Use & Care NotesLavender Plants
Scent White Lavender: Compact White Spikes That Bloom Right Away
Save
Scent White lavender is the white-flowered member of the Scent series of English lavenders. It is compact and upright, listed at about 11.8 inches tall and 13.8 inches wide, with clean white spikes over blue-gray foliage. Like its blue siblings, it is fragrant, branches vigorously and flowers in its first year.
White lavender surprises people. The second surprise is that it still smells like lavender.
Scent White at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula angustifolia 'Scent White' |
| Series | Scent |
| Flower color | White |
| Foliage | Blue-gray |
| Habit | Upright and compact |
| Mature size | About 11.8 inches tall and 13.8 inches wide |
| Bloom | First-year flowering; spring into summer with moderate rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5a to 9a |
| Fragrance | Moderate, sweet floral, low camphor |
Designing with white lavender
White flowers do a different job than purple ones. They brighten shady corners of a sunny bed, glow at dusk and make neighboring colors look sharper. A few ideas:
- Mix it with blue and purple lavenders: alternate Scent White with Scent Blue or a deep purple English lavender for a crisp, two-tone row.
- Moon gardens: combine it with other white flowers and silver foliage near a patio you use in the evening.
- Containers: a pot of white lavender pairs well with terracotta, gray stone and dark-painted planters.
- Wedding and event pots: compact, first-year flowering plants make neat white accents.
Bloom timing
The listing gives an early March bloom start and a mid-April peak, with flowering continuing through spring and summer. Those dates reflect mild climates. In a cold-winter garden, expect flowers once spring warms up, then repeat flushes through summer after each trim. The Bloom Calendar helps you line it up with other cultivars.
Care
Plant in full sun with soil that drains fast, or in a pot with gritty mix and a drainage hole. Space plants about 12 to 14 inches apart for a continuous row. Water deeply while it establishes, then let the soil dry between waterings. After each flush, cut off spent stems and a little foliage to keep the plant compact and encourage rebloom. White spikes show browning as they age more than purple ones do, so regular deadheading pays off in looks. Skip heavy fertilizer and wet mulch.
Uses
Scent White is rated great for culinary use and excellent for essential oil suitability. White lavender buds are a pretty, unexpected garnish on cakes and in lavender sugar; use food-grown buds sparingly. Dried white spikes add a soft, neutral note to mixed bundles and sachets.
Frequently asked questions
Does white lavender smell different?
Scent White has the same sweet, soft English lavender scent profile as its blue siblings, rated moderate in strength.
What zones is it hardy in?
The listing gives USDA zones 5a to 9a. Good drainage is the key to cold-weather survival.
Why are some white spikes turning tan?
Older white flowers fade to tan as they age. Snip them off to keep the plant looking fresh and to encourage new spikes.
Share how it went in your field