Use & Care NotesLavender Plants
SENSATIONAL!® Lavender: Big Spikes on a Compact Lavandin
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SENSATIONAL!® lavender is a lavandin with a compact, upright frame and generous flowers. Its purple spikes run about 4.3 inches long on stems close to two feet, rising over blue-gray foliage. The plant stays around two to two and a half feet tall and about three feet wide, and it is rated high for rebloom, which is not common among lavandins.
The exclamation point is part of the name. Fair enough.
SENSATIONAL!® at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula × intermedia SENSATIONAL!® |
| Parentage | English lavender × spike lavender |
| Flower color | Purple |
| Foliage | Blue-gray |
| Habit | Upright and compact |
| Mature size | About 24 to 30 inches tall and 36 inches wide |
| Stems and spikes | Stems about 24 inches; spikes about 4.3 inches |
| Bloom | Starts late May to early July, peaks mid-July, high rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5a to 9b |
| Fragrance | Strong floral lavender |
A note on the numbers
Records for SENSATIONAL!® differ a little. The listing describes about 24 inches of height and a bloom start in early July, while its detailed measurements give about 30 inches and a start as early as late May. Your climate and pruning will decide where yours lands. Check the listing for the current details, and plan spacing for a three-foot-wide plant.
Why it works in home gardens
Many lavandins are excellent but enormous. SENSATIONAL!® gives you lavandin-style long stems and big spikes in a size that fits a home border, foundation planting or a row along a sunny drive. Its upright habit keeps spikes standing, and its high rebloom means a trimmed plant keeps offering color later in the season. It is also rated excellent for pollinators.
Planting and care
- Site: full sun with sandy or loamy, fast-draining soil. Raised rows help on clay.
- Spacing: about three feet apart.
- Water: regularly the first season, then only in long dry spells.
- Feeding: skip it; lean soil keeps stems strong.
- Pruning: after each flush, shear spent stems and shape the plant, staying above bare wood. Make the last cut by late summer.
Harvest and uses
SENSATIONAL!® is rated excellent for fresh and dried flowers, excellent for essential oil and high oil production, and excellent for commercial fields. For bundles, cut when the first flowers at the base of the spike open. Long stems and large spikes make full, impressive bunches. Its culinary rating is good, but lavandin is more camphor-forward than English lavender, so taste a tiny amount before cooking with it. The Harvest Calendar helps you time cuts.
Plants or plug trays
SENSATIONAL!® is available as individual plants and plugs (3-inch plugs, 4-inch pots and 1-gallon pots) for home gardens, and as a 72-cell plug tray or a deeper 20-cell plug tray for growers planting rows or potting up their own stock. See each product page for current sizes and availability, and the Wholesale Hub for tray orders.
Frequently asked questions
Does SENSATIONAL!® rebloom?
Yes. It is rated high for rebloom. Shear it promptly after each flush to encourage more spikes.
How tall does it get?
Records range from about 24 to 30 inches tall, with a spread of about 36 inches.
Is it hardy in zone 5?
Yes, it is rated for zones 5a to 9b. Good drainage is essential in cold, wet winters.
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