Rosea English Lavender

Rosea English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia 'Rosea') is a soft, pale pink lavender for colder gardens. It forms an aromatic shrub about 60cm tall and wide, before the flower spikes rise above it, with fine grey-green foliage in winter that turns greener in summer. Very pale pink flowers open through spring and early summer.

Why you'll love it

• Palest pink flowers. The soft colour is easier to blend into a border than purple, and it looks lovely beside white and mauve plants.
• Hardier than French and Italian lavender. As an English variety it is much hardier in cold temperatures, which makes it a good choice for colder regions.
• Foliage that changes. The leaves are grey-green in winter and greener in summer, so the plant never looks the same twice.
• Aromatic and pollinator friendly. The flowers are as attractive to butterflies and bees as they are to people.
• Versatile. It does equally well in a cottage garden, a low hedge, a rockery or a pot.

Where it works best

Low hedges. Plant 50cm apart for a soft, scented hedge along a path or bed edge, trimmed lightly after each flush of flower.

Pastel and cottage borders. Pair it with white Alba and purple varieties for a layered colour scheme, or mix it with roses and silver foliage.

Rockeries and pots. Use a gritty mix, a sunny position and a pot with drainage holes, and it will perform on a terrace or balcony.

Growing Rosea English Lavender in Australia

Position and climate. Plant in a sunny, north facing spot in full sun. It tolerates lower light, but flowering suffers. It suits cool and cold climates and tolerates frost once established, if drainage is good. In hot, humid gardens it can struggle, so use a pot or raised bed.

Soil. Free draining soil is vital. Dig in coarse sand in heavy ground, and never let water sit around the crown.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly for the first 12 weeks, then ease off. A yearly dose of slow release fertiliser after flowering keeps growth compact.

Pruning. Prune twice a year, removing only a third of the foliage and avoiding old wood. Lavender can upset cats and dogs if a lot of it is eaten.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Rosea English Lavender as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly once planted. Plants arrive small and upright, and they fill out through the first season. Tubes are supplied by our grower, so availability comes and goes. The page shows the tube as sold out when the grower has none, and the notify button emails you the day it is back.

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 our lavender range
• Lavender care guide for Australian gardens
• Plants for cool climates
• More frost hardy plants

Common questions

How big does it get?

About 60cm tall and wide before it flowers. The flower spikes then rise above the foliage, so allow a little extra height in a bed or hedge.

Will it cope with a cold winter?

Yes. It is a hardier variety than French and Italian lavenders and is ideal for colder regions, as long as the soil drains well.

Why is the foliage a different colour in summer?

That is normal for this variety. The foliage is greyer in winter and turns greener in summer, so the change is part of the plant's character.