Product Field NotesLavender Plants
Thumbelina Leigh Lavender: A Miniature English Lavender
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Thumbelina Leigh lavender is a miniature English lavender, and its name is a fair warning: this one is small. It forms a compact, rounded evergreen mound with green aromatic foliage and short spikes of medium to soft violet flowers, each with a pale, almost white center that gives the flowers a gentle, two-tone look.
As a Lavandula angustifolia, it is among the hardier lavenders, and it carries a hardy H5 rating in the UK system. In USDA terms it is rated for zones 5a to 9b.
Thumbelina Leigh at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula angustifolia 'Thumbelina Leigh' |
| Flower color | Medium to soft violet with pale centers |
| Foliage | Green, aromatic, evergreen |
| Size | About 10 to 16 inches tall and up to about 20 inches wide; check the listing for the current size |
| Stems and spikes | Flower stalks about 9 inches; spikes under 2 inches |
| Bloom | Summer, from late June into midsummer and late summer, moderate rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5a to 9b |
| Fragrance | Moderate, with aromatic foliage |
Where a miniature lavender belongs
Small plants need small settings so they do not get lost. Thumbelina Leigh is ideal in stone troughs, rock gardens, the crevices of a dry-stacked wall, fairy gardens, tabletop pots and the very front of a raised herb bed. Planted in a tight group of five or seven, it reads as a soft violet carpet. Next to taller lavenders it acts like a frame, giving the planting a neat lower edge.
Bees still find it, and its pollinator rating is great. Deer tend to leave it alone.
Planting
Small lavenders are even less forgiving of wet soil than big ones, because their roots are shallow and close to the crown. Use full sun and gritty, fast-draining soil or potting mix, and top-dress with fine gravel instead of bark mulch. Space plants about 15 to 18 inches apart for a continuous low edge. In pots, an 8- to 10-inch container is plenty for one plant.
Care through the year
- Water: regular checks while it establishes; pots and plugs dry out quickly. Once settled, water needs are low.
- Trimming: after flowering, snip off spent stalks with scissors and lightly shape the mound. With moderate rebloom, a few more spikes often follow.
- Feeding: skip it or go very light.
- Winter: English lavender needs winter chill to bloom well. In-ground plants handle cold best; shelter pots against a wall or sink them into the soil.
The Lavender Care Academy covers trimming technique for small lavenders.
Using the flowers
The short stems are better suited to tiny posies, dried buds and sachets than to tall bouquets. Its essential oil suitability is rated excellent and its culinary rating is great, like most English lavenders; if you cook with it, use buds from plants grown as food and start with a pinch.
Choosing a plant size
It is offered as 3-inch plugs, 4-inch pots and 1-gallon pots. For troughs and rock gardens, smaller sizes are easier to tuck into tight spots. See the product page for current sizes and availability.
Frequently asked questions
How small does Thumbelina Leigh stay?
Measurements vary, from a documented mean of about 10 inches tall to around 16 inches in the listing, with a spread up to about 20 inches.
When does it bloom?
Sources place it from late June through midsummer and into late summer, with a moderate rebloom after trimming.
Can it grow in a pot all year?
Yes, with a free-draining mix and full sun. In cold winters, shelter the pot or sink it into the ground.
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