Use & Care NotesLavender Plants
LaVela Compact Dark Pink Lavender: Bold Pink from the First Warm Days
Save
LaVela Compact Dark Pink lavender is a Spanish lavender in a saturated pink, with large, showy blooms on a well-branched, upright plant about 15 inches tall and 12 inches wide. The gray-green foliage is a cool backdrop for the warm pink heads, and the scent is rated strong.
It is Lavandula stoechas in the LaVela series, rated for USDA zones 7a to 9b, and documented for early-season flowering. That early start is the reason to grow it: when the first warm days arrive, it is ready to put color on the porch.
LaVela Compact Dark Pink at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula stoechas LaVela Compact Dark Pink |
| Flower color | Pink, large showy heads |
| Foliage | Gray-green, upright, well branched |
| Size | About 15 inches tall and 12 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early May, peaks late May, high rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 7a to 9b |
| Water needs | Low once established |
| Fragrance | Strong; bold resinous-herbal with camphor and eucalyptus-like notes |
Pink that does not whisper
Some pink lavenders are so pale they read almost white. Dark Pink is the opposite, a clear, confident pink that you notice from across the yard. Use that strength:
- A pair of pots on either side of a front door makes an instant welcome.
- A long window box of Dark Pink alternating with LaVela Compact White looks fresh and tidy.
- Against gray stone, white siding or a navy pot, the pink really pops.
- Next to dark violet Spanish lavender, it builds a jewel-tone container.
Planting
Start with full sun and fast drainage. In containers, use a pot with drainage holes, 10 to 12 inches across per plant, and a gritty mix. In mild zones, plant in the ground on a raised or sloped site. Wait until frost danger is past; the Frost Date Estimator gives a target date for your area.
Care for steady color
Water deeply, then let the top inch of soil dry before watering again; its water needs are low once roots settle in. Deadhead spent heads every week or two, and shear lightly after the late-May peak to keep the plant compact and blooming into summer. Feed sparingly. In muggy weeks, give pots space so air can flow around the foliage.
Winter
LaVela Spanish lavenders are less cold-hardy than English lavender. Where winters dip below zone 7a, move the pot into a cool, bright spot before hard frost and water lightly until spring. Plants that spend winter cool and bright tend to come through better than those kept warm. Or replant fresh each year; an early bloomer like this makes replanting each spring an easy decision.
Uses and formats
Fresh-cut stems rate good and make bright little bouquets. Dried, the flags lose shape, so its dried rating is fair. Growers like its large, colorful bundles for pick-your-own patches. It is ornamental only and not recommended for cooking.
It is offered as a 3-inch plug, 4-inch pot or 1-gallon pot. See the product page for current sizes and availability.
Frequently asked questions
Is it a hot pink or a soft pink?
It is listed as dark pink, a clear, strong pink rather than a pale blush.
Can it share a pot with other plants?
Yes, with plants that also like sun and dry soil. Avoid pairing it with thirsty annuals that need daily water.
Do bees visit pink lavender?
Yes. Its pollinator rating is great.
Share how it went in your field