Use & Care NotesLavender Plants
Scent Mini Blue Lavender: The Compact Member of the Scent Series
Save
Scent Mini Blue lavender is the compact member of the Scent series of English lavenders. It matches the original Scent Blue for fill and flower timing but finishes about a third more compact, listed at roughly a foot tall and about 14 inches wide. Blue spikes rise over blue-gray foliage, and like the rest of the series, it flowers in its first year.
Scent Mini Blue at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula angustifolia 'Scent Mini Blue' |
| Series | Scent |
| Flower color | Blue |
| Foliage | Blue-gray |
| Habit | Upright and compact |
| Mature size | About 8 to 12 inches tall and 10 to 14 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts mid-April, peaks early June, moderate rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5a to 9b |
| Fragrance | Moderate, sweet floral, low camphor |
A note on size
The listing gives a mature size of 12 by 13.8 inches, while the cultivar documentation describes garden height closer to 8 to 12 inches and width of about 10 to 14 inches. Plan for a plant that stays around a foot or a bit under, depending on your soil, sun and how often you trim it. Check the listing for the current size details.
Best places for a mini lavender
- Mixed containers: a compact lavender in the center or edge of a sunny pot of herbs.
- Window boxes: plant three or four along a box for a full row of blue.
- Path edging: a low, tidy line that does not flop onto pavement.
- Tabletop pots: a single plant in a 6- to 8-inch pot for a sunny patio table.
Because it flowers in the first year, it is also a good choice for anyone who wants a quick, finished look in a new container planting.
Care and pruning
Give it full sun and soil or mix that drains fast. In containers, use a gritty potting mix and a pot with a drainage hole, and let the top of the mix dry before watering. Small pots can dry out on a hot July afternoon, so check them often, but do not water on a fixed schedule.
After each flush, shear off the spent spikes and a little of the leafy growth. That keeps the plant compact, encourages its moderate rebloom and prevents a woody, open center later. Make the final trim by late summer. In the ground, sharp drainage carries it through winter; container plants in zone 5 appreciate a sheltered spot once the soil freezes.
Uses
Scent Mini Blue is rated great for culinary use and excellent for essential oil suitability. The short spikes are better for small posies, a pinch of culinary buds and sachets than for long bundles. For the kitchen, harvest buds grown as a food crop when they are colored but before most open, dry them in the shade and use sparingly. It is also rated great for pollinators.
Frequently asked questions
How much smaller is it than Scent Blue?
It is documented as finishing about 33 percent more compact than the original Scent Blue, with similar fill and flower timing.
Can I grow it in a small pot all year?
Yes, with care in winter. Move the pot to a sheltered spot or an unheated garage during the coldest months, and water very little until spring.
Is it good for cooking?
It is an English lavender rated great for culinary use. Use food-grown buds in small amounts.
Share how it went in your field