like the rest of the La Diva Papillon group it starts blooming in mid-April where it grows outdoors, peaks in early May and repeats from there.
La Diva Papillon White at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula stoechas La Diva Papillon White |
| Flower color | White |
| Foliage | Green, upright and mounding |
| Size | About 14 inches tall and 12 inches wide |
| Habit | Compact vigor |
| Bloom | Starts mid-April, peaks early May, high rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 6a to 9b |
| Fragrance | Strong; bold resinous-herbal with camphor and eucalyptus-like notes |
White in a green setting
Most white lavenders sit over gray foliage. Papillon White's green leaves give it a crisper, more garden-fresh contrast, and the white flags stand out even more. Some ways to use it:
- Evening spots: white catches low light, so it shines on a porch or patio you use after work.
- Color mixing: plant it with Papillon Purple and Papillon Deep Rose for a matched trio with the same size and habit.
- Formal pots: a pair of white lavenders in matching containers looks tidy and classic by steps or a gate.
- Bright backgrounds: against dark siding or a deep green hedge, white flowers pop.
Try layouts in the garden planner before planting.
Planting
Choose full sun and soil that drains quickly. In pots, a 10- to 12-inch container with drainage holes and a gritty mix is ideal. In beds, use raised or sloped ground with gravel mulch around the crown. Plant after the last frost and water in well.
Keeping white looking fresh
White flowers show their age more than dark ones, turning tan as they fade. Deadhead every week or so by snipping spent heads back to the foliage, and give the plant a light shearing after the early-May peak. Water deeply when the top inch is dry. Feed lightly or not at all. Its compact vigor means it fills in quickly after a trim.
Winter
La Diva Spanish lavenders are rated to zone 6a but are generally less cold-hardy than English lavender. In 6a and warmer, plant in spring in a sheltered, sharply drained spot. In colder zones or heavy, wet soils, keep it potted and move it to a cool, bright room before a hard freeze, watering sparingly until spring. The Frost Date Estimator helps you time both moves.
Uses and formats
Fresh-cut stems rate good and look elegant in small white arrangements. Dried, the flags shrink and the white goes creamy, so its dried rating is fair. It is ornamental and not recommended for cooking.
It is offered as a 3-inch plug, 4-inch pot and 1-gallon pot. See the product page for current sizes and availability.
Frequently asked questions
What does compact vigor mean?
It grows strongly and fills out quickly but keeps a compact size, about 14 inches tall and 12 inches wide.
Do pollinators visit white lavender?
Yes. Its pollinator rating is great, and its early bloom feeds bees in spring.
Does it bloom the first year?
Yes. Spanish lavender flowers without winter chilling.
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