Use & Care NotesLavender Plants
Summerland Supreme Lavender: Compact Purple for Small Spaces
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Summerland Supreme lavender is what to plant when you have more ambition than room. It is a compact English lavender, about 15 inches tall and 18 inches wide, with purple flowers over gray-green leaves and the sweet, soft fragrance English lavender is known for.
As a Lavandula angustifolia, it is one of the hardier types and handles cold winters well when its roots stay dry. Its size makes it a natural for containers, edging and those narrow sunny strips along a driveway or walk.
Summerland Supreme at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula angustifolia 'Summerland Supreme' |
| Flower color | Purple |
| Foliage | Gray-green |
| Size | About 15 inches tall and 18 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early June, peaks mid-June, moderate rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5a to 8b |
| Fragrance | Strong, sweet and floral with low camphor |
| Best uses | Fragrance, essential oil, containers, edging |
Small-space ideas
- Edging: a line of Summerland Supreme along a path gives you a low purple ribbon in June and a neat gray-green edge the rest of the year.
- Containers: one plant fills a 12- to 14-inch pot. Pair two pots on either side of a sunny door.
- Herb gardens: it stays in scale with thyme, sage and oregano instead of swallowing them.
- Rock and gravel gardens: the lean, fast-draining conditions there are exactly what it wants.
Planting in the ground or in a pot
In the ground, choose full sun and soil that drains within minutes after a downpour. Space plants about 18 inches apart for a continuous edge. If your soil is heavy, raise the planting area or mix in coarse grit; lavender roots will not tolerate sitting wet.
In a pot, use a container with a good drainage hole and a gritty mix, and do not leave it in a saucer of water. Potted lavender dries out faster, so check it more often in July. In zone 5 and colder spots, potted plants are more exposed to cold than plants in the ground; moving the pot against a sheltered wall or sinking it into the garden for winter helps.
Care through the year
Spring: once fresh growth appears, snip off any winter-browned tips. English lavender needs a winter chill to bloom well, so a cold winter is part of the plan.
June: enjoy the main show, which starts early in the month and peaks around mid-June. Cut stems for drying as the buds color up.
After bloom: shear off spent stems along with a little of the leafy growth to keep the plant round. Expect a moderate second flush.
Late summer to winter: stop trimming so the plant can harden off. Low water needs mean you can mostly leave it alone once it is established.
The Pruning Calendar has the timing for each step.
Uses beyond the garden
Its strong, sweet scent makes it a good drying lavender for sachets and small bundles, and its essential oil suitability is rated excellent. English lavender is also a favorite in the kitchen, and Summerland Supreme carries a great culinary rating; use buds from food-grown plants and start with a pinch. Bees love it, and deer usually do not.
Choosing a plant size
It is offered as 3-inch plugs, 4-inch pots and 1-gallon pots. For a single container, a gallon pot gives an instant look; for a long edge, plugs keep things affordable. See the product page for current sizes and availability.
Frequently asked questions
Is Summerland Supreme good in containers?
Yes. Its compact size suits pots, as long as the container drains freely and sits in full sun.
How far apart should I plant it for edging?
About 18 inches apart, center to center, gives a continuous edge once the plants mature.
Is there an even smaller English lavender?
Several compact cultivars stay under a foot or so. Use the Compare tool to check sizes side by side.
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