Use & Care NotesLavender Plants
Monet Lavender: An Everblooming French Lavender with Toothed Leaves
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Monet lavender is a French lavender, Lavandula dentata, the species with finely toothed leaves that look as if someone went around the edges with pinking shears. It forms a bushy, upright shrub of gray-green foliage up to about 39 inches tall and wide where it grows outdoors year-round, and in warm conditions it simply keeps blooming, with purple-blue flower heads topped by small bracts.
Rub a leaf and you will see why its fragrance is rated exceptional: fresh, herbal and eucalyptus-like with a light floral edge.
Monet at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula dentata 'Monet' |
| Flower color | Purple-blue |
| Foliage | Gray-green with toothed edges |
| Size | Up to about 39 inches tall and wide in mild climates |
| Bloom | Everblooming; year-round in warm climates, peak listed in mid-July |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 8a to 10b |
| Fragrance | Exceptional; fresh, herbal, camphor and eucalyptus-like |
| Wildlife | Great for pollinators; deer resistant |
What sets dentata apart
French lavender grows quickly, flowers almost continuously in warmth and has that distinctive toothed foliage, which stays aromatic whether or not the plant is in bloom. It does not need a cold winter to flower, which is why it is such a reliable bloomer in pots and sunrooms. The tradeoff is cold tolerance: it is rated for zones 8a to 10b and will not survive a typical Michigan winter outdoors.
Growing Monet in a cold-winter garden
- Summer: set the pot in full sun on a patio, deck or sunny step once nights stay above freezing. The Frost Date Estimator helps time the move.
- Container: choose a large, well-draining pot and a gritty mix. A bigger pot dries out less quickly in summer heat.
- Water: let the top couple of inches dry before watering. Water needs are low.
- Fall: bring it in before frost to a bright, cool spot such as a sunny window in an unheated room or a cool sunroom.
- Winter: water sparingly, keep it bright and expect slower growth until spring.
In zone 8 and warmer, plant it in the ground in full sun and well-drained soil, where it can grow into a sizable shrub.
Pruning and shaping
Clip off faded flower stems regularly to keep new ones coming. A light shaping trim in spring keeps a potted plant compact and full. As with other lavenders, avoid cutting hard into bare, leafless wood. Fertilize lightly, if at all; lean growing conditions keep it bushy.
Using the flowers and foliage
Monet is grown for ornament and fragrance. Its flowers are only fair for cutting and drying, but snipping a few stems for a small vase is a nice way to bring the scent indoors. The toothed leaves can be tucked into dried mixes for texture. It is not recommended for culinary use; choose an English lavender for the kitchen. Bees and butterflies visit it steadily, and deer generally avoid it.
Monet 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 Monet the same as Spanish lavender?
No. Monet is Lavandula dentata, often called French lavender, known for its toothed leaves. Spanish lavender is Lavandula stoechas.
Can I keep it as a houseplant?
Indoors is best treated as a winter holding spot. It wants strong light and does its best growing outside in summer sun.
Does it really bloom all year?
In warm climates it is everblooming. In cold regions, expect the best show outdoors in summer and lighter flowering indoors over winter.
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