Melissa Lilac lavender gets its name from the lovely lilac hue of its flowers. The flowers are cloud-soft and look good enough to eat—but don’t. The intensity of the flavor in the flower’s oils is just too strong on its own. Dry the buds or flowers or use them in baking, beverages, and savory herb blends. This lavender blooms once, in midsummer. If you cut the flower stalks as soon as (or before) the flowers open, you might get a second round of growth. Plant this in your herb garden, in a rock garden (remember: drought tolerant!), or even as a mass planting if you have the room. These flowers are spectacular, so even though the best culinary flavor comes from the buds, you might not be able to resist letting some of those buds blossom.

Sun Exposure

• full sun

Soil pH

• 6.4 to 8.2

Hardiness Zones

• zones 5 to 8

Season

• mid to late summer

Height

• 1 to 2 feet

Spread

• 2 to 3 feet

Spacing

• 24 to 30 inches

Moisture

• 1 inch per week or less

Notes

• prefers well-drained chalky, loamy, sandy soil
• drought tolerant
• attracts bees and butterflies
• good in desserts and tea

Do you grow Melissa Lilac lavender? If so, please tell us your top tips for ensuring a fragrant harvest.