Product Field NotesLavender Plants
LMARO32-0 Lavender: Red-Purple Spanish Flags in Early Spring
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LMARO32-0 lavender is a Spanish lavender with a warmer color than most: long red-purple bracts at the top of each head. It grows upright and strong to about 12 inches tall and 14 inches wide over gray-green foliage, and it is one of the early risers of the lavender year, starting in mid-April where the climate allows.
Its fragrance has an unusual balance. The flowers are very strongly lavender-scented, while the foliage is less strongly scented, so it is the blooms, not the leaves, you will want to bring close.
LMARO32-0 at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula stoechas LMARO32-0 |
| Bracts | Long, red-purple |
| Foliage | Gray-green |
| Size | About 12 inches tall and 14 inches wide |
| Habit | Upright and strong |
| Bloom | Starts mid-April, peaks early May; smaller flushes through summer and fall |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 7a to 10b |
| Fragrance | Very strongly scented flowers; foliage milder |
How its season unfolds
Documentation describes a main flowering flush in spring, with smaller quantities continuing through summer and fall. In a mild climate that spring show starts in mid-April. In a Michigan container, the first big flush follows soon after you set the plant out in late spring, then lighter rounds keep it in color through the warm months, especially if you remove faded heads.
The red-purple bracts stand out from the cooler purples of most lavenders, so it is worth placing where you will see it every day: by an entry, on a patio table or at the top of a set of steps.
Growing it in pots
- Pot: 8 to 10 inches across suits its compact size; drainage holes are a must.
- Mix: gritty and fast draining.
- Sun: full sun for the richest bract color.
- Water: soak, then wait for the top inch to dry. Small pots dry fast in summer.
- Deadheading: snip faded heads at the first leaf pair to encourage the summer and fall rounds.
Winter in a cold climate
Zone 7a is warmer than most of Michigan, so assume an outdoor plant here will not return. Bring the pot into a cool, bright room before hard frost and water sparingly through winter. Because Spanish lavender does not need a cold period to bloom, a well-lit plant may even show color early. Move it back outdoors after the last frost, adjusting it to full sun over a week. The Frost Date Estimator helps you plan.
Cut and dried
LMARO32-0 is rated good for fresh and dried flowers and great for pollinators. The very fragrant heads make small, scented posies; cut them when the bracts are fully colored. For drying, hang small bundles in a dark, airy place to help the red-purple hold. 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.
Frequently asked questions
Is the color really red?
It is red-purple, warmer than the typical violet of Spanish lavender, and most noticeable in the long top bracts.
Why don't the leaves smell as strong as the flowers?
That is a documented trait of this selection: very fragrant flowers with milder foliage.
Will it survive outside in Michigan?
No. It is rated for zones 7a to 10b. Overwinter it indoors or grow it as an annual.
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