Product Field NotesLavender Plants
Rebecca Kay Lavender: A Balanced English Mound for Small Gardens
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Rebecca Kay lavender is an English lavender with a compact, balanced shape: about two feet tall, about two feet wide and evenly rounded. Purple spikes on roughly 12-inch stems rise above green foliage, and the scent is the sweet, soft floral that people picture when they think of English lavender.
Rebecca Kay at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula angustifolia 'Rebecca Kay' |
| Flower color | Purple |
| Foliage | Green |
| Habit | Compact and balanced |
| Mature size | About 24 inches tall and 24 inches wide |
| Stem length | About 12 inches |
| Bloom | Starts early June, peaks mid-July, moderate rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5a to 9a |
| Fragrance | Strong, sweet floral, low camphor |
A long run of color
Rebecca Kay's listed bloom window is a stretch: flowering begins in early June and builds to a peak in mid-July. That makes it a useful bridge between the earliest English lavenders and the midsummer lavandins. In a mixed bed, it keeps purple in the picture while other plants come and go. Add moderate rebloom after a trim, and you get a few late spikes as a bonus.
Good spots for a two-foot lavender
- Edging a path or patio: it will not swallow the walkway.
- Foundation plantings: on the sunny side of a house, where gutters do not dump water on it.
- Herb and kitchen gardens: an easy reach for a handful of culinary buds.
- Large containers: a 14-inch or bigger pot with gritty mix.
Map out a planting in My Garden to see how many fit along your bed.
Planting and early care
Full sun and fast drainage are the two non-negotiables. Loosen the soil well and, in clay, raise the planting area by several inches. Set the root ball so the crown sits level with or slightly above the surrounding soil. Water deeply at planting and whenever the top few inches dry out during the first growing season. After that, Rebecca Kay's water needs are low.
Keep wood mulch away from the base; a thin layer of gravel helps the crown stay dry and reflects a little warmth back up into the plant.
Pruning for shape
Once the July peak fades, cut the stems back and trim the foliage into a soft dome, removing about a third of the leafy growth. Never cut into bare, leafless wood, because older lavender wood rarely sprouts again. A light tidy in spring after new growth appears is all it needs otherwise. A compact, balanced cultivar like this one holds its shape well when it is trimmed every year.
Harvest and uses
Rebecca Kay is rated great for culinary use and excellent for essential oil. Cut for the kitchen when buds are full and colored but before many flowers open; that is when color and flavor hold best after drying. Its 12-inch stems make neat little bundles for drying, sachets or a small gift bouquet. Use only food-grown buds in recipes, and remember that a teaspoon of lavender goes a long way.
Frequently asked questions
Will Rebecca Kay survive zone 5 winters?
It is rated for zones 5a to 9a. In cold, wet winters, sharp drainage is what makes the difference.
Does it need fertilizer?
Rarely. Lean soil keeps English lavender compact and full of flowers. Too much feeding gives you leafy, floppy plants.
Is it deer resistant?
Yes, it is rated deer resistant, and it is rated great for pollinators.
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