Product Field NotesLavender Plants
Torch Minty Ice Lavender: A Fernleaf Lavender That Never Quits
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Torch Minty Ice lavender does not look much like the lavender most people picture, and that is the point. It is a fernleaf lavender, with finely cut, lacy silver leaves and slim spikes of lavender to purple-blue flowers that keep coming as long as the weather stays warm. Its scent is distinctive, too, more herbal and unusual than sweet.
Botanically it is Lavandula multifida 'Torch Minty Ice'. Fernleaf lavender comes from warm, mild climates, and this one is rated for USDA zones 9a to 11b, so in Michigan and other cold regions it is grown as an annual or as a container plant brought indoors for winter.
Torch Minty Ice at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula multifida 'Torch Minty Ice' |
| Flower color | Lavender to purple-blue |
| Foliage | Silver, finely divided and fernlike |
| Size | About 34 inches tall and 24 inches wide in warm climates |
| Bloom | Everblooming in warmth, peak around mid-July |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 9a to 11b |
| Fragrance | Moderate and distinctive |
| Best uses | Containers, pollinators, fresh bouquets, dried flowers |
A different kind of lavender
English lavender needs a winter chill and blooms in one or two big flushes. Fernleaf lavender skips the chill entirely and blooms continuously whenever it is warm and sunny. That makes Torch Minty Ice a useful summer plant in cold climates: plant it out after frost and it can flower from early summer until cold weather shuts it down.
The silver, lacy foliage is ornamental on its own. It softens a container planting and makes a good textural contrast with broad-leaved annuals.
Where to use it
- Patio pots and window boxes: its upright, bushy shape works as the tall center of a mixed container.
- Annual beds: plant it in a sunny, well-drained bed for a season of nonstop spikes.
- Pollinator plantings: it carries a great pollinator rating, and continuous bloom means a steady supply of flowers for bees.
- Cutting: fresh stems and dried flowers are both rated good.
Deer tend to leave it alone, which helps in rural gardens.
Planting and care
Wait until all danger of frost has passed; the Frost Date Estimator gives you a target date. Give it full sun and soil that drains quickly. In containers, use a gritty potting mix and a pot with a drainage hole.
Water deeply, then let the top inch or two dry before watering again. Containers in July may need water every day or two; plants in the ground need much less once established. A light feeding once or twice in the season supports steady bloom without making the plant floppy.
Deadheading is the main chore. As spikes fade, cut them back to the foliage, and new ones follow. If the plant gets leggy by midsummer, trim it back by a third.
Bringing it in for winter
To keep it from year to year in a cold climate, pot it up before the first frost and move it to the sunniest window you have or a bright, cool room. Water sparingly over winter. Expect it to look a little tired by spring; a trim and a move back outdoors after frost brings it around. Many gardeners simply replant each year, which is also a fine plan.
Choosing a plant size
It is offered as 3-inch plugs, 4-inch pots and 1-gallon pots. A gallon pot gives the fastest show for a single summer. See the product page for current sizes and availability, and use Notify Me there if a size is not ready.
Frequently asked questions
Is Torch Minty Ice hardy in Michigan?
No. It is rated for zones 9a to 11b and will not survive a Michigan winter outdoors. Grow it as an annual or overwinter it indoors.
Can I cook with fernleaf lavender?
It is best grown as an ornamental; culinary use is not recommended. Choose an English lavender for the kitchen.
Does it really bloom all season?
In warm, sunny conditions it is everblooming. Regular deadheading keeps it flowering until cold weather arrives.
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