Product Field NotesLavender Plants
Plum Power Lavender: A Heat-Loving Spanish Lavender for Hot Spots
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Plum Power lavender is a Spanish lavender built for heat. It forms a bushy, compact plant about 18 to 24 inches tall and wide, with gray-green foliage and vivid purple heads, described in some sources as leaning toward fuchsia. It is documented as heat-loving and disease resistant, and it reblooms readily in cooler climates.
That hot corner of the patio where everything else wilts by July? This is a candidate.
Plum Power at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula stoechas 'Plum Power' |
| Flower color | Vivid purple, leaning fuchsia |
| Foliage | Gray-green |
| Size | About 18 to 24 inches tall and wide |
| Bloom | Starts early May, peaks early June, high rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 8a to 10b |
| Fragrance | Bold, resinous and herbal with camphor notes |
| Strengths | Heat-loving, disease resistant, deer resistant |
Best spots for a heat lover
Spanish lavenders generally handle warmth better than cold, wet conditions, and Plum Power leans into that. Use it in places that bake: south- or west-facing walls, sunny balconies, gravel courtyards, rooftop containers and planters beside hot pavement. Its compact shape keeps it tidy in a pot, and the vivid heads stand out against terracotta, concrete and pale stone.
In mixed containers, pair it with other drought-tolerant plants that like the same lean, sharp-draining mix.
Containers and winter
Plum Power is rated for zones 8a to 10b, so in most of the northern United States it will not survive winter outdoors. Plan to grow it in a container:
- Choose a pot with generous drainage holes and a gritty, fast-draining mix.
- Place it in full sun from late spring through fall.
- Before frost, move it to a cool, bright, frost-free spot and water sparingly.
- Return it outside after frost danger passes. The Frost Date Estimator helps you time it.
In zone 8 and warmer, it can go in the ground in sandy or gravelly soil.
Care for repeat bloom
- Water: regularly while it roots in, then only when the top inch or two is dry. Even heat lovers suffer in soggy soil.
- Deadhead: clip spent heads back to the foliage to keep the rebloom going.
- Trim: shape lightly after a big flush, avoiding bare wood.
- Feed: very lightly; lean conditions keep it compact.
Uses and formats
Plum Power is good for fresh cut flowers and only fair for drying, so enjoy it in small vases. It is grown for ornament and fragrance and is not recommended for culinary use. Pollinators find it quickly, and deer usually leave it alone.
It is offered as 3-inch plugs, 4-inch pots and 1-gallon pots. See the product page for current sizes and availability.
Hot containers dry out faster than beds, so check the mix with a finger before watering rather than following a fixed schedule. The aim is a pot that dries between drinks but never stays bone-dry for days in midsummer heat.
Frequently asked questions
Is Plum Power purple or pink?
It is listed as purple, and some sources describe the heads as vivid fuchsia. Expect a bright, saturated purple with a pink lean.
Will it handle a hot summer?
Yes. It is documented as heat-loving, and Spanish lavenders generally handle warmth better than cold, wet conditions.
Can it stay outdoors in winter?
Only within its rating of zones 8a to 10b. In colder areas, bring potted plants into a cool, bright, frost-free spot.
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