Lavandula × intermedia 'Gros Bleu'

RHS Plant Profile
lavender 'Gros Bleu'

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Shrubs

A shrub up to 0.9-1m high, with an erect habit, evergreen, aromatic, linear, grey-green leaves, and flowering stems 70-80cm long topped by spikes 8cm long of sweetly fragrant, deep violet-purple flowers in late summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Sand, Chalk, Loam

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Sand Chalk Loam
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Neutral or Alkaline or Acid

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5
Drought Resistance
Yes

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower Foliage
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Lamiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Lavandula are small aromatic evergreen shrubs with usually narrow, simple, entire, toothed or lobed leaves and small tubular flowers in dense spikes in summer
Name Status
Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in full sun in well-drained soil; for more advice, see lavender cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings in late summer, or by softwood cuttings of new growth in early summer. See our video How to take lavender cuttings for more advice

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Wildlife gardens
  • Gravel garden
  • Coastal
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Hedging and screens
  • Cut flowers

Pruning

Pruning group 10; deadhead after flowering. Trimming in late summer prevents plants from becoming straggly, but you can leave plants for a season to benefit wildlife with seeds or as shelter if you prefer. Avoid pruning in autumn in wet or cold regions as this may leave plants vulnerable to winter damage. Avoid cutting back into old wood

Pests

May be susceptible to rosemary beetle, and to cuckoo spit (froghopper or spittle bug nymphs)

Diseases

May be susceptible to grey moulds (Botrytis) and honey fungus (rarely)