Product Field NotesLavender Plants
Primavera Lavender: Royal Purple Heads with Burgundy Flags
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Primavera lavender is a compact Spanish lavender with a regal color scheme: violet to royal purple flower heads topped with burgundy flags. The plant is upright and mounded, about 18 inches tall and 16 inches wide, with gray-green foliage and the bold, resinous fragrance of Spanish lavender.
Primavera means spring, and it lives up to the name by flowering early. In mild climates, flowering can carry on through much of the year.
Primavera at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula stoechas 'Primavera' |
| Flower color | Violet to royal purple heads with burgundy flags |
| Foliage | Gray-green |
| Habit and size | Upright, compact and mounded; about 18 inches tall and 16 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early May, peaks late May, high rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 7a to 9a |
| Fragrance | Bold, resinous and herbal with eucalyptus-like notes |
| Wildlife | Great for pollinators; deer resistant |
A narrow plant with rich color
Primavera is slightly taller than it is wide, which makes it easy to fit into tight spots: between pavers, in narrow window boxes, along the edge of a sunny step or in a slim pot by the door. The burgundy flags add a deeper, wine-colored accent that pairs well with silver foliage, dark containers and other purple flowers. Plant several in a row of matching pots for a crisp, formal look.
Winter in colder zones
With a rating of zones 7a to 9a, Primavera is less cold-hardy than English lavender, and cold, wet soil is its main threat. North of zone 7, grow it as a container plant:
- Use a pot with drainage holes and a gritty mix.
- Keep it in full sun from spring through fall.
- Before hard frost, bring it to a cool, bright, frost-free spot and water lightly.
- Move it back out once frost danger passes.
Or enjoy it for a single season of early color. Check your zone in the USDA Zone Finder.
Care for constant flags
- Sun: full sun, six to eight hours or more.
- Water: regularly while rooting in, then only when the top inch or two is dry.
- Deadhead: snip faded heads back to the foliage. Its rebloom is rated high, and fresh flags follow quickly.
- Trim: shape lightly after a heavy flush, staying out of bare wood.
- Feed: very lightly, if at all.
Uses and formats
Primavera's heads are good for small fresh arrangements, where the burgundy flags add color, though they dry only fairly. It is grown for fragrance and ornament and is not recommended for culinary use. Bees and butterflies visit it, and deer usually do not.
It is offered as 3-inch plugs, 4-inch pots and 1-gallon pots. See the product page for current sizes and availability.
Primavera also makes a good companion in mixed pots with other sun lovers that like the same lean mix. Keep taller partners behind it so its compact, upright shape and burgundy flags stay in view.
Frequently asked questions
What are the flags on Primavera?
The flags are the showy bracts on top of each flower head. On Primavera they are burgundy, above violet to royal purple flowers.
Does it bloom only in spring?
It starts early, but with deadheading it keeps reblooming. In mild climates, flowering can continue for much of the year.
Is it good for small containers?
Yes. At about 18 inches tall and 16 inches wide, it suits small to medium pots with good drainage.
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