Use & Care NotesLavender Plants
Scent Blue Lavender: Flowers in the First Year from a Young Plant
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Scent Blue lavender is an English lavender from the Scent series, bred to flower in its first year. It is fragrant, vigorously branching and slim, listed at about 16 inches tall and only 8 inches wide, with blue flowers over blue-gray foliage. The scent is moderate and sweet, the soft floral English lavender profile with little camphor.
Most English lavenders make you wait a season for a real show. Scent Blue skips the waiting room.
Scent Blue at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula angustifolia 'Scent Blue' |
| Series | Scent |
| Flower color | Blue |
| Foliage | Blue-gray |
| Habit | Upright, slim, vigorously branching |
| Mature size | About 16 inches tall and 8 inches wide |
| Bloom | First-year flowering; spring into summer with moderate rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5a to 9a |
| Fragrance | Moderate, sweet floral |
Why first-year flowering matters
Young English lavender often spends its first season building roots and leaves. First-year flowering selections like Scent Blue bloom right away, which is handy if you are filling containers for this summer, planting a new garden you want to enjoy now or simply impatient. The listing gives an early March bloom start and a mid-April peak; those dates reflect mild-climate timing. In cold-winter gardens, expect flowers later in spring and into summer, with more after each trim.
Planting a narrow lavender
At about eight inches wide, Scent Blue fits places a typical three-foot lavender cannot: between pavers, in narrow beds along a fence, in window boxes and in tall, slim pots. It also lets you plant a tight, upright row for a crisp edge.
- Spacing: about 10 to 12 inches apart for a row.
- Sun: full sun, six hours minimum.
- Soil: fast-draining. Raise beds in clay.
- Containers: an 8- to 10-inch pot per plant, or several in a long planter, with gritty mix.
Keeping it blooming
After each flush of flowers, trim off spent stems and a little of the foliage. That trim keeps the plant branching and brings on its moderate rebloom. Water deeply while young plants establish, then let the soil dry between drinks. Go light on fertilizer; vigorous growth does not need encouragement. Before winter, finish trimming by late summer, and rely on drainage rather than heavy mulch for protection.
Harvest and uses
Scent Blue is rated great for culinary use and excellent for essential oil. Its blue flowers are pretty in small fresh bouquets and dry well. For the kitchen, cut when buds are colored and just beginning to open, dry them in the shade and use sparingly. Use buds grown as a food crop.
Frequently asked questions
Will Scent Blue really flower the first year?
First-year flowering is one of its documented traits. Give it full sun and good drainage, and it should bloom in its first season.
How is it different from Scent Mini Blue?
Scent Mini Blue is the more compact version of the same look, listed at about a foot tall and a little wider. Scent Blue is taller and slimmer.
Can I grow it in a window box?
Yes. Its narrow, upright habit makes it a good fit, as long as the box drains well and gets full sun.
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