Product Field NotesLavender Plants
Valensole Lavender: Sky-Blue Heads and Rebloom After Pruning
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Valensole lavender shares its name with the famous lavender plateau in Provence, and it has the intense fragrance to match. This compact English lavender carries sky-blue flower heads over gray-green, fragrant foliage, and it is documented as early-flowering, drought resistant and willing to rebloom after pruning.
It is a Lavandula angustifolia from the Provence series. As an English lavender it is among the hardier types, rated here for USDA zones 5a to 8b.
Valensole at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula angustifolia 'Valensole' |
| Flower color | Sky blue, in compact heads |
| Foliage | Gray-green, fragrant |
| Size | About 24 inches tall and 36 inches wide |
| Bloom | Early; listed as starting in early spring in mild climates, with repeat bloom after pruning |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5a to 8b |
| Fragrance | Intense, strong floral-herbal |
| Best uses | Essential oil, fragrance, borders |
About those early dates
The listing gives bloom starting in early March and peaking in mid-April. Those dates reflect mild-winter climates. In a cold-winter garden like ours, English lavender waits for warm weather, so expect Valensole to bloom on the early side of the English lavender season rather than in March. The Lavender Bloom Calendar helps you place it against other cultivars.
The prune-and-repeat rhythm
Valensole is documented to rebloom after pruning, and the rhythm is simple:
- First flush: cut stems for drying or fragrance as the buds color and the first flowers open.
- Prune right away: shear off the remaining spent stems and about a third of the soft growth, staying above the woody base.
- Water once: a deep watering after the cut helps if the weather is dry.
- Second flush: new stems can follow later in summer. Make the last trim by late summer so the plant can harden off.
Planting and care
- Site: full sun and sandy, gravelly or raised soil. It is documented as drought resistant once established, so it suits dry, hot spots.
- Spacing: about three feet apart for a 36-inch spread; a little closer for a hedge.
- Water: regular deep watering the first season, then low water needs.
- Feeding: lean soil gives the best fragrance and sturdiest growth.
- Winter: it needs a winter chill to bloom. Keep wet mulch off the crown.
Using the fragrance
With intense fragrance and an excellent essential oil suitability rating, Valensole is a good pick for drying buds for sachets, simmer jars and linen bags. Dry stems in small bundles in a dark, airy place to keep the color. English lavender is also popular in cooking, and Valensole has a great culinary rating; use food-grown buds and start small, since a strongly scented lavender goes a long way.
Pollinators rate it great, and deer generally avoid it.
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 the size you want is not ready.
Frequently asked questions
Will Valensole really bloom in March?
Only in mild climates. In cold-winter gardens it blooms once warm weather arrives, on the early side of the English lavender season.
How do I get it to rebloom?
Prune right after the first flush, removing spent stems and some soft growth. A repeat flush can follow.
Is it drought tolerant?
It is documented as drought resistant once established. Water it well during its first season.
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