Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Fernleaf Lavender
Fernleaf Lavender has lacy, finely divided gray-green leaves and tall stems of blue-violet flowers. It is a fast grower that can bloom most of the year in a warm spot, with bees, butterflies and hummingbirds visiting. The leaves carry a sharp herbal scent with a hint of oregano. It forms an open mound about 2 to 3 feet tall for beds, borders and pots.
Best for: long-season color in beds and borders, patio pots, and gardens for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
Tall blue-violet spikes rise above the lacy leaves from spring through fall, and through mild winters too. It grows fast into a mound 2 to 3 feet tall, so plant it 12 to 24 inches apart to fill a bed quickly.
Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds visit the flower spikes, which come most of the year in a warm spot. Trim off spent flower stems to keep new spikes coming.
It forms an open mound about 2 to 3 feet tall and up to 5 feet wide, sized for a border or a large patio pot. Use a pot with good drainage and give it afternoon shade in summer.
It is often short-lived, lasting a year or two, and some Phoenix gardeners treat it as a winter annual. Soggy soil causes root rot, and hard frost near 25°F damages it.
- Plant to plant12-24 in apart
- Border planting18 in apart
Water well at planting and again a few days later. Do not let it dry out completely while it roots in, then stretch out the time between waterings.
Water deeply, then let the soil dry before the next soak. In winter, rain is usually enough unless the plant wilts. Soggy roots kill lavender, most of all in the humid monsoon months.
Morning sun with afternoon shade in summer, or an east side, suits it best in the Valley. Potted plants need that shade most.
It needs very little pruning. Trim off spent flower stems, but stay out of old woody stems.
Hard freezes near 25°F can damage it. Cover it with frost cloth or a sheet that reaches the ground, not plastic, and take it off in the morning.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
What does Fernleaf Lavender look like?
It has lacy, finely divided gray-green leaves, a bit like a fern, with tall stems of blue-violet flowers above them. Look for the lacy leaves to tell it apart from other lavenders.
Does Fernleaf Lavender smell like lavender?
The flowers have little of the classic lavender scent. The leaves are aromatic instead, with a sharp herbal smell and a hint of oregano, so choose Spanish or French lavender if scent matters most.
When does Fernleaf Lavender bloom?
It can bloom most of the year, from spring through fall and on through mild winters. Trim off spent flower stems to keep it blooming.
How big does it get?
It grows fast, reaching about 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide in an open mound. Plant it 12 to 24 inches apart for a full bed.
How far apart should I plant it?
Plant it about 12 to 24 inches apart, center to center, or about 18 inches apart in a border. The Spacing tab will count plants for your bed.
Is Fernleaf Lavender short-lived?
Yes, it often is. It commonly lasts a year or two, and some Phoenix gardeners treat it as a winter annual, so plan on replanting every year or two.
When is the best time to plant lavender in Phoenix?
Plant it in fall, ideally October, so it roots in before summer. Late fall through early spring also works. Skip planting from May through September.
Does it attract hummingbirds?
Yes. Hummingbirds, bees and butterflies visit the flowers, so plant it where you can watch them.
How cold can it take?
It handles light frost and is rated to about 15 to 25°F. On nights forecast near 25°F, cover it with frost cloth or a sheet to the ground, not plastic, and take it off in the morning.
How often should I water it?
Water well at planting and again a few days later, then let the soil dry between soaks. It is drought tolerant once rooted. In winter, rain is usually enough unless it wilts. Soggy roots cause root rot.
Does it need afternoon shade in Phoenix?
It is a full-sun plant, but lavender in the Valley does better with an east side or afternoon shade in summer. Potted plants need that shade most, so move pots out of the afternoon sun.
How is it different from Spanish or French lavender?
Fernleaf has lacy, divided leaves and flowers with little scent. Spanish lavender has rabbit-ear tufts on scented flowers, and French lavender has toothed leaves. Check the leaves to tell them apart.
Fernleaf Lavender for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Fernleaf Lavender (Lavandula multifida) is a fast, open lavender with lacy, divided leaves and tall blue-violet flower spikes. It can bloom most of the year where winters are mild. Below: size, bloom, scent, sun, water, cold, lifespan and how it compares with Spanish and French lavender.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
Fernleaf Lavender in Arizona
Fernleaf Lavender has lacy, divided gray-green leaves and tall blue-violet flower spikes. It grows fast and can bloom most of the year where winters are mild.
Does Fernleaf Lavender smell like lavender?
The flowers have little of the classic lavender scent. The leaves are aromatic instead, with a sharp herbal smell and a hint of oregano.
How big does Fernleaf Lavender get?
It grows about 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide, in an open mound. Space plants about 12 to 24 inches apart, center to center.
Is Fernleaf Lavender a perennial in Phoenix?
It is a perennial, but often short-lived, lasting a year or two. Some Phoenix gardeners grow it as a winter annual.
Fernleaf Lavender for hummingbirds and bees
Hummingbirds, bees and butterflies visit the long flower spikes. Flowers come most of the year where winters are mild.
Fernleaf vs Spanish vs French lavender
Fernleaf has lacy leaves and flowers with little scent. Spanish Lavender has rabbit-ear tufts on scented purple flowers. French Lavender has toothed leaves and short tufts.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.