Product Field NotesLavender Plants
Pukehou Lavender: A Full, Rounded Spanish Lavender in Deep Purple
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Pukehou lavender is a Spanish lavender that fills out. In mild climates it grows into a bushy, rounded plant about 35 inches tall and wide, covered in deep purple to purple-blue flower heads and their upright bracts. The gray-green foliage is aromatic, and the fragrance is bold and resinous, with camphor and eucalyptus-like notes.
Where many Spanish lavenders stay petite, Pukehou is the one to choose when you want a big, generous mound of color.
Pukehou at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula stoechas 'Pukehou' |
| Flower color | Deep purple to purple-blue |
| Foliage | Gray-green |
| Size | About 35 inches tall and wide in mild climates |
| Bloom | Starts early May, peaks late May, high rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 7a to 9b |
| Fragrance | Bold, resinous and herbal |
| Wildlife | Great for pollinators; deer resistant |
Big color in containers
Pukehou's full, rounded shape makes it a natural centerpiece for a large container. Use a wide pot on a sunny patio, a pair of planters flanking a gate or a half-barrel with drainage holes at the edge of a deck. The deep purple heads read clearly from across the yard and look rich against terracotta, white siding or gray stone. In mild-climate gardens, plant it as a low flowering shrub in a sunny border, giving it room to round out.
Winter planning
Rated for zones 7a to 9b, Pukehou is less cold-hardy than English lavender, and wet winter soil is the main danger. In colder regions:
- Plant it in a large container with a gritty, fast-draining mix.
- Before hard frost, roll or carry it to a cool, bright, frost-free spot.
- Water sparingly through winter, just enough to keep the roots from drying out completely.
- Move it back outdoors once frost danger has passed.
Use the USDA Zone Finder to see where your garden falls. Potted plants generally stay smaller than in-ground shrubs in warm climates.
Care for heavy rebloom
- Sun: full sun, six to eight hours or more.
- Water: regularly while it settles in, then only when the top few inches are dry.
- Deadhead: clip spent heads back to the foliage as they fade. Its rebloom is rated high, so this pays off quickly.
- Shape: a light trim after each big flush keeps the mound round. Avoid cutting into bare wood.
- Feed: lightly, if at all.
Uses and formats
Pukehou's heads are good for fresh cut flowers and fair for drying, so enjoy them in vases and small bouquets. It is grown for ornament and fragrance and is not recommended for culinary use. Bees and butterflies visit it heavily, and deer tend to leave it alone.
It is offered as 3-inch plugs, 4-inch pots and 1-gallon pots. A gallon pot gives the quickest start toward a big container plant. See the product page for current sizes and availability.
A large pot of Pukehou can also anchor a group of smaller containers. Set it at the back of the cluster and let lower pots of herbs or compact lavenders fill in around it.
Frequently asked questions
How big does Pukehou get?
About 35 inches tall and wide where it grows outdoors year-round. In pots it usually stays more compact.
Is Pukehou a good container plant?
Yes, in a large pot with excellent drainage and full sun.
Can I cook with it?
It is not recommended for culinary use. Choose an English lavender for the kitchen.
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