Product Field NotesLavender Plants
LaDiva Imperial Lavender: A Fringed Lavender That Blooms Nonstop
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LaDiva Imperial lavender is a fringed lavender, Lavandula dentata, the type often called French lavender. Run a finger along a leaf and you will feel why: the gray foliage has small, toothed edges like a tiny saw blade. Above it, purple flower heads keep appearing in an everblooming pattern, with flowers in the first year.
It belongs to the La Diva series and is documented for landscape performance, drought and heat tolerance, and being bee friendly. Its fragrance is rated exceptional: fresh and herbal, with eucalyptus-like and lightly floral notes.
LaDiva Imperial at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula dentata LaDiva Imperial |
| Flower color | Purple |
| Foliage | Gray, finely toothed |
| Size | About 18 inches tall and 18 inches wide |
| Bloom | Everblooming; year-round in warm climates, peak mid-July |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 7a to 9b |
| Fragrance | Exceptional; fresh herbal, eucalyptus-like, lightly floral |
| Water needs | Low |
Why fringed lavender is different
English lavender blooms in a concentrated summer season after a cold winter. Fringed lavender does not need the cold and simply keeps flowering while conditions are warm and bright. In mild-winter climates it can bloom almost year-round. Here in West Michigan, that means a plant set out in late spring will flower steadily until frost, and a potted plant moved indoors may keep producing a few heads in a sunny window.
The gray, toothed foliage is a feature in its own right. It stays attractive between flushes and gives a soft, silvery texture next to darker greens.
Growing it in a cold climate
- Containers: the easiest route. Use a 12 inch or larger pot, a gritty mix and drainage holes.
- In beds: plant after last frost in full sun and enjoy it as an annual.
- Water: drought tolerant once rooted. Let the mix dry an inch or two down before watering.
- Feeding: a light, balanced feed once or twice in summer is enough for a pot.
- Trimming: snip spent heads and tip back leggy stems to keep the plant bushy.
Winter care
Its winter notes are clear: it is a subtropical species, and protection may be needed in cold, wet winters. Zone 7a is warmer than most of Michigan, so bring it indoors before a hard frost. A cool, bright room or a sunroom is ideal; water sparingly and keep it away from heat vents. Expect some leaf drop in low winter light. Move it back outside gradually after your last frost.
Using the flowers and foliage
Cut-flower and dried-flower ratings are fair, so think of LaDiva Imperial mainly as a fragrance and landscape plant. Short sprigs with a flower head or two are lovely in a small vase, and the foliage adds a fresh scent to arrangements. Its essential oil suitability is rated great, which may interest growers. Culinary use is not recommended.
It is offered as a 3-inch plug, a 4-inch pot or a 1-gallon pot. See the product page for current sizes and availability.
Frequently asked questions
Is LaDiva Imperial French or Spanish lavender?
It is Lavandula dentata, fringed lavender, which is often sold as French lavender. Spanish lavender is Lavandula stoechas, a different species with rabbit-ear bracts.
Will it come back in Michigan?
Not outdoors. It is rated for zones 7a to 9b. Overwinter it inside or plant fresh each spring.
Does it really bloom all the time?
It is everblooming, so it produces flowers continuously when warm and bright, with a peak in midsummer. Deadheading keeps it tidy.
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