Product Field NotesLavender Plants
Vera Lavender: The Classic True Lavender for Gardens and Rows
Save
Vera lavender carries one of the oldest names in the lavender world. 'Vera' means true, and for a long time English lavender itself was called Lavandula vera, or true lavender. This bushy, mounded cultivar fits the name: purple flowers, scented dark lavender-blue tones, and aromatic blue-gray to gray-green foliage with the classic English lavender look.
Today it is classified as Lavandula angustifolia 'Vera'. Like other English lavenders it is among the hardier types, rated for USDA zones 5a to 8b, and it is offered both as garden plants and as plug trays for growers.
Vera lavender at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula angustifolia 'Vera' |
| Flower color | Purple, with dark lavender-blue tones |
| Foliage | Blue-gray to gray-green, aromatic |
| Size | About 30 inches tall and 27 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early June, peaks mid-July, moderate rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5a to 8b |
| Fragrance | Moderate |
| Best uses | Essential oil, culinary, borders, rows |
A classic for good reason
Vera is the kind of lavender that looks right almost anywhere: in a cottage border, along a path, in an herb garden or in a field row. Its shape is bushy and mounded, a little taller than wide, and its purple spikes rise neatly over the foliage. Essential oil suitability is rated excellent and culinary suitability great, so it is a practical choice for growers who want a traditional English lavender for oil, buds and baking.
Pollinators rate it great, and deer generally leave it alone.
Planting in the garden or the field
Full sun and quick drainage come first. In beds, space plants about 30 inches apart. In rows, the same in-row spacing works, with paths between rows wide enough to walk and harvest. On clay or low ground, plant on raised rows or berms with grit worked in. Set the crown level with the soil and water deeply.
Plan spacing and quantities with the Garden planner.
Care through the year
- Spring: once new growth starts, trim winter-browned tips. English lavender needs winter chill to bloom, so cold winters are an asset.
- June and July: bloom starts in early June and peaks around mid-July. Harvest as the buds color.
- After harvest: shear spent stems and a third of the soft growth for a rounded mound and a moderate rebloom.
- Late summer to winter: stop trimming so the plant can harden off. Keep wet mulch off the crown.
Harvest uses
For culinary buds and sachets, cut on a dry morning when the buds are colored and only a few flowers have opened. Dry in small bundles in a dark, airy spot and rub the buds off once the stems snap. For culinary use, grow and handle the plants as a food crop and start with small amounts. For oil, growers usually wait until more flowers on each spike have opened.
Plants, plugs and trays
Vera is offered as individual 3-inch plugs, 4-inch pots and 1-gallon pots for home gardens, plus a 72-cell plug tray and a deep 20-cell plug tray for growers. The 72-cell tray gives the most plants per tray; the 20-cell plugs are larger and deeper at planting time. See each product page for current availability, or the Wholesale Hub for tray orders.
Frequently asked questions
Is Vera the same as English lavender?
Vera is a cultivar of English lavender, Lavandula angustifolia. The name echoes an older name for the species, Lavandula vera, or true lavender.
Is Vera good for cooking?
Yes. It has a great culinary rating. Use buds from food-grown plants and start with a small amount.
Which tray is best for planting rows?
Both work. The 72-cell tray is economical for large plantings; the deeper 20-cell plugs are a little more forgiving in the field.
Share how it went in your field