Use & Care NotesLavender Plants
Pastor’s Pride Lavender: Compact Purple That Blooms in June
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Pastor’s Pride lavender is a compact, mounding English lavender with purple spikes over gray-green foliage. It grows about 24 inches tall and 30 inches wide and flowers early in the season, starting in early June and peaking by mid-June, with the sweet, soft herbal scent of English lavender.
It is a straightforward, well-behaved plant. The kind you can recommend to a neighbor without a list of caveats.
Pastor’s Pride at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula angustifolia 'Pastor’s Pride' |
| Flower color | Purple |
| Foliage | Gray-green |
| Habit and size | Mounding and compact; about 24 inches tall and 30 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early June, peaks mid-June, moderate rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5a to 9b |
| Fragrance | Sweet floral, soft herbal, low camphor |
| Culinary | Rated great |
An early-season workhorse
Pastor’s Pride gets lavender season started. Its June bloom gives you purple in the garden while midsummer cultivars are still building buds, and an early harvest for the kitchen. After a light shearing, a moderate rebloom can add color again later in summer. Pair it with mid-July and August bloomers to keep a lavender bed going for months; the Lavender Bloom Calendar shows how the timing fits together.
Where it fits
At about two and a half feet across, Pastor’s Pride suits herb gardens, the middle of a sunny border, raised beds and large containers. Plant a short row along a walk for an early-summer edge, or group three plants for a solid patch of purple. Its compact mound stays neat with one trim a year.
Planting and care
- Site: full sun and fast-draining sandy or loamy soil; raise the bed in heavy clay.
- Spacing: about 30 inches apart for airflow.
- Planting: crown level with the soil; water deeply after planting.
- Water: during the first season, water when the top few inches dry. After that, water needs are low.
- Feeding: light. Lean soil keeps the mound tight.
- Pruning: shear in late June after the first flush, staying in the leafy growth.
- Winter: keep the crown free of wet mulch and leaves.
The Plant Care Guide covers each step in more detail.
Harvest and uses
Pastor’s Pride is rated great for culinary use. Harvest buds on a dry June morning when spikes are colored but few flowers have opened. Hang small bundles in a shaded, airy spot, rub off the dry buds and store them airtight. Use only plants grown and handled as a food crop, and start with small amounts. Its essential oil suitability is rated excellent, and stems cut for drying make tidy sachets and small bundles. It is great for pollinators and resistant to deer.
It is offered as 3-inch plugs, 4-inch pots and 1-gallon pots. See the product page for current sizes and availability.
Because it finishes early, Pastor’s Pride is also a good choice for anyone who travels in midsummer. You can harvest and prune in June, and the plant will look tidy while you are away.
Frequently asked questions
When does Pastor’s Pride bloom?
Early, starting in early June and peaking by mid-June, with a moderate rebloom after shearing.
Is it good for containers?
Yes, in a large pot with drainage holes and a gritty mix, set in full sun.
Will it handle a cold winter?
It is rated for zones 5a to 9b. English lavenders are among the hardier lavenders, provided the soil drains well.
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