Use & Care NotesLavender Plants
SWEET ROMANCE® Lavender: A Tidy Mound with Violet Wands
Save
SWEET ROMANCE® lavender is a neat, mounded English lavender that looks like it was shaped with a ruler. It grows about 18 inches tall and wide, with blue-gray to silvery-green foliage and rich violet-purple flower wands that are documented as suitable for both fresh and dried bouquets.
It is a Lavandula angustifolia, so it brings the sweet, soft English lavender scent and the cold tolerance that comes with it. It also has a high rebloom rating and does not need a cold spell to start blooming, which helps it flower generously from early summer on.
SWEET ROMANCE® at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula angustifolia SWEET ROMANCE® |
| Flower color | Rich violet-purple |
| Foliage | Blue-gray to silvery green |
| Size | About 18 inches tall and 18 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early June, peaks mid-July, high rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5a to 9b |
| Fragrance | Strong, sweet and floral with low camphor |
| Best uses | Borders, containers, fresh and dried bouquets, fragrance |
Designing with a perfect mound
A plant that holds a round, even shape is a gift to garden design. SWEET ROMANCE® works well repeated in a row along a walk, set in pairs at the corners of a bed, or planted in odd-numbered groups of three or five for a cottage feel. Its violet-purple wands stand up above the blue-gray foliage, so the shape stays crisp even in full bloom.
Because it is compact, it also suits large containers and the front of a mixed border, where it will not flop onto its neighbors. Bees love it; deer generally leave it alone.
Planting
Full sun and soil that drains quickly are the two must-haves. Space plants about 18 inches apart for a continuous low hedge, or two feet for distinct mounds. In heavy soil, raise the bed or plant on a slight mound. Water deeply at planting and whenever the top few inches dry out during the first season.
Keeping it blooming
- First flush: blooming starts in early June. Cutting stems for bouquets doubles as deadheading.
- Midsummer: after the peak in mid-July, shear off spent wands and a little of the soft growth. High rebloom means more color to come.
- Late summer: make your last trim by late summer so new growth can toughen up before frost.
- Spring: tidy winter-browned tips once you see fresh growth, without cutting into bare wood.
The Pruning Calendar covers the timing in more detail.
Bouquets and other uses
For a fresh bouquet, cut stems when the first few flowers on each wand have opened, strip the lower leaves and set them in a little cool water. For drying, cut a bit earlier, when the buds are colored but mostly closed, and hang small bunches upside down in a dark, airy place. SWEET ROMANCE® also has an excellent essential oil suitability rating and a great culinary rating; for cooking, use buds from plants grown as food and start with a small amount.
Choosing a plant size
It 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 a size is not ready.
Frequently asked questions
How big does SWEET ROMANCE® get?
About 18 inches tall and 18 inches wide, in a compact, mounded shape.
Does it rebloom?
Yes. It has a high rebloom rating. Trimming spent wands after the main bloom encourages more flowers.
Is it hardy in Michigan?
It is rated for USDA zones 5a to 9b. Like all English lavender, it survives cold best in soil that drains well.
Share how it went in your field