Product Field NotesLavender Plants
White Scent Lavender: White English Lavender That Blooms Year One
Save
White Scent lavender does not make you wait. It is documented as a first-year-flowering English lavender, meaning it can bloom the same season you plant it, and it does not need a winter chill to start. The flowers are white, the vigorously branched plants have silvery blue-gray foliage, and the scent is the sweet, soft English lavender kind.
It is Lavandula angustifolia 'White Scent', from the Scent program, and it grows slim and upright, about 12 to 16 inches tall and only 6 to 8 inches wide. It is rated for USDA zones 5a to 9b.
White Scent at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula angustifolia 'White Scent' |
| Flower color | White |
| Foliage | Silvery blue-gray |
| Size | About 12 to 16 inches tall and 6 to 8 inches wide |
| Bloom | Early; blooms in its first year with no chill required; moderate rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5a to 9b |
| Fragrance | Strong, sweet and floral with low camphor |
| Best uses | Containers, narrow edges, fragrance, essential oil |
Why first-year flowering helps
Many English lavenders spend their first season building roots and bloom lightly, if at all, until after a winter. White Scent skips that waiting period. That makes it a good pick for new gardens, rental patios, wedding or event planters that need flowers this year, and anyone who simply wants results sooner. The listing gives early bloom dates that reflect mild climates; in cold-winter gardens, expect flowers once the weather warms.
Where its slim shape fits
At only 6 to 8 inches wide, White Scent tucks into spaces other lavenders cannot. Try it in window boxes, narrow strips beside steps, between stepping stones, in tall slender pots or as a white accent dotted through a purple lavender bed. White flowers glow at dusk, so it is also a natural for an evening garden by the porch.
Planting and care
- Sun: full sun for the best flowering and tight growth.
- Soil: fast-draining. In pots, use a gritty mix and a container with a drainage hole.
- Spacing: about 8 to 10 inches apart for a continuous narrow row.
- Water: regular deep watering while young; small plants dry out faster. Low water needs once established.
- Deadheading: snip spent stems back to the foliage to encourage a moderate rebloom.
- Late summer: make your last light trim so new growth can harden before frost.
- Winter: in-ground plants handle cold better than potted ones. Keep wet mulch off the crown.
For a quick refresher on care, see the Plant Care Guide.
Using white lavender
White Scent is rated good for both cut and dried flowers. White stems mixed with purple lavender make a lovely two-tone bundle. Dry them in a dark, airy place to keep the flowers as pale as possible. Its essential oil suitability is rated excellent and its culinary rating great, so white buds can go into lavender sugar or shortbread; use food-grown buds and start with a small amount. Pollinators rate it great.
Choosing a plant size
It is offered as 3-inch plugs, 4-inch pots and 1-gallon pots. For first-year flowers in a container, a larger pot gives the quickest display. See the product page for current sizes and availability.
Frequently asked questions
Will White Scent bloom the first year?
Yes. It is documented as first-year flowering and does not require a winter chill to bloom.
How narrow is it?
It is documented at about 6 to 8 inches wide, one of the slimmest English lavenders.
Is it hardy?
It is rated for USDA zones 5a to 9b. Good drainage is what carries it through cold winters.
Share how it went in your field