Essence Purple English Lavender

Essence Purple English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia 'Essence Purple')

Essence Purple English Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia 'Essence Purple', is a compact English lavender selected for its uniform habit, strong purple flower spikes, and fragrant gray green foliage. Plants form a tight, rounded mound that stays neat without heavy pruning, then cover themselves in dense flower wands that appear in a concentrated flush, creating a bold wave of color along paths, at the front of borders, and in containers. With its reliable blooming, classic lavender scent, and tidy form, Essence Purple English Lavender offers a clean, refined focal point wherever you need a low, sun loving accent.

Distinctive Features

Essence Purple English Lavender typically grows about 12 to 18 inches tall and 14 to 20 inches wide, forming a naturally compact, dome shaped clump that holds its shape well over time. Flower spikes are thick and evenly distributed across the plant, carrying rich purple florets that give a strong, saturated color effect when in bloom. Narrow, gray green leaves provide fine texture and a soft, silvery cast that remains attractive long after the flowers have finished, so the plant continues to function as a foliage accent. The combination of uniform habit, intense flower color, and strong fragrance makes this variety especially useful for edging, low hedging, and high visibility containers.

Growing Conditions

• Light: Prefers full sun with at least 6 hours of direct light daily for best flowering, compact growth, and strong fragrance.
• Soil: Thrives in well drained, lean to average soils; avoid heavy, wet ground and favor sandy or gravelly conditions that keep roots on the dry side.
• Water: Water regularly after planting to establish; once rooted in, water deeply but infrequently, allowing the top of the soil to dry between waterings.
• Hardiness: Well suited to many temperate regions where English lavender is grown outdoors, especially when provided with sharp drainage in winter.
• Size: Forms a compact mound about 12 to 18 inches tall and 14 to 20 inches wide at maturity, depending on climate and care.
• Growth Rate: Moderate grower that fills in steadily without quickly outgrowing containers or narrow border spaces.

Ideal Uses

• Edging and Low Hedges: Plant in a row along walks, drives, or bed edges to create a low, fragrant ribbon of gray green foliage and purple bloom.
• Containers and Patio Pots: Excellent in clay pots, troughs, and mixed planters where the compact mound and upright flower spikes add height, scent, and color.
• Front of Border Accent: Ideal for the front of sunny borders where its neat shape and rich flowers form a dependable visual anchor.
• Herb and Scent Gardens: Perfect near seating areas, entries, and paths so aromatic foliage and blooms can be brushed and enjoyed up close.
• Cottage and Mediterranean Gardens: Mix with roses, salvias, grasses, and sun loving perennials for classic cottage combinations, or pair with stone and gravel for a Mediterranean feel.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: After establishment, water when the top inch of soil is dry; avoid constant moisture or soggy conditions that can lead to root problems.
• Pruning: Shear lightly after the main flush of bloom to remove spent spikes and maintain a dense mound; avoid cutting back into old, woody stems with no leaves.
• Fertilizing: Requires only light feeding; in spring, apply a small amount of balanced, slow release fertilizer if soil is very lean, since excessive nutrients can cause soft, floppy growth.
• Mulching: Use a thin layer of gravel or coarse mulch around the base to improve drainage and keep foliage off wet soil, avoiding heavy organic mulches against the stems.
• Seasonal Care: In colder climates, provide excellent drainage and a sunny, sheltered spot; in late winter or early spring, tidy lightly to remove any winter damage and keep the plant compact.

Why Choose Essence Purple English Lavender?

• Uniform, Compact Habit: Naturally rounded form stays neat and even, making it ideal for edging and low hedges.
• Rich Purple Flower Spikes: Dense, deep purple blooms provide strong color impact and classic English lavender style.
• Aromatic Foliage: Fragrant gray green leaves add soothing scent and soft texture to paths, patios, and outdoor living areas.
• Sun and Heat Tolerant: Performs well in hot, bright exposures when planted in well drained soil or raised beds.
• Versatile Design Use: Works in mixed borders, herb and cutting gardens, white and purple themed plantings, or as a container focal point wherever you want reliable lavender color, fragrance, and a tidy focal point.

With its compact, uniform habit, rich purple flower spikes, and fragrant gray green foliage, Essence Purple English Lavender is an excellent choice for adding classic lavender beauty, scent, and a dependable focal point to sunny borders, pathways, and containers.