Use & Care NotesLavender Plants
Sussex Lavender: Extra-Long Stems for Bouquets and Bundles
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Sussex lavender, also sold as Arabian Night, is the lavender for people who like a tall vase. This large, bushy lavandin carries flowering stems that can reach about 24 inches, each topped with a long spike of dark violet to pale purple flowers. In a world of short-stemmed lavenders, that length is its calling card.
It is Lavandula × intermedia 'Sussex', a hybrid of English and spike lavender, and it has earned the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Its fragrance is softer than many lavandins: pleasant and lavender-like, without a heavy camphor punch.
Sussex lavender at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula × intermedia 'Sussex' (Arabian Night) |
| Flower color | Dark violet to pale purple with violet-blue flowers |
| Foliage | Gray-green to medium green |
| Size | About 35 inches tall and 43 inches wide |
| Stems and spikes | Stems to about 24 inches; spikes up to about 8 inches |
| Bloom | Starts mid-July, peaks early August, single main flush |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5a to 9b |
| Best uses | Fresh bouquets, dried flowers, essential oil, U-pick, commercial fields |
Built for cutting
Long stems and long spikes make Sussex one of the most useful lavenders for arrangements. Its cut-flower and dried-flower ratings are both excellent, and it is rated for large bundles. A handful of stems makes a tall, airy bouquet on its own, or adds height and fragrance to a mixed arrangement of summer flowers. Dried, the long spikes look generous in wrapped bunches and wreaths.
Growers will also note its excellent ratings for essential oil, high oil production and commercial fields, which are typical strengths of a good lavandin.
A note on scent
Sussex is described as mildly fragrant, with a soft lavandin scent. If you want a lavender that fills the yard on a hot afternoon, there are stronger choices. If you want flowers that smell pleasant indoors without overwhelming a room, the softer scent is an advantage, especially in bouquets on the dinner table.
Planting and care
- Site: full sun and sandy, gravelly or well-amended soil that drains quickly. Raise beds on clay.
- Spacing: about four feet center to center, since plants can spread over three and a half feet.
- Water: regular deep watering the first season, then low water needs.
- Feeding: keep it lean. Rich soil and long stems are a recipe for flopping.
- Pruning: after harvest, shear into a rounded dome, staying in the leafy growth. Rebloom is low, so this is the main cut of the year.
- Winter: it needs winter chill to bloom. It carries a hardy H5 rating in the UK system; in USDA terms, plan on zones 5a to 9b and good drainage.
Harvesting long stems
For fresh bouquets, cut early in the morning and put stems straight into cool water. For dried bundles, cut when the buds are colored and only the lowest flowers have opened, then hang small bunches upside down somewhere dark and airy. Cutting low on the stem gives you the full length and starts the post-harvest shaping at the same time. Lavandin is stronger and more camphor-forward in flavor than English lavender, so most cooks prefer English types for baking.
The Cut Flower Planner can help you plan a cutting bed around it.
Choosing a plant size
Sussex is offered as 3-inch plugs, 4-inch pots and 1-gallon pots. See the product page for current sizes and availability, and use Notify Me there if the size you want is not ready.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sussex the same as Arabian Night?
Yes. Arabian Night is listed as a synonym and trade name for this lavandin.
How long are the stems?
Flowering stems can reach about 24 inches, with spikes up to around 8 inches, depending on site and season.
Is it strongly scented?
It is described as mildly fragrant for a lavandin, which many people like for indoor bouquets.
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