Use & Care NotesLavender Plants
LaVela Compact Dark Violet: Dark Bracts and Early Blooms in a Pot
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LaVela Compact Dark Violet lavender, listed as KLELV20123, is a Spanish lavender with dark purple bracts above large, showy flower heads. It is documented with early flowering and good branching, and it grows upright to about 15 inches tall and 12 inches wide over gray-green foliage. Its scent is rated strong.
It is Lavandula stoechas, rated for USDA zones 7a to 9b. The compact LaVela types are built for containers, which is exactly how most Michigan gardeners will grow it: on the deck from spring frost to fall frost, and indoors or replaced over winter.
LaVela Compact Dark Violet at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula stoechas LaVela Compact Dark Violet (KLELV20123) |
| Flowers | Purple heads with dark purple bracts |
| Habit | Upright, well branched |
| Size | About 15 inches tall and 12 inches wide |
| Bloom | Early; starts early May, peaks late May, high rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 7a to 9b |
| Fragrance | Strong; bold resinous-herbal with camphor and eucalyptus-like notes |
| Wildlife | Great for pollinators; deer resistant |
A container lavender that stays in shape
Compact, well-branched growth is what you want in a pot. LaVela Compact Dark Violet fills a 10- to 12-inch container without spilling over or getting leggy, and good branching means plenty of stems carrying those dark bracts. It is a reliable centerpiece for a sunny tabletop, a matched pair flanking steps or a row of pots along a railing.
Dark purple bracts read as rich and deep. Pair it with LaVela Compact White for crisp contrast, or keep a whole row dark violet for a bold, uniform look.
Container setup
- Pot: 10 to 12 inches across, with drainage holes. Unglazed clay helps the soil dry evenly.
- Mix: a fast-draining potting mix with added grit or perlite.
- Spot: full sun, six to eight hours, with air moving around the plant.
- No saucer puddles: empty saucers after rain so roots never sit in water.
Season-long care
Water deeply when the top inch of soil dries, then wait. Container plants dry faster in hot, windy weather, so check more often in midsummer. Snip faded heads back to the foliage regularly, and shear lightly after the late-May peak to bring on summer flowers. A container plant can use an occasional light feeding, but rich feeding means soft stems and fewer blooms. The Plant Care Guide has more on lavender in pots.
Winter
LaVela lavenders are less cold-hardy than English types. Before the first hard freeze, move the pot into a cool, bright room or unheated sunroom, water sparingly and hold off on fertilizer until spring. Or enjoy it as a season-long annual and start fresh next year.
Uses and formats
Fresh-cut stems rate good for small bouquets. Dried flags shrink, so its dried rating is fair. It is ornamental and not recommended for cooking.
Choose a 3-inch plug, 4-inch pot or 1-gallon pot. See the product page for current sizes and availability, or sign up for Availability Alerts.
Frequently asked questions
How does it differ from LaVela Dark Violet?
Both are early, well-branched Spanish lavenders of similar size. This one is listed as a compact type and documented with dark purple bracts. The Compare tool shows them together.
How many plants for a window box?
At about 12 inches wide, plan on one plant per foot of box.
Does it need a cold winter to bloom?
No. Spanish lavenders flower without winter chilling, so it blooms its first season.
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