Product Field NotesLavender Plants
Vintro Forte Blue Lavender: A Slim Upright Lavender for Tight Spots
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Vintro Forte Blue lavender grows up instead of out. This English lavender is documented at 14 to 18 inches tall but only 10 to 12 inches wide, with strong flower stems topped by blue flowers over gray-green foliage. It flowers from late spring through summer and into fall.
It is a Lavandula angustifolia from the Vintro series, documented with a strong overwintering habit and rated here for USDA zones 5a to 9a. Like most English lavenders it needs a winter chill to bloom well.
Vintro Forte Blue at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula angustifolia Vintro Forte Blue |
| Flower color | Blue |
| Foliage | Gray-green |
| Size | About 14 to 18 inches tall and 10 to 12 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts late May, peaks mid-July, continues into fall; moderate rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5a to 9a |
| Fragrance | Strong, sweet and floral with low camphor |
| Best uses | Narrow beds, containers, fragrance, essential oil |
Where a narrow lavender helps
Most lavenders spread two to three feet. A plant that stays about a foot wide fits places those cannot:
- Narrow strips between a walk and a fence or foundation
- Tight rows in a small cutting bed
- Tall, narrow containers on steps or balconies
- Between pavers or stepping stones in a sunny gravel garden
- Mixed borders where it can slip between neighbors without crowding them
The upright shape also keeps foliage off the ground and air moving around the crown, which lavender appreciates in humid summers.
Planting
Choose full sun and soil that drains within minutes after rain. Space plants about 12 inches apart for a continuous narrow row. For pots, choose one that is deeper than wide, with a good drainage hole and a gritty mix. Water deeply at planting and regularly through the first season, then let it get by on little.
Care for a long bloom season
- Late spring to summer: snip spent stems back to the foliage as flowers fade. That keeps new stems coming.
- Midsummer: a light shaping trim after the peak in mid-July keeps the plant upright and dense.
- Late summer: make your last trim so new growth can harden off. Late flowers can be left to enjoy into fall.
- Winter: keep the crown dry and free of heavy mulch. In-ground plants overwinter better than potted ones; shelter pots against the house.
See the Care Calendar for monthly reminders.
Using the stems
Strong stems hold up in small bouquets and bundles, and the blue color dries well when hung in the dark. Its essential oil suitability is rated excellent and its culinary rating great; for cooking, use buds from food-grown plants and start small. For a striking pairing, alternate it with its sister, Vintro White, in a narrow row or a pair of tall pots.
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
How wide does Vintro Forte Blue get?
It is documented at about 10 to 12 inches wide, much narrower than most English lavenders.
Does it bloom in fall?
Its documented bloom runs from late spring through summer and into fall. Snipping spent stems helps keep it going.
Can it grow in a container?
Yes. Its narrow, upright habit suits deep pots with good drainage and full sun.
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