Munstead Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’) is a compact English lavender variety prized for its rich purple flower spikes and finely textured silver-green foliage. Known for its excellent cold and heat tolerance among English lavenders, Munstead forms tidy mounded clumps that thrive in dry, sunny locations. It blooms from late spring into summer, drawing bees and butterflies while adding color and structure to cottage gardens, rock landscapes, and pathway borders.
Features
- Compact, mounded English lavender with purple flower spikes.
- Excellent pollinator plant attracting bees and butterflies.
- Silver-green aromatic foliage adds year-round texture.
- Highly drought-tolerant in well-drained soils.
- Ideal for pathway borders, rock gardens, and cottage landscapes.
- Non-GMO Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’ seed variety.
Specifications
- Common Name: Munstead Lavender, English Lavender
- Scientific Name: Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’
- Plant Type: Perennial flowering herb
- USDA Zones: 5–9
- Bloom Color: Purple-violet flower spikes
- Foliage: Silver-green narrow aromatic leaves
- Height: 12–18 inches
- Spread: 12–20 inches (tidy, compact habit)
- Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
- Heirloom: Yes
- GMO Status: Non-GMO
- Organic: Not certified organic
- Light Requirements: Full sun
- Soil Preference: Well-drained, sandy, rocky, or dry soil
- Water Needs: Low once established
- Drought Tolerance: High
- Pollinator Friendly: Yes (bees, butterflies)
- Deer & Rabbit Resistance: High
- Maintenance: Low
- Plant Spacing: 12–18 inches
- Seed Viability: 1–2 years (fresh seed preferred)
Planting Guide
- Cold stratify seeds for 4–6 weeks (refrigerate in moist medium).
- Start indoors 8–10 weeks before the final frost or sow outdoors in fall.
- Press seeds lightly into soil; cover very thinly (about 1/8 inch).
- Keep soil slightly moist and warm until germination (14–35 days).
- Provide bright light and airflow for seedlings.
- Transplant outdoors after frost into dry, well-drained soil.
- Choose full sun for best bloom color and compact growth.
- Water lightly; avoid overwatering or rich soil.
- Trim lightly after flowering to maintain a tight mound.
