Use & Care NotesLavender Plants
Sleeping Beauty Lavender: A Compact English Lavender Worth Waking
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Sleeping Beauty lavender, also known as Carolyn Dille, is a compact, bushy English lavender about 20 inches tall and 20 inches wide. Purple spikes rise over green foliage in early summer, with a strong, sweet floral scent and soft herbal notes.
Despite the fairy-tale name, this one is an early riser. It flowers in early June and is fully awake by mid-June.
Sleeping Beauty at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula angustifolia 'Sleeping Beauty' |
| Also known as | Carolyn Dille |
| Flower color | Purple |
| Foliage | Green |
| Habit | Bushy |
| Mature size | About 20 inches tall and 20 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early June, peaks mid-June, moderate rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5a to 8b |
| Fragrance | Strong, sweet floral, low camphor |
Why a 20-inch lavender is so useful
An even, 20-by-20-inch mound is easy to fit almost anywhere: along a front walk, at the edge of a raised vegetable bed, in a row of three by the mailbox or in a large patio pot. Sleeping Beauty's green foliage gives a fresher look than the silver types, which helps it blend with herbs and perennials in a mixed bed. Its June bloom also makes it one of the first English lavenders to color up in the season.
Planting and early care
- Sun: full sun, six to eight hours or more.
- Soil: sandy or loamy and fast-draining. Clay needs a raised bed or mound.
- Spacing: about 20 inches apart for a low hedge; 24 inches for separate mounds.
- Planting depth: crown level with the soil, never buried.
- First-season water: deep soakings when the top few inches dry out.
Once established, water needs are low. Keep wood mulch away from the base and skip fertilizer.
Pruning for a tidy mound
Right after the June flush, cut the spent stems and shape the plant into a soft dome, removing about a third of the leafy growth. Do not cut into bare, brown wood. A prompt trim keeps the plant compact for years and invites a moderate rebloom later in summer. The Pruning Calendar lays out the timing.
Harvest and uses
Sleeping Beauty is rated great for culinary use and excellent for essential oil suitability. Its sweet, low-camphor buds suit shortbread, lavender sugar and lemonade; cut when buds are fully colored and just starting to open, dry them in the shade and use sparingly. Use only buds grown as a food crop. It is rated good for fresh and dried flowers, and its scent makes it a natural for sachets and small bundles.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sleeping Beauty the same as Carolyn Dille?
Yes. Carolyn Dille is another name for the same English lavender.
How big does it get?
About 20 inches tall and 20 inches wide at maturity, making it one of the more compact English lavenders.
Is it good for pots?
Yes. Use a 12- to 14-inch pot with gritty mix and a drainage hole, and give container plants a sheltered spot in the coldest part of winter.
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