Use & Care NotesLavender Plants
Sky Lavender: A Canary Island Lavender with a Long Bloom Season
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Sky lavender is Lavandula canariensis, a lavender species from a mild, frost-free climate. It grows bushy, about 27.6 inches tall and 21.7 inches wide where it is hardy, with green foliage and slender purple-blue spikes. Its bloom season is long: in warm places it can start flowering in midwinter and keep going well into spring and beyond.
In Michigan it is strictly a patio-and-sunroom plant. A hard frost is a firm no.
Sky at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula canariensis 'Sky' |
| Flower color | Purple-blue |
| Foliage | Green |
| Habit | Bushy |
| Mature size | About 27.6 inches tall and 21.7 inches wide |
| Bloom | Long season; listed to start mid-January and peak mid-April in mild climates |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 9a to 11b |
| Fragrance | Moderate; resinous and herbal |
What makes canariensis different
Canary Island lavender belongs to the fernleaf group of lavenders, which grow and flower without needing a winter chill. That is why its listed bloom can begin in January in frost-free gardens. It has a looser, more open spike than English lavender and a sharper, herbal scent. The Botanical Groups page explains how these warm-climate lavenders compare with the hardy types.
Growing Sky in a container
For northern gardeners, a pot is the way to go. It lets you give Sky the heat and drainage it wants all summer, then move it to shelter.
- Pot: 12 to 14 inches across, with drainage holes.
- Mix: fast-draining potting mix with grit or perlite.
- Light: full sun outdoors; the brightest window indoors.
- Water: soak, then let the top inch or two dry. Low water needs.
- Deadhead: cut faded spikes back to the leaves to keep flowers coming.
- Feed: a light dose during active growth is plenty.
Indoors for winter
Move the pot inside before your first frost. A sunroom or a bright south window in a cool room works well. Because it does not need a cold period to flower, Sky may keep blooming indoors if it gets enough light, which is a nice bonus in a gray Great Lakes winter. Water sparingly, keep it away from heating vents and trim any stretched stems in late winter. The Frost Date Estimator tells you when it is safe to take it back outside.
Pruning and shaping
Fast-growing warm-climate lavenders like Sky can get leggy in a pot, especially after a winter indoors. Pinch the tips of young plants to encourage branching, and give the whole plant a light shaping in spring before it goes back outside. Through summer, cutting spent spikes back to the leaves does double duty: it tidies the plant and keeps new flowers coming. Avoid cutting into bare, leafless stems.
Uses
Sky is rated good for fresh and dried flowers and great for pollinators. Its slender spikes add a loose, airy line to small arrangements. Culinary use is not recommended.
Frequently asked questions
Can Sky lavender bloom indoors in winter?
It can, given bright light, because it does not need a winter chill to flower. Expect fewer flowers than outdoors in summer.
Will it survive outside in zone 6?
No. It is rated for zones 9a to 11b and is tender in freezing weather.
Is Sky deer resistant?
Yes, it is rated deer resistant.
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