Lavender, Sensational

Sensational Lavender delivers everything the classic promises—tall, richly fragrant spikes of violet-purple rising above a handsome silver-green mound—in a form bred to stand up to the demands of a Midwest winter. Evergreen and mounding, it grows to about two feet tall and maintains its structure through the colder months, offering year-round presence in the border long after other perennials have died back. Full sun and sharp drainage are its only requirements in return for a generous summer bloom that bees, swallowtails, and other pollinators absolutely can’t resist. The dried flower stems are as beautiful as the fresh, making it a natural choice for cutting and bringing indoors. Deer and rabbits reliably leave it alone, and once its roots are established it handles dry spells with the stoicism of a true Mediterranean native. Plant it in drifts along a sunny path or border edge where guests can appreciate both the color and the fragrance up close.