Product Field NotesLavender Plants
White Spike Lavender: A Big White Lavandin for Bundles and Contrast
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White Spike lavender brings white flowers to lavandin scale. This upright hybrid grows about three feet tall and up to four feet wide, with green foliage and long white spikes in midsummer. The fragrance is strong and floral-herbal: sweet lavender layered with fresh camphor notes.
It is Lavandula × intermedia 'White Spike', a cross of English and spike lavender. It is rated for USDA zones 6a to 9b, a little less cold-tolerant than many lavandins, so site matters in zone 6.
White Spike at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula × intermedia 'White Spike' |
| Flower color | White |
| Foliage | Green |
| Size | About 36 inches tall and 48 inches wide |
| Bloom | Mid-July, single main flush |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 6a to 9b |
| Fragrance | Strong floral-herbal with fresh camphor notes |
| Best uses | Essential oil, fragrance, fresh bouquets, dried flowers, U-pick |
White in a purple world
A field or garden of purple lavender is beautiful; a few rows or clumps of white make it look designed. White Spike's size lets it hold its own beside purple lavandins, and its midsummer bloom overlaps with theirs. Plant it at the end of a row, alternate it in a hedge, or use it as a pale anchor at the center of a circular bed.
For bundles, white spikes mixed with purple ones make an eye-catching two-tone bunch. Its cut and dried ratings are both excellent, it is rated for large bundles, and growers will note excellent oil and high oil production ratings.
Hardiness and siting
The zone 6a to 9b rating is the main thing to plan around. In zone 6, give it your warmest, best-drained spot: a south-facing slope, a raised bed near a wall, or sandy ground that never holds puddles. In zone 5 gardens, it is a gamble outdoors. Check your zone with the USDA Zone Finder before ordering.
Planting and care
- Spacing: about four feet center to center to match its 48-inch spread. Good airflow matters for a plant this size.
- Soil: sandy, gravelly or raised. Lavandin roots do not tolerate standing water.
- Water: deep watering the first season, then low water needs.
- Feeding: keep it lean for sturdy stems.
- Pruning: after the July harvest, shear into a rounded dome, keeping green growth on every stem. Rebloom is low, so one cut a year is the routine.
- Winter: it needs winter chill to bloom. Keep heavy mulch off the crown.
Harvest timing
For dried bundles, cut when the buds are fully formed and only a few flowers are open; drying in the dark keeps the white as pale as possible. For oil, growers generally wait until more flowers on each spike are open. Fresh bouquets can be cut any time the spikes look full. Lavandin flavor is camphor-forward, so most cooks choose English lavender for baking.
The Harvest Calendar helps plan your cutting window.
Choosing a plant size
It is offered as 3-inch plugs, 4-inch pots and 1-gallon pots. In zone 6, a larger pot goes into its first winter with a bigger root system. See the product page for current sizes and availability, and use Notify Me there if a size is not ready.
Frequently asked questions
Is White Spike hardy in Michigan?
It is rated for USDA zones 6a to 9b. In zone 6 parts of Michigan, plant it in a warm, very well-drained spot; in zone 5, it may not survive winter outdoors.
Does white lavender smell different?
White Spike has a strong floral-herbal lavandin scent with fresh camphor notes, similar to purple lavandins.
How much room does it need?
Plan on about four feet between plants, since it can spread to about 48 inches.
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