Use & Care NotesLavender Plants
Pink Summer Lavender: A Tiny Pink Spanish Lavender for Pots
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Pink Summer lavender is a pocket-sized Spanish lavender. It forms a compact, mound-forming plant only about 8 inches tall and 10 inches wide, with gray-green foliage and dark to bright pink flower heads on very short stems. It is known for flowering early and continuing through spring and summer.
Small enough for a teacup planter, though we suggest one with a drainage hole.
Pink Summer at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula stoechas 'Pink Summer' |
| Flower color | Dark pink to bright pink |
| Foliage | Gray-green, aromatic |
| Size | About 8 inches tall and 10 inches wide; stems about 2.4 to 2.8 inches |
| Bloom | Starts early May, peaks late May; continuous through spring and summer |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 8b to 9a |
| Fragrance | Aromatic, pungent foliage; flower fragrance is light |
| Best uses | Pollinators, small bouquets, dried flowers, containers |
Big color in a small space
Pink Summer's tiny size is its superpower. Tuck it into the edge of a mixed container, line a sunny windowsill box, fill a tabletop pot for a patio or balcony, or plant a row of small pots up a set of steps. Its pink heads bring bright color at eye level when the pots sit on a table or ledge, and the aromatic foliage releases its scent when brushed.
Note that the fragrance comes mainly from the leaves. Documented evaluations did not detect much scent from the flowers themselves, so plant it for color and foliage aroma.
Container care
- Pot: small, with drainage holes. Terracotta helps the mix dry evenly.
- Mix: gritty and fast-draining; add grit or perlite to standard potting mix.
- Sun: full sun, six to eight hours or more.
- Water: when the top inch is dry. Tiny pots dry quickly in summer heat, but never leave them standing in water.
- Feed: very lightly, if at all.
Winter and deadheading
Pink Summer is rated for zones 8b to 9a, and observed hardiness has been documented around zone 7. In colder gardens, it will not survive winter outdoors. Bring pots in before frost to a cool, bright spot that stays above freezing, water sparingly until spring, and set them back outside once frost danger passes. The Frost Date Estimator helps with timing.
For continuous bloom, snip faded heads back to the foliage. With such short stems, small scissors or snips work best.
Cutting and formats
The short stems are suited to miniature posies, and the heads are rated good for drying, so they can go into small dried arrangements or craft projects. It is not recommended for culinary use. Bees and butterflies visit it, and deer generally leave it alone.
Pink Summer is offered as 3-inch plugs, 4-inch pots and 1-gallon pots. See the product page for current sizes and availability.
A cluster of three or five small pots of Pink Summer on a sunny table or ledge makes a bigger impact than a single plant, and each pot is easy to carry indoors when the weather turns.
Frequently asked questions
How small is Pink Summer?
About 8 inches tall and 10 inches wide, one of the smallest lavenders in the lineup.
Does it smell like lavender?
The foliage is aromatic and pungent. The flowers have little detectable fragrance, so enjoy it mostly for color.
Can I keep it outside all winter?
Only in mild climates within its rating of zones 8b to 9a. Elsewhere, overwinter it indoors in a cool, bright spot.
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