Phenomenal Lavender Live Plant – Aromatic Herb – Hardy Zones 5-9 – Starter Plug

Overview

Introduce the timeless beauty and intoxicating fragrance of the Phenomenal Lavender live plant into your garden or landscape. This exceptional variety, scientifically known as Lavandula intermedia ‘Phenomenal’, is a robust and highly sought-after aromatic herb. Renowned for its vigorous growth and stunning purple flower spikes, this French Lavender plant is a true garden standout. It’s not just its beauty that makes it phenomenal; this particular cultivar boasts remarkable adaptability, thriving in a wide range of climates. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting, this Phenomenal Lavender live plant offers an easy and rewarding growing experience, bringing a touch of Provence to your outdoor space.

The ‘Phenomenal’ cultivar is celebrated for its ability to withstand both high heat and harsh winter conditions, making it a truly resilient choice for diverse environments. Its silvery-green foliage provides an attractive backdrop to the abundant, fragrant purple flowers that emerge on tall, sturdy stems. This aromatic lavender herb is also known for its resistance to humidity, a common challenge for many lavender varieties. Perfect for creating fragrant borders, mass plantings, or even container gardens, this plant delivers consistent performance and an enduring charm.

Key Benefits

Cultivating a Phenomenal Lavender live plant offers a wealth of advantages beyond its aesthetic appeal. This versatile herb provides numerous benefits for both your garden and lifestyle, making it a truly valuable addition. Here are some of the key benefits you can expect from this remarkable plant:

• Exceptional Hardiness: The Phenomenal Lavender live plant is incredibly resilient, thriving in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9. It demonstrates superior tolerance to both scorching summer heat and freezing winter temperatures, ensuring its survival and beauty year after year.
• Delightful Aromatic Fragrance: Known for its strong, sweet, and soothing scent, this aromatic lavender herb fills the air with a calming fragrance. It’s perfect for creating a serene garden atmosphere, attracting beneficial pollinators, and deterring pests naturally.
• Beautiful Purple Blooms: Enjoy a profusion of vibrant purple flowers on tall stems that create a stunning visual display. These long-lasting blooms are ideal for fresh cut flowers, dried arrangements, or crafting beautiful lavender wreaths and wands.
• Low Maintenance: This French Lavender plant is remarkably easy to grow and care for, requiring minimal attention once established. Its drought-tolerant nature and resistance to common plant diseases make it an excellent choice for busy gardeners.
• Versatile Uses: Beyond its ornamental value, the ‘Phenomenal’ lavender is excellent for oil production due to its high essential oil content. It’s also a fantastic addition to potpourri, sachets, and culinary dishes, adding a unique flavor and aroma.
• Humidity Resistance: Unlike some other lavender types, Lavandula intermedia ‘Phenomenal’ shows improved resistance to humidity, allowing it to perform well in a broader range of climates where other lavenders might struggle.
• Pollinator Magnet: The fragrant flowers are a magnet for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators, contributing to a healthy and vibrant ecosystem in your garden.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Phenomenal Lavender live plant is relatively straightforward, and with a few key practices, you can ensure a thriving and fragrant addition to your garden. This hardy plant prefers conditions that mimic its native Mediterranean climate. Full sun exposure is paramount; aim for at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Good air circulation is also crucial to prevent fungal issues, so avoid planting in overly dense areas. For best results, ensure your Phenomenal Lavender live plant is situated in a location where it can bask in abundant sunshine throughout the day.

When it comes to watering, lavender prefers drier conditions. Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings, as overwatering is a common cause of issues. Well-drained soil is non-negotiable; lavender will not tolerate wet feet. If your soil is heavy clay, amend it with sand or grit to improve drainage. A slightly alkaline soil pH is ideal. Fertilization is generally not necessary for established plants, especially in rich soil, but a light application of compost in spring can be beneficial. This particular hardy lavender plant thrives on neglect more than excessive care. Pinching back the plant 5-10 days after transplanting encourages bushier growth, and cutting back after bloom promotes compact growth and strong stems for future flowering. Protecting your Lavandula intermedia Phenomenal during extreme cold snaps in its first year can help it establish a strong root system.

The Phenomenal Lavender live plant is hardy in USDA Zones 5-9. In colder zones, consider providing winter protection or growing it in containers that can be moved indoors. While generally pest-resistant, ensure good spacing to maintain airflow and prevent issues. If planting in a landscape application, establish your starter plug in a 3-5 inch pot before transplanting outdoors to give it a head start. Regular pruning after flowering helps maintain its shape and encourages a second flush of blooms, ensuring your French Lavender plant remains vigorous and productive.

Size & Details

Each Phenomenal Lavender live plant is provided as a healthy starter plug, ready for transplanting. You have the choice between two convenient pot sizes: a small plug-size 1″ X 1″ X 1.5″ container or a slightly larger 2.25″ x 2.25″ container. These plants are small, well-rooted seedlings, perfect for establishing in your garden or larger pots. They are shipped in either single plant packs or multi-packs of 2, 4, or 8 plants, allowing you to choose the quantity that best suits your gardening needs. The mature size of the Phenomenal Lavender live plant typically reaches 24-36 inches in height and spread, forming an attractive, mounding shrub with gray-green foliage. It exhibits a medium growth rate, establishing well within its first season.

Upon arrival, these young plants will require immediate attention to ensure their successful transition. While they are small, they are robust and designed to quickly establish once planted. Expect the first significant bloom to occur in the season following planting, with increasingly abundant flowers in subsequent years. The Lavandula intermedia Phenomenal is known for its vigorous root development, which contributes to its overall hardiness and drought tolerance once mature. These starter plants offer an excellent foundation for creating a beautiful and fragrant lavender display in your garden.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: The Phenomenal Lavender live plant typically grows to a mature size of 24-36 inches in both height and spread, forming a well-rounded, bushy plant. Its size can be managed with regular pruning.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: These Phenomenal Lavender live plant starter plugs are available in two sizes: a small 1″ x 1″ x 1.5″ plug or a 2.25″ x 2.25″ container. They are small seedlings designed for transplanting.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Phenomenal Lavender live plant is primarily an outdoor plant, thriving in full sun. While it can be started indoors, its preference for strong sunlight and good air circulation makes it best suited for garden beds or outdoor containers.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This hardy lavender plant requires full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily, to produce the most abundant blooms and strongest fragrance.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the Phenomenal Lavender live plant is considered an easy-to-grow plant, especially once established. It’s drought-tolerant and resilient, making it suitable for gardeners of all experience levels.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: The plants are shipped as healthy, well-rooted starter plugs. While some shipping stress is normal for live plants, they are carefully packed to ensure they arrive ready for transplanting.
• Q: How long until it blooms? A: Expect the Phenomenal Lavender live plant to produce its first significant blooms in the season following planting, with more prolific flowering in subsequent years as it matures.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: This particular French Lavender plant is hardy in USDA Zones 5-9, meaning it can withstand winter temperatures in these regions. In Zone 5, some winter protection may be beneficial.
• Q: Can I use this lavender for culinary purposes? A: Yes, Lavandula intermedia ‘Phenomenal’ is suitable for culinary uses, as well as for essential oil production and crafting. Its strong aromatic qualities make it versatile.
• Q: What’s the minimum temperature this aromatic lavender herb can tolerate? A: The Phenomenal Lavender live plant is known for its excellent cold tolerance and can survive winter temperatures down to USDA Zone 5, which typically means temperatures between -10°F and -20°F.