Lavandula angustifolia 'Momparler' PLATINUM BLONDE™ lavender
size/type
low perennial,mid-sized perennial
usual height
0,4-0,6m
usual width
0,4-0,6m
leaves
evergreen broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
showy
colour of flowers
blooming time
June-September
location
full sun
soil type
neutral to alkaline
soil moisture requirements
dry and sharply drained (xeriscape)
USDA zone (lowest)
5b (down to -27°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
First time visitor to French Provence will be astonished seeing the endless fields glowing with deep purple colour. Lavenders are grown there like corn or potatoes here. The magnificent view is often linked with a question 'can we do something similar at home, too? ', and the answer is positive: YES! Lavenders are hardy and low maintenance plants that will thrive in any well-drained soil in full sun.
Description of the plant:
Spanish grower Juan Ismael Momparler Albors, who specializes in Mediterranean plants, can be proud of one great discovery. In 2006, he found a natural mutation in a field of common narrow-leaved lavenders, which had variegated leaves and compact habit. There are only a couple of lavender varieties with variegated foliage in the market but none of them belongs among l. angustifolia, i.e., hardy and reliable even in continental climate (zones 5 and 6). He gave it an apt name PLATINUM BLONDE™.PLATINUM BLONDE™ is a beautiful lavender with pale yellow to creamy white variegated, aromatic foliage. In late June rise about 40-50 cm tall stems topped with short, spike-like inflorescence producing medium violet, fragrant flowers opening from pale violet buds. The overall colour feeling of the plant is rather warm, not silvery or true platinum thanks to a warmer shade of the variegation.
The inflorescences are short and more reminiscent of dwarf varieties, which also reflects plant’s dense and compact habit. Its size usually does not exceed half a meter. Flowering lasts a long time as it comes in several flushes so you can see flowers usually until early September. You can encourage formation of new flower buds by removing stems with spent flowers and light feeding. The plant is protected by these patents: PP23834 (USA - 2013) and EU 31292 (Europe - 2012). Patents were applied for in Japan, South Africa, and Australia, too.
We recommend pruning the plant every spring leaving about a third or maximum half its size to maintain a dense and profusely flowering shrub. You can remove the stalks with spent flowers after flowering to make the clump look neat again, or even sooner if you wish to dry the flowers (hung upside down in an airy room). It will grow in most types of soil provided it is well-drained and not water-logged. The only thing it needs is a sunny location. Ultimate hardiness of PLATINUM BLONDE™ has not been established yet but is expected to be just about the same as the species, i.e., around -27 °C (USDA 5b).
Last update 29-06-2022
