Use & Care NotesLavender Plants
Miss Dawnderry Lavender: Dark Buds on a Broad Evergreen Mound
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Miss Dawnderry lavender is a bushy evergreen English lavender with dark purple buds that open into fragrant summer spikes over narrow, aromatic gray-green leaves. It is a broad plant, spreading to about 39 inches, which makes it useful for filling a sunny bed with fewer plants.
The scent is rated moderate, and the foliage itself is fragrant, so you get a whiff every time you brush past it.
Miss Dawnderry at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula angustifolia 'Miss Dawnderry' |
| Flower color | Dark purple buds opening to purple flowers |
| Foliage | Aromatic gray-green, evergreen |
| Size | Listed between about 24 and 39 inches tall, up to about 39 inches wide; check the listing for the current size |
| Bloom | Starts mid-June, peaks late June to mid-July, moderate rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5a to 8b; RHS hardiness rating H5 |
| Fragrance | Moderate, with aromatic foliage |
| Best uses | Essential oil, borders, culinary |
A wide plant for wide spaces
Most English lavenders stay fairly tight. Miss Dawnderry spreads, which makes it a good choice for covering a sunny bank, softening the edge of a patio or anchoring the corner of a herb garden. Mature size varies with soil and climate, so plan for a generous footprint and you will not have to move it later.
The dark buds give the plant a rich, deep look before the flowers fully open, and that color stands out well against pale gravel, light-colored walls or silver companions.
Planting it right
- Sun: full sun, six to eight hours or more.
- Soil: sandy, loamy or gravelly, and fast to drain. Wet roots, not cold, are the usual problem in Great Lakes winters.
- Spacing: about three feet apart, or a little more in rich soil.
- Planting depth: crown level with the soil surface; never bury the stems.
- First season: water deeply when the top few inches of soil are dry.
Use the USDA Zone Finder to confirm your zone falls within 5a to 8b.
Pruning a broad mound
Wide lavenders can open up in the center if they are never trimmed. After the main bloom, cut spent stems and shear the whole mound lightly to keep it full and rounded. Stay in the leafy growth; English lavender rarely resprouts from bare old wood. A second, lighter trim after any rebloom tidies things for winter. The Pruning Calendar covers timing.
Harvest and formats
Miss Dawnderry is rated great for culinary use and excellent for essential oil suitability. Harvest buds for cooking when they are fully colored but mostly unopened, and dry them in shade before storing airtight. Use only plants grown and handled as a food crop. Stems cut for drying hold up well in small bundles, and the aromatic foliage adds scent to dried mixes.
It 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
How big does Miss Dawnderry get?
Listings range from about 24 to 39 inches tall with a spread up to about 39 inches. Soil and climate make the difference, so give it room.
Is the fragrance strong?
It is rated moderate. The foliage is aromatic too, so the plant smells pleasant even out of bloom.
Can I cook with it?
Yes. It is an English lavender rated great for culinary use. Start with small amounts.
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