Imperial French Lavender

Imperial French Lavender (Lavandula dentata 'Imperial') is a rounded, silvery shrub about 1m tall and wide, with serrated grey-green leaves and long-stemmed purple flowers topped with small tufts in spring. French lavender takes heat better than English lavender and cold better than Italian lavender, which makes Imperial a sensible first lavender for a mild or warm garden.

Why you'll love it

• A good middle path. It is tougher in heat than English lavender and hardier in cold than Italian lavender, so it suits a wider range of gardens.
• Long, straight stems. The tall flower stems are made for cutting, and the flowers dry well for arrangements and potpourri.
• Toothed silver-green leaves. The serrated foliage looks good all year, even out of flower, and gives borders a soft backdrop.
• Bees and butterflies love it. Spring flowers feed pollinators, so it earns its place in a wildlife-friendly planting.
• Heat and drought tolerant. Once established it handles hot, dry spells with little more than an occasional deep soak.

Where it works best

Informal hedges. Plant 60cm apart in a single row. At that spacing the bushes meet in about two seasons and form a hedge about 1m high. Clip after the spring flush to hold the shape.

Rockeries and gravel gardens. Pale foliage suits gravel mulch, sunny banks and dry-climate designs, and the sharp drainage in those spots is exactly what it wants.

Pots and cottage beds. In a large pot it flanks a sunny doorway, and in a cottage planting it pairs well with roses, daisies and ornamental grasses.

Growing Imperial French Lavender in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun with good airflow. French lavender suits warm temperate, Mediterranean, dry cool temperate and subtropical gardens. Imperial tolerates light frost once established, so in regions with hard, regular frosts choose English lavender instead.

Soil. Free-draining soil is essential, and wet feet are the usual cause of failure. On clay or in humid areas, plant on a raised mound and finish it with gravel mulch.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly for the first 12 weeks, then rely on deep, infrequent watering in dry spells. One feed of slow release fertiliser after flowering is plenty.

Pruning. Prune twice a year, taking only a third of the foliage and staying out of the old wood. Regular trimming stops the base turning woody and open.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Imperial French Lavender as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It arrives as a small, leafy plant that picks up speed in warm soil and needs a season to fill out. Tube stock is grown for us and is not always available. If the tube shows as sold out, the grower has none at the moment, and the notify button on the page will email you the day it returns.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the lavender collection
• How to choose and grow lavender in Australia
• Rockery plants for sunny, dry beds
• Bee and butterfly friendly plants

Common questions

Will French lavender cope with frost?

Imperial tolerates light frost once it is established, especially in a sheltered spot with good drainage. Where winters bring hard, regular frosts, English lavender is the safer pick.

Does it flower all year?

The main flush is in spring. In warm districts French lavenders often send up odd flowers outside that season, and a light trim after flowering encourages them.

Is it safe for pets?

Lavender can upset cats and dogs if they eat a lot of it, so we do not list it as pet friendly. The strong scent puts most animals off, but supervise a curious chewer.