Use & Care NotesLavender Plants
Madrid Purple Lavender: Spanish Lavender with Classic Ears
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Madrid Purple lavender is a Spanish lavender, Lavandula stoechas, with chunky purple flower heads topped by the little upright bracts that make this group look like it is wearing bunny ears. It grows into a tidy, rounded mound of gray-green leaves about two feet tall and wide, and it blooms early and often.
If English lavender is the sensible cardigan of the lavender world, Madrid Purple is the bright scarf. It is the one people point at on a patio.
Madrid Purple at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula stoechas 'Madrid Purple' |
| Flower color | Purple heads with upright bracts |
| Foliage | Gray-green |
| Habit and size | Mounding, rounded and bushy; about 24 inches tall and wide |
| Bloom | Starts early May, peaks late May, strong repeat bloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 7a to 9b |
| Fragrance | Bold and resinous, with camphor and eucalyptus-like notes |
| Wildlife | Great for pollinators; deer resistant |
What makes Spanish lavender different
Spanish lavenders bloom on short, thick heads rather than the long slender spikes of English lavender, and each head carries a tuft of colorful bracts on top. They start flowering earlier in the year and, with a little deadheading, keep producing new heads through the warm months. The scent is sharper and more resinous too, closer to rosemary and eucalyptus than to the sweet perfume of English types.
That difference matters in the kitchen. Madrid Purple is grown for looks and fragrance, not for cooking, so leave the baking to English lavender and enjoy this one in the garden and in vases.
Growing it in a cold climate
With a rating of zones 7a to 9b, Madrid Purple is less cold-hardy than English lavender, and wet winters are harder on it than cold alone. Gardeners in colder zones, including much of Michigan, have two good options:
- Grow it in a pot. Use a gritty, fast-draining mix and a container with a drainage hole. Before hard frost, move it to a cool, bright, frost-free spot and water sparingly until spring.
- Enjoy it for one season. Plant it in a sunny bed or window box for spring and summer color, the same way you would a favorite annual.
Check your zone with the USDA Zone Finder before deciding which route fits.
Care for steady rebloom
- Sun: six to eight hours or more of direct sun.
- Soil: sandy or gritty and fast to drain. Never let the pot sit in a saucer of water.
- Water: regularly while it roots in, then only when the top few inches are dry. Water needs are low.
- Deadheading: clip each flower stem back to the leaves as the bracts fade. This is the secret to its repeat bloom.
- Shaping: a light trim after a big flush keeps the mound tidy. Avoid cutting into bare, leafless wood.
Uses and formats
Madrid Purple holds up well as a cut flower, and its heads are fun in small jars or mixed bouquets. It dries only fairly, so it is best enjoyed fresh. Pollinators love it, and deer tend to pass it by.
It is offered as 3-inch plugs, 4-inch pots and 1-gallon pots. A gallon pot gives the quickest patio show, while plugs suit anyone filling a lot of containers. See the product page for current sizes and availability.
Frequently asked questions
Can Madrid Purple stay outside all winter in Michigan?
Usually not. It is rated for zones 7a to 9b, so in colder gardens bring potted plants into a cool, bright, frost-free spot for winter, or grow it as a one-season plant.
Can I cook with it?
It is not recommended for culinary use. For lavender sugar, baking or tea, choose an English lavender instead.
Why did my plant stop blooming?
Spent heads left on the plant slow new flowers. Clip them off, keep it in full sun and hold back on water and fertilizer.
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