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Bract Lavender

Lavandula stoechas (lah-VAN-dew-lah STOW-kass)

Family: Lamiaceae Unknown Shrub

A woody evergreen sub-shrub with flowers on spikes that appear on top of leafless stems in spring and early summer. This species is more fragile than common lavender. Although it tolerates a range of situations, it is usually found in full sun in hot, sunny conditions with dry low-organic matter alkaline soil. Shear back lightly after summer bloom to encourage bushy growth and shorter flower stems. These plants do not like to be cut back to the ground and will often die after doing so. More information on Lavandula .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 52 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 3 - Shrub Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Edible; Herb; Perennial; Shrub
Life cycle
Perennial; Woody
USDA zones
8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Mounding; Rounded
Texture
Fine
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Whorled
Leaf shape
Acicular; Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Velvety
Leaf value
Fragrant
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Silvery highly fragrant leaves are similar to rosemary.
Flower color
Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Edible; Fragrant; Good Dried; Showy
Flower form
Spike
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Dark purple flower spikes topped with four lighter purple bracts that resemble flags or ears.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Stem color
Gray/Silver; Green
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
Nectar from flowers attracts bees and butterflies.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies
Food & Medicine

Uses (ethnobotany)

Used to make essential oils or potpourri and other dried arrangments.

Landscape Use
Landscape location
Coastal; Container; Patio; Slope/Bank; Small Space; Walkways
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Children's Garden; Cottage Garden; Edible Garden; Garden for the Blind; Rock Garden
Design feature
Border; Hedge
Garden tags
#evergreen #long bloom time #rabbit resistant #border planting #nectar plant #fragrant leaves #potpourri #deer resistant #fragrant flowers #silvery #butterfly friendly #subshrub #bee friendly #container plant #dried arrangements #hedge #patio #wildlife friendly #herb garden #edible #th-taste #th-touch #th-wildlife #th-smell
Problems & Resistance
Resistant to
Deer; Drought; Dry Soil; Heat; Poor Soil; Rabbits
Particularly resistant to
This plant is resistant to damage by deer.

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.