Silver Lining Eternity Italian Lavender

Silver Lining Eternity Italian Lavender (Lavandula stoechas 'Silver Lining Eternity') is a compact, bushy lavender that reaches 60cm tall and 60cm wide. Dark pink-purple flowers topped with lighter tufts rise over narrow grey-green foliage in spring and summer, and keep appearing through more of the year in warmer climates. It is a useful medium size, big enough for feature planting and large containers.

Why you'll love it

• Two-tone flower heads. Dark pink-purple blooms carry long, paler tufts that look like rabbit ears, giving the plant far more presence than a plain lavender.
• Compact and bushy. Narrow grey-green foliage builds a tidy, rounded mound without much encouragement.
• More than one flush. Flowers open in spring and summer, and again through the year in warmer climates.
• Scented and cuttable. The fragrant flowers can be cut and dried for arrangements or potpourri.
• Tough across climates. Heat, humidity, drought and cold all sit within its range, which is unusual for a lavender.

Where it works best

Feature planting. A group of three set 60cm apart makes a sweep of silvery foliage and plum colour in the middle of a sunny border.

Large containers. One plant suits a pot about 40cm wide, filled with gritty potting mix, on a sunny terrace or entry.

Low hedging. Plant 50cm apart in a single row for a soft, flowering hedge about 60cm high, trimmed lightly twice a year.

Growing Silver Lining Eternity Italian Lavender in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun and free draining soil. It tolerates lower light, but flowering suffers. Italian lavenders suit cool, dry climates best, and this one also copes with heat, humidity and cold, so it has a wider range than many lavenders. Avoid wet feet.

Soil. Drainage is the main requirement. On clay, or in a wet climate, plant on a mound 20 to 30cm high and top it with gravel.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly for the first 12 weeks, until the plant establishes, then ease off. Feed once a year after flowering with a slow release fertiliser to keep growth compact.

Pruning. Prune twice a year, removing only a third of the foliage and never cutting into old wood. Lavender is woody at the base and does not reshoot from bare stems.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Silver Lining Eternity Italian Lavender as tube stock: a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly in a sunny, well-drained spot. It arrives as a small, upright plant and bulks into a mound over its first season.

Tube stock comes from our grower and is not always available. When the grower has none, the tube shows as sold out on this page, and the notify button on the page 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 the full lavender range
• Lavender care guide for Australian gardens
• Plants for pots and containers
• Fragrant plants

Common questions

What are the tufts on an Italian lavender?

They are the long, decorative petals that sit on top of each flower head, often called ear tufts. English lavender does not have them, which is why Italian types look so much showier.

Will it flower more than once?

Yes. The main show is spring and summer, and in warmer climates it flowers again through the year. A light tidy after each flush keeps the plant compact.

Is lavender safe for cats and dogs?

Not entirely. It is mildly toxic if eaten in quantity, so we do not list it as pet friendly. Most animals leave the aromatic foliage alone.