Phenomenal Lavender (Lavandula x intermedia ‘Phenomenal’) is the most cold-hardy, heat-tolerant, and disease-resistant lavender variety available — an award-winning hybrid that performs where standard lavenders fail. Deep blue-purple blooms rise above silvery mounded foliage from late spring through early summer, filling the garden with intense fragrance that repels deer and draws bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Better Homes & Gardens named it a ‘Must Grow Perennial’ in 2013, and it’s earned that recognition every season since. Hardy in zones 4–9.

Best for: Garden borders, low hedges, containers, pollinator gardens, cut flowers, and fragrance landscaping.

Why Gardeners Choose Phenomenal Lavender

• Hardiest lavender available: Survives zone 4 winters that kill most lavender varieties — one of the few intermedia hybrids reliably rated to −20°F.
• Heat and humidity tolerant: Unlike most lavenders that rot in humid summers, Phenomenal resists crown rot, downy mildew, and powdery mildew — staying healthy through hot, muggy conditions in zones 7–9.
• Award-winning fragrance: Exceptionally aromatic even by lavender standards — recognized by Better Homes & Gardens as a ‘Must Grow Perennial’ for 2013.
• Deer and rabbit resistant: Aromatic oils naturally deter browsing — one of the most reliably deer-resistant perennials for sunny borders.
• Pollinator magnet: Blooms attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds in high numbers during the late spring and early summer flush.
• Culinary and medicinal versatility: Blooms and foliage are edible and widely used in cooking, baking, teas, aromatherapy, and homemade beauty products.

Planting & Care

• Light: Full sun — 6 or more hours of direct sun per day. Essential for dense flowering and disease resistance.
• Soil: Well-draining, lean soil is critical. Lavender struggles and rots in heavy clay or consistently moist soils. Amend with sand or gravel if needed to improve drainage.
• Growth rate: Fast — establishes quickly and fills in to a full mounded form within one to two seasons.
• Mature size: 24–32 inches tall × 24–32 inches wide — a full, rounded mound of silvery foliage topped with tall flower spikes.
• Watering: Water consistently during the first 4–6 weeks after planting. Once established, water sparingly — Phenomenal Lavender is drought-tolerant and prefers to dry out between waterings.
• Feeding: Light application of low-nitrogen fertilizer or bone meal in early spring. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds which promote leafy growth at the expense of blooms.
• Pruning: Shear by one-third in early spring as new growth emerges, and again lightly after the first bloom flush to encourage rebloom. Never cut into old woody stems below the green growth zone.
• Special care: Excellent air circulation is essential for disease resistance. Avoid planting in low spots or against walls that trap humidity. In zones 4–5, a light layer of gravel mulch around the base helps protect the crown through winter.

Best Uses

• Sunny garden borders and pathway edging
• Low fragrant hedges and mass plantings
• Container and patio growing
• Pollinator and butterfly gardens
• Cut flower and dried flower arrangements
• Culinary, medicinal, and aromatherapy gardens

Grows Best In

• USDA Zones: 4–9
• Climate notes: Exceptional cold-hardiness for a lavender variety — survives zone 4 winters with good drainage and air circulation. Heat and humidity tolerant through zone 9 with excellent disease resistance. Drought-tolerant once established. Not suited to heavy clay, wet soils, or shaded sites regardless of zone.

Problem Solved

Phenomenal Lavender is the answer for gardeners in cold or humid climates who have tried and lost standard lavender — it delivers the same intense fragrance and beauty with dramatically improved hardiness and disease resistance.

Also the right choice for deer-pressured gardens where most fragrant perennials get browsed — lavender’s aromatic oils make it one of the most reliable deer-resistant plants in the sunny border.

Pro Tip

Plant in a raised bed or on a gentle slope where water drains away from the crown naturally — even in zone 4, Phenomenal Lavender overwinters successfully when drainage is excellent. The number one cause of lavender loss in cold climates is wet soil in winter, not cold temperatures. Get the drainage right and it will thrive for 10+ years.

Shipping Information

• Ships in Pint pot or Quart pot — 1 plant per order, fully rooted and ready to plant.
• No state shipping restrictions — ships to all 48 contiguous states.

Frequently Asked Questions

How fast does it grow?
Fast — fills out to a full mounded form within one to two growing seasons after planting.

Is it deer resistant?
Yes — one of the most reliably deer-resistant perennials available. Aromatic oils naturally deter browsing by deer and rabbits.

Does it grow in containers?
Yes — Phenomenal Lavender does well in containers with excellent drainage. Use a terracotta or unglazed pot to help wick excess moisture away from the roots.

How much sun does it need?
Full sun — 6 or more hours of direct sun per day is essential for strong flowering and disease resistance.

How tall will it get?
24–32 inches tall and 24–32 inches wide at maturity — a full, rounded mound with tall flower spikes above the foliage.