Product Field NotesLavender Plants
LOWI2010-05 Lavender: A Mildew-Resistant Spanish Lavender
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LOWI2010-05 lavender is a compact Spanish lavender with deep violet-blue flowers under violet-purple bracts. It stays upright and bushy at about 12 inches tall and wide, with gray-green foliage and a strong fragrance. Its long bloom starts in early May, and it reblooms readily.
One trait sets it apart from many Spanish lavenders: its documentation lists downy mildew resistance. In a humid summer that is a welcome extra.
LOWI2010-05 at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula stoechas LOWI2010-05 |
| Flowers and bracts | Deep violet-blue flowers, violet-purple bracts |
| Foliage | Gray-green |
| Size | About 12 inches tall and 12 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early May, peaks late May, long season with high rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 7a to 9b |
| Fragrance | Strong; resinous, camphor and eucalyptus-like |
| Disease note | Documented downy mildew resistance |
Why mildew resistance matters
Lavender wants dry air, and Great Lakes summers often deliver the opposite: warm, humid stretches with heavy dew. Fungal problems such as downy mildew thrive in those conditions, especially on crowded container plants. A Spanish lavender with documented resistance gives you a little more margin. It is not a license to overwater or crowd it, but it helps the plant stay clean and productive through muggy weeks.
Good spacing, morning sun and watering at the soil line still do most of the work.
Container and garden use
At about a foot tall and wide, LOWI2010-05 is easy to place. It fits a 10 inch pot, a window box in full sun or the front of a sunny bed for the summer. Its fragrance is rated strong, so set it where you will pass it often. The deep violet-blue flowers against violet-purple bracts make a rich, saturated look that pairs well with white and silver companions.
For commercial growers, its records also give it a large-bundle rating for pick-your-own plantings, a sign of how productive its flower heads are.
Care tips
- Sun: full sun.
- Mix or soil: fast draining; gritty mix in pots.
- Water: soak, then let the top inch or two dry.
- Airflow: do not crowd pots together in humid weather.
- Deadheading: clip faded heads at the first leaf pair for steady reblooms.
Winter in Michigan
Its winter notes describe it as generally less cold-hardy than English lavender, and zone 7a is milder than most of Michigan. Bring pots indoors before hard frost to a cool, bright room. Water sparingly and skip fertilizer. Move it out again after your last frost; the Frost Date Estimator helps you plan.
LOWI2010-05 is rated good for fresh flowers and fair for dried ones, so enjoy it mainly fresh in small vases. Culinary use is not recommended. It is offered as a 3-inch plug, a 4-inch pot or a 1-gallon pot. See the product page for current sizes and availability.
Clay or terra cotta pots help here too, since they dry faster than plastic after a rainy spell.
Frequently asked questions
Is LOWI2010-05 immune to mildew?
No plant is immune. It has documented downy mildew resistance, which helps in humid weather, but good airflow and careful watering still matter.
Will it come back after winter?
Not outdoors in Michigan. It is rated for zones 7a to 9b, so overwinter it indoors or replant.
Does it dry well?
Its dried flower rating is fair. It shines more as a fresh, fragrant garden and vase plant.
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