Product Field NotesLavender Plants
Pinnata Lavender: Gray Lace Leaves and Slim Violet-Blue Spikes
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Pinnata lavender is Lavandula pinnata, a Pterostoechas species named for its pinnate, feather-like leaves. The foliage is cut into neat paired lobes along each leaf, giving the plant a lacy texture. Slim violet-blue spikes rise above it from late May, with a peak in mid-July over a long season. Records describe mature plants at about 24 inches tall and 15 inches wide, so it grows more upright than wide.
It is a warm-climate lavender that settles beautifully into a sunny container.
Pinnata lavender at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula pinnata |
| Group | Pterostoechas |
| Flower color | Violet-blue |
| Foliage | Pinnately divided, lacy |
| Size | About 24 inches tall and 15 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts late May, peaks mid-July, long season with moderate rebloom |
| Fragrance | Moderate; resinous and herbal with camphor notes |
| Identity | Commercial species stock; traits can vary |
Telling it apart from its cousins
Pinnata, fern leaf and Jagged lavender all have divided leaves and slim spikes, and they are easy to mix up. Pinnata's leaves are cut into tidy, paired lobes along a central rib, like a feather, while fern leaf lavender's are more finely and irregularly dissected. Jagged lavender is sometimes treated botanically as a variety of pinnata. For a gardener the care is nearly identical; the difference is texture, and that is half the fun of collecting them. The Lavender Botanical Groups page explains how they fit together.
Container growing
- Pot: 10 to 12 inches, deeper than wide to suit its upright habit; drainage holes are a must.
- Mix: fast-draining with extra grit or perlite.
- Sun: full sun outside; very bright light indoors.
- Water: let the top inch or two dry before soaking again.
- Grooming: remove spent spikes to encourage new ones; pinch tips in early summer for a fuller plant.
Through winter
The listing does not give a hardiness range, and this group is frost-tender, so in West Michigan pinnata lavender comes indoors before frost. Keep it cool and bright, water sparingly and hold back fertilizer until spring. Stretched winter growth can be trimmed lightly once days lengthen. Move it out again after the last frost, easing it back into full sun over a week.
In the garden and the vase
Outdoors, its upright form works as a soft vertical in mixed pots or a Mediterranean-style planting of herbs and succulents in a sunny spot. It is rated great for pollinators and good for fresh and dried flowers. Cut spikes as they begin to open for small vases, or hang them to dry. The scent is resinous and herbal. Culinary use is not recommended.
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.
Turn the pot a quarter turn every week or two indoors so the plant grows evenly toward the light.
Frequently asked questions
Can I grow pinnata lavender in the ground?
Yes, for the summer, in full sun and sharp drainage. Lift it into a pot before frost or replant each spring.
Does it need cold to bloom?
No. It flowers without a winter chill, so it blooms in its first season.
Why are the leaves turning yellow at the base?
Most often from soil staying too wet. Let the mix dry more between waterings and check that the pot drains freely. The Plant Health Checker can help narrow it down.
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