Product Field NotesLavender Plants
Purple Wings Lavender: A Rounded Spanish Lavender for Spring Pots
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Purple Wings lavender is a Spanish lavender that grows into an even, rounded bush about as wide as it is tall. Each fat purple flower head wears a pair of upright bracts, the wings in its name, and the plant keeps sending up fresh ones through the warm months.
Where English lavenders take their time, Purple Wings is an early riser. It is one of the first lavenders to look like lavender in spring.
Purple Wings at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula stoechas 'Purple Wings' |
| Flower color | Purple heads with winged purple bracts |
| Foliage | Gray-green |
| Habit | Bushy and compact |
| Mature size | About 20 inches tall and 20 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early May, peaks late May, high rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 7a to 9b |
| Fragrance | Bold, resinous, camphor and eucalyptus-like |
Designing with Purple Wings
A balanced, round shape makes Purple Wings easy to place. One plant in a glazed pot is a finished look on its own. Three in a long trough along a deck rail make a low purple hedge for the summer. It also mixes well in larger containers with other sun lovers that like to dry out between drinks, such as trailing rosemary or silver-leaved herbs, as long as nothing in the pot needs constant moisture.
In zones 7 and warmer, use it in the ground as a front-of-border shrub or along a gravel path, where its early color fills the gap before summer perennials take over.
Container care that keeps it flowering
- Pot: 12 inches or wider, with drainage holes. Terracotta helps the mix dry evenly.
- Mix: a fast-draining potting mix cut with grit or coarse sand.
- Sun: full sun. In shade it stretches and flowers less.
- Water: soak, then wait until the top inch or two is dry. Wet, heavy mix is the most common way to lose it.
- Deadheading: cut faded heads off just above a set of leaves. High rebloom means this pays off quickly.
- Midseason trim: if it gets leggy, trim the whole plant back lightly to reshape it, staying in leafy growth.
Winter options
Spanish lavenders are generally less cold-hardy than English types. Below zone 7, bring the pot indoors before a hard freeze to a cool, bright room or a sunny window away from heat vents. Keep it on the dry side until spring, then move it back out once frost danger has passed. Check your dates with the Frost Date Estimator. Plenty of gardeners also simply enjoy it as a seasonal container plant and start fresh each year.
Flowers and pollinators
Purple Wings is rated great for pollinators, and an early bloomer by the door gives bees something to work before most of the garden opens. It is rated good as a cut flower: short stems look charming in a bud vase. Dried, the bracts fade and curl, so its dried rating is only fair. Culinary use is not recommended, and its oil rating is weak, so think of it as a garden and patio plant first.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Purple Wings and Purple Ribbon?
Both are Spanish lavenders with similar bloom timing. Purple Wings is a little larger and rounder at about 20 by 20 inches, while Purple Ribbon is listed at about 16 by 18 inches.
How often should I water it in a pot?
There is no set schedule. Water when the top inch or two of mix is dry, and water less in cool, cloudy weather.
Is it safe to plant near a vegetable garden?
Yes, it makes a nice pollinator plant near vegetables. Just do not harvest it for eating.
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