Use & Care NotesLavender Plants
Silver Royalty Lavender: Big Blue Flowers on a Tiny Hybrid
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Silver Royalty lavender is a compact hybrid of woolly lavender and English lavender, Lavandula lanata × Lavandula angustifolia. It stays tiny, about 9.6 inches tall and 10.1 inches wide, with an upright to outward-spreading habit and gray-green leaves. What surprises people is the flowers: large and blue, held on long, strong stalks above the little plant.
Its foliage is described as very aromatic, even pungent. Brush it once and you will know where it is.
Silver Royalty at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula × chaytoriae 'Silver Royalty' |
| Parentage | Woolly lavender × English lavender |
| Flower color | Blue; large flowers on long, strong stalks |
| Foliage | Gray-green, very aromatic |
| Habit | Compact, upright to outward-spreading |
| Mature size | About 9.6 inches tall and 10.1 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts mid-June, peaks mid-July, single flush |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 7b to 8a |
A small plant with an outsized look
Large flowers on long stalks give Silver Royalty a lifted, airy look that most dwarf lavenders do not have; the blooms seem to float above the foliage. That makes it a lovely choice for a shallow bowl, a rock garden pocket in warm zones or a sunny table where the flowers can be seen at eye level. Pair it with small succulents or creeping thyme in a container of plants that all like to dry out.
Care in a pot
- Pot: 6 to 8 inches with a drainage hole. Unglazed clay helps.
- Mix: gritty and fast-draining. Woolly lavender hybrids hate wet roots.
- Light: full sun outdoors.
- Water: only when the top of the mix is dry. Keep water off the leaves when you can.
- Airflow: do not crowd it with lush, leafy neighbors that hold humidity.
After its single flush, snip the spent stalks and lightly tidy the plant. There is no listed rebloom.
Winter care
With a zone 7b to 8a listing, Silver Royalty needs shelter from northern winters. Move it indoors before frost to a bright, cool spot, and water very little. Cool temperatures, strong light and dry roots keep it healthy until spring. Move it out after frost danger passes; the Frost Date Estimator helps with timing. In zones 7b and 8a, it can live outside in very sharp drainage, ideally in a raised or rocky spot.
Uses
It is rated good for fresh and dried flowers and great for pollinators. The long flower stalks are handy for tiny bouquets or pressing. Culinary use is not recommended. Its pungent foliage is part of its charm in a scent garden, so plant it where you will brush against it.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Silver Royalty smell so strong?
Its foliage is described as very aromatic and pungent, a trait of the plant itself rather than its flowers.
Is it hardy in Michigan?
Not outdoors in most of the state. It is listed for zones 7b to 8a, so grow it in a pot and bring it in for winter.
Will it rebloom?
It is listed as a single-flush lavender with no rebloom.
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