Botanical profile

Spanish lavender

Latin name
Lavandula stoechas
Common name
Spanish lavender
Type
Perennial
Family
Lamiaceae

Spanish lavender is a highly decorative aromatic plant, cherished for its unique floral spikes topped with small, colorful bracts, often purple, violet, or pinkish. Its fragrant grey-green foliage, compact habit, and distinctive blooms bring a Mediterranean touch to patio pots, planters, sunny borders, and naturalistic designs. It easily stands out with its more exotic appearance compared to classic lavender, making it an excellent choice for adding fragrance, color, and character to the garden.

Easy to grow during the warm season, Spanish lavender prefers a full-sun, warm, and well-ventilated location, in light, poor to moderately fertile, and very well-drained soil. It tolerates heat and drier conditions well once established but does not tolerate excess water and heavy soils. In containers, it's important to choose a draining potting mix and allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings. Light pruning after flowering helps maintain a denser, more compact, and decorative plant.

Both fragrant, pollinator-friendly, and highly ornamental, Spanish lavender attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators while beautifying outdoor spaces. It pairs very well with santolinas, sages, grasses, rosemary, euphorbias, and other full-sun plants. Less hardy than some traditional lavenders, it is often grown as an annual in our climate or protected from the cold in pots.

Care guide

Care level
Easy

Choosing this plant

Main benefit
Decorative flower spikes topped with very unusual purple bracts
Container, patio, edging, rock garden, Mediterranean garden, pollinator garden
Container growing
Excellent in pots in a very well-drained container
Seasonal care
Remove faded flowers to prolong blooming; prune lightly after flowering; overwinter in a frost-free environment in cold climates
Growing conditions

Light, soil, water and hardiness

Hardiness zone
Zone 7 and above
Exposure
Sun
Watering
Moderate; allow the soil surface to dry out completely between waterings
Humidity
Low humidity; prefers dry conditions
Fertilization
Light compost in spring; avoid excessive fertilizer
Soil type
Poor to medium, dry, light and very well-drained soil
Soil pH
Neutral to alkaline
Minimum temperature
-10°C
Propagation method
Cuttings or seedlings
Plant appearance

Blooming, foliage and shape

Blooming period
Spring to summer
Flower color
Violet to purplish-mauve
Foliage color
Grayish green
Foliage type
Persistent in mild climates
Shape
Compact, rounded, bushy habit
Garden structure

Size and growth

Height
45 to 60 cm (18 to 24 inches)
Width
45 to 60 cm (18 to 24 inches)
Growth rate
Average growth
Vegetable garden and yield

Companion planting, spacing and harvest

Companion plants
Rosemary, thyme, sage, cotton lavender
Plants to avoid
Plants that require moist, heavy, or consistently cool soil
Spacing
30 to 45 cm (12 to 18 inches)
Harvest period
Spring to Summer Flowers
Not recommended for pets
Not recommended for pets

Pets

Pollinators
Attracts or supports pollinating insects

Pollinators

Butterflies
Plants that attract butterflies

Butterflies

Repellent
Helps repel certain pests

Repellent

Deer
Less attractive or generally tolerated by deer

Deer

The availability of our plants varies depending on arrivals, seasons, nursery production and supplier availability. Some varieties may be offered for a limited time only, depending on their natural cycle or current stock. These plant profiles are designed to guide and inspire you when choosing plants for the garden, landscaping projects, containers or long-lasting outdoor arrangements.