Javelin Forte Deep Rose Spanish Lavender

Javelin Forte Deep Rose Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas 'Javelin Forte Deep Rose') is a compact, upright lavender, 30 to 40cm tall and wide, with deep plum flowers topped by long rose-pink tufts in spring. The Javelin series is bred for large flowers and strong disease resistance, so it is a good bet where lavender has struggled before.

Why you'll love it

• Big, two-tone flowers. Plum-purple flower heads carry long pink-purple tufts, larger and showier than usual for a Spanish lavender.
• Bred for resilience. Strong disease resistance means healthier plants through damp spells, when other lavenders sulk.
• Handles heat and humidity. It is heat and drought tolerant, and has shown it can cope with humid summers, including in southern Queensland.
• Great for pollinators. Bees and other beneficial insects love it, so it earns a spot beside vegetables and fruit trees.
• Small and tidy. Upright, bushy growth keeps it neat in borders and pots.

Where it works best

Stepover hedges and edging. Plant 30cm apart in a single row. At that spacing the plants join into a continuous line about 40cm high within a season or two.

Veggie patches and orchards. Use it as a fragrant edge to vegetable beds or underplant fruit trees to draw pollinators in.

Pots and rockeries. Compact enough for a 25cm pot, and the sharp drainage of a rock garden suits it well.

Growing Javelin Forte Deep Rose Spanish Lavender in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. It copes with heat and humidity better than most lavenders and suits subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and dry inland gardens. It is not as cold tolerant as English or French lavender, though it should survive light overnight frost once established.

Soil. Free-draining soil is the key, especially in cold, wet winters. Avoid wet feet by planting on a mound in clay and mulching with gravel.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly for the first 12 weeks. After that it needs little, and one slow release feed after flowering is enough.

Pruning. Prune twice a year, taking no more than a third of the foliage and keeping out of old wood, to hold the compact shape.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Javelin Forte Deep Rose Spanish Lavender as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It arrives small and settles within a couple of weeks, then bushes out through its first warm season. The tube is supplied by our grower and sells out from time to time. A sold out tube simply means none are ready, and the notify button on the page will email you the day it is available again.

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 all our lavenders
• Lavender care guide for Australian gardens
• Plants that bring in bees and butterflies
• More drought tolerant plants

Common questions

Will it grow in a humid climate?

Javelin lavenders cope with humidity better than most, including in southern Queensland. Even so, give it full sun, space around it and fast-draining soil, and water at the base rather than overhead.

What is a Forte lavender?

Forte means strong. These selections are more upright, with bigger tufts than usual, and they are bred to resist disease.

Is it safe for pets?

Lavender can upset cats and dogs if they eat a lot, so we do not list it as pet friendly. Most pets leave the scented foliage alone, but watch a curious chewer.