Product Field NotesLavender Plants
Woolly Lavender: Soft Silver Leaves and a Midsummer Purple Flush
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Woolly lavender is Lavandula lanata, and the name lanata means woolly. Its leaves are covered in fine hairs that give the whole plant a soft, felted, silvery look, one of the most touchable lavenders you can grow. In midsummer it sends up purple spikes over a compact mound about 18 inches tall and wide.
It is in the same botanical section as English lavender and, like English lavender, it needs a winter chill to bloom. But that woolly coat comes with a condition: it hates wet weather, especially in winter.
Woolly lavender at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula lanata |
| Group | Section Lavandula, with English lavender |
| Flower color | Purple |
| Foliage | Woolly, felted and silvery |
| Size | About 18 inches tall and 18 inches wide |
| Bloom | Mid-July, single flush |
| Winter chill | Needed for good bloom |
| Fragrance | Moderate; floral with sweet herbal notes |
Why the fuzz matters
Hairy leaves help a plant hold moisture in hot, dry, sunny places. In a humid Great Lakes summer, the same hairs can trap water after rain, and in winter, soggy soil combined with wet foliage is the fastest way to lose a woolly plant. The answer is not more care but less moisture: full sun, open air and soil that drains instantly.
Get that right and woolly lavender is a showpiece. The silver-white mound glows in evening light and makes every green plant around it look richer.
Siting and planting
- Raised gravel bed: the best in-ground option. Mix coarse grit into the soil and top-dress with gravel instead of bark mulch.
- Slope or rock garden: water runs away quickly, which suits it well.
- Container: a terra cotta pot with a very gritty mix lets you control moisture.
- Spacing: give it at least 18 to 24 inches so air moves freely around the leaves.
- Watering: water at the base, never overhead, and only when the soil is dry.
The winter question
The listing does not give a hardiness range, so plan conservatively. Because woolly lavender needs winter cold to bloom, bringing it into a warm house is not ideal. A better approach for a potted plant is a cold, bright, dry place: a cold frame, an unheated porch or a sheltered spot under an eave where rain and snowmelt cannot soak it. In-ground plants have their best chance in raised, gravelly beds with no mulch against the crown.
Bloom, harvest and uses
It blooms once, in mid-July, and is rated good for both fresh and dried flowers. Cut spikes when the first flowers open and hang them in a dark, airy place. The scent is a pleasant floral lavender with sweet herbal notes. Bees rate it highly. After bloom, trim spent stems lightly but avoid heavy cutting into older wood. Culinary use is not recommended.
This listing is species stock, so traits can vary among source lines. It comes 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
Why do my woolly lavender's lower leaves rot?
Usually from moisture trapped in the foliage or soil. Improve drainage, add gravel around the base and water only at the soil line.
Can I keep it indoors in winter?
A warm house is not ideal because it needs winter chill to bloom. A cold, dry, bright place works better.
Is it the same as Lisa Marie lavender?
No, but they are related. Lisa Marie is a hybrid of English lavender and woolly lavender.
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