Product Field NotesLavender Plants
Woolly Lavender: Felted Silver-White Leaves and Dark Purple Spikes
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Woolly lavender is the lavender people reach out and touch. Its leaves are covered in a soft, felted coat that makes the whole plant look silver-white, almost frosted, and it feels as soft as it looks. In midsummer it sends up dark purple flower spikes, a striking contrast against all that silver.
Botanically it is Lavandula lanata, a species lavender rather than a named cultivar. It forms a bushy dwarf shrub about 18 inches tall and wide, and it is rated for USDA zones 8a to 10b, so in cold regions it is a container plant.
Woolly lavender at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula lanata |
| Flower color | Dark purple |
| Foliage | Silver-gray to white, woolly and soft |
| Size | About 18 inches tall and 18 inches wide |
| Bloom | Mid-July, single flush |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 8a to 10b |
| Fragrance | Moderate; floral, sweet herbaceous and aromatic |
| Best uses | Containers, foliage contrast, pollinators, small bouquets |
Why the fuzz matters
Those woolly hairs are how the plant copes with hot, dry, sunny places. They also trap moisture when conditions turn humid or wet, which is why woolly lavender is fussier than most lavenders about water and air. Great Lakes summers can be muggy, and wet foliage that stays damp overnight is the quickest way to lose it. The fix is simple: sun, airflow, sharp drainage and a light hand with the watering can.
Growing it well
- Container: unglazed clay with a large drainage hole. Clay wicks moisture away from the roots.
- Mix: very gritty. Potting mix cut generously with coarse grit, perlite or small gravel.
- Top-dressing: a layer of gravel under the foliage keeps leaves off damp soil.
- Sun and air: full sun in an open spot with a breeze. Avoid crowding it among lush annuals.
- Water: water at the soil, not over the leaves, and only when the mix is dry an inch or two down. Move the pot under an overhang during long rainy spells.
- Feeding: little to none.
Bloom and trimming
Woolly lavender blooms in a single flush, around mid-July, with no rebloom expected. It also needs a period of cooler temperatures to bloom well. After flowering, snip the spent spikes back to the foliage and tidy the shape lightly. Do not cut into bare wood.
Winter
Rated for zones 8a to 10b, it will not survive a Michigan winter outdoors. Before hard frost, move it to a cool, bright, frost-free spot with good air circulation, such as an unheated sunroom or a cool room by a bright window. Keep it on the dry side all winter; this is when overwatering causes the most trouble. It still needs a cool rest, not a warm living room, to bloom well the next summer. Set it back outside after your last frost.
Uses
The soft silver foliage is the main attraction, so place it where people can see and touch it, such as a tabletop pot or the edge of a patio. Cut and dried ratings are both good, and the dark purple spikes and silver leaves make a pretty small posy. Woolly lavender is grown as an ornamental and is not recommended for cooking. Pollinators rate it great.
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 a size is not ready.
Frequently asked questions
Why are the leaves of my woolly lavender turning brown?
The most common cause is moisture sitting on the fuzzy leaves or wet roots. Improve drainage and airflow and water only at the soil.
Is woolly lavender hardy in Michigan?
No. It is rated for zones 8a to 10b and needs a frost-free winter spot.
Does it rebloom?
No. It blooms in a single flush around mid-July.
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