Use & Care NotesLavender Plants
Madrid Rose Lavender: Early Pink Blooms for Pots and Patios
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Madrid Rose lavender brings pink to the Spanish lavender lineup. Its flower heads and their upright bracts come in a soft rose-pink over a bushy, mounding plant with gray-green leaves, and it is one of the earliest lavenders on the bloom chart, starting in mid-April where the climate allows.
Pink lavender still surprises people. Expect a few questions along the lines of whether it is really lavender. It is.
Madrid Rose at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula stoechas 'Madrid Rose' |
| Flower color | Pink heads and bracts |
| Foliage | Gray-green |
| Habit and size | Bushy and mounding; about 24 inches tall and wide |
| Bloom | Starts mid-April, peaks early May, high rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 7a to 9b |
| Fragrance | Strong, resinous and herbal with camphor-like notes |
| Water needs | Low once established |
Designing with pink lavender
The pink of Madrid Rose plays well with silver and blue. Try it in a container with silver-leaved herbs, or let it lead a spring planter before the summer flowers catch up. In a mixed bed it softens the deep purples of other lavenders, and it brightens gray stone, weathered wood and white siding.
Because it blooms so early, Madrid Rose fills the gap between the first spring bulbs and the main English lavender season. Use the Lavender Bloom Calendar to see where it lands next to the other cultivars you grow.
Containers, beds and winter
Madrid Rose is rated for zones 7a to 9b. In colder gardens it does its best work in pots, where you control drainage and can move it to shelter. Use a terracotta or other well-draining container, a gritty potting mix and a sunny spot. When frost threatens, move the pot to a cool, bright place that stays above freezing and water only lightly through winter.
In zone 7 and warmer, plant it in the ground in full sun with sandy or gravelly soil, or on a slope or raised bed where water drains away quickly.
Keeping it in flower
- Cut faded heads back to the foliage as soon as the bracts brown. New stems follow.
- Feed sparingly, if at all. Rich soil means leaves instead of flowers.
- Water deeply but rarely. Let the top of the soil dry between waterings.
- Give a light shaping trim after the main spring flush, staying above the woody base.
Cutting, scent and wildlife
The stems make good fresh cut flowers for little vases and spring tablescapes. Drying is only fair, so enjoy it fresh. The fragrance is bold and resinous, typical of Spanish lavender, and people tend to like brushing past it on a warm day. Pollinators visit it often, while deer usually leave it alone. It is not recommended for cooking.
Madrid Rose is offered as 3-inch plugs, 4-inch pots and 1-gallon pots. See the product page for current sizes and availability.
Frequently asked questions
Is pink lavender a different species?
No. Madrid Rose is a pink-flowered cultivar of Spanish lavender, Lavandula stoechas, the same species as the purple and white Madrids.
Will the pink fade?
Flower color can soften as heads age and in strong sun. Deadheading keeps fresh, brightly colored heads coming.
How early will it bloom for me?
Its listed bloom starts in mid-April, but timing depends on your climate and when you plant. Potted plants set out in spring usually bloom soon after they settle in.
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