Use & Care NotesLavender Plants
Riverina Margaret Lavender: A Pocket-Sized Pink-Bract Hybrid
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Riverina Margaret lavender is one of the smallest lavenders in our collection, listed at about 7.9 inches tall and 7.9 inches wide. It is a spreading, evergreen hybrid introduced in 2017, with purple flowers sitting under light pink sterile bracts and green foliage. The scent is moderate: floral, sweet and lightly herbal.
It fits in a teacup planter, though it would prefer a pot with a drainage hole.
Riverina Margaret at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula hybrid 'Riverina Margaret' |
| Parentage | Unresolved |
| Introduced | 2017 |
| Flower color | Purple with light pink sterile bracts |
| Foliage | Green, evergreen |
| Habit | Spreading small shrub |
| Mature size | About 7.9 inches tall and 7.9 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts mid-April, peaks early June, single flush |
| Hardiness | USDA zone 8b |
Where a tiny lavender shines
Small lavenders fill spots big ones cannot. Riverina Margaret is a natural for a fairy garden, a tabletop bowl, the pocket of a strawberry pot or a row of small terracotta pots along a sunny sill or step. The pink bracts over purple flowers give it a two-tone look up close, which is exactly where a plant this size is seen. It also makes a sweet little hostess plant for a sunny kitchen in spring.
Small-pot care
Tiny pots are both easy and unforgiving. They dry out quickly in summer sun, but they also stay soggy if the mix is heavy or the saucer fills with water.
- Pot: 4 to 6 inches across, with a drainage hole. Unglazed clay helps.
- Mix: fast-draining potting mix with extra grit or perlite.
- Sun: as much as you can give it outdoors in the warm months.
- Water: check daily in hot weather, but water only when the top of the mix is dry.
- Trim: after the flush, snip off spent stems and lightly tidy the shape.
Winter care
With a zone 8b rating, Riverina Margaret needs shelter from hard frost in most northern gardens. Bring it indoors before the first freeze to a bright window in a cool room. Water lightly, just enough to keep the roots from drying out completely. In spring, harden it off by setting it outside for a few hours a day before it goes back out full time. The Frost Date Estimator helps you pick the date.
Flowers and uses
Riverina Margaret blooms in a single flush with no rebloom, so enjoy the spring and early summer show. It is rated good for fresh and dried flowers and great for pollinators. The stems are short, which makes it best for tiny posies, pressed flowers or a few dried heads in a sachet rather than bundles. Culinary use is not recommended.
Frequently asked questions
How small does Riverina Margaret stay?
It is listed at about 7.9 inches tall and wide at maturity. Container size and growing conditions can shift that a little.
Will it rebloom if I deadhead it?
It is listed as a single-flush lavender with no rebloom, so deadheading is mainly for tidiness.
Can I plant it in a rock garden?
In zone 8b and warmer, yes, as long as drainage is excellent. In colder zones, keep it in a pot so it can come indoors.
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