French Lace lavender is a strikingly elegant herb that rewrites what you expect from lavender. Native to the warm Mediterranean and Canary Islands, this highly aromatic perennial sub-shrub grows 12, 24 inches tall and wide, clothed in deeply dissected, fern-like silver-green leaves that give it its distinctive lacy appearance. Unlike standard lavenders, it blooms continuously from June through September with showy flowers, thrives in zones 8, 10, and tolerates both drought and poor soils while remaining irresistible to pollinators. Its fast growth and deer-resistant nature make it a standout choice for gardeners seeking something both ornamental and herbally rewarding.
Partial Sun
Moderate
8-10
24in H x 24in W
—
High
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Lavandula multifida earns its 'fern leaf' nickname from those deeply lobed, delicate gray-green leaves that look nothing like traditional lavender foliage. The plant blooms nearly non-stop across the warm months, rewarding you with continuous harvests of fragrant flowers. What truly sets it apart is its willingness to thrive in challenging conditions: full sun, poor dry soils, drought, and deer pressure don't phase it. In zones 8, 10, it develops woody stems over time, earning its botanical classification as a sub-shrub rather than a soft perennial.
French Lace lavender is grown primarily as an ornamental herb and as an annual in colder zones. Its fragrant flowers and aromatic foliage can be dried and used in the same ways as traditional lavender: in herbal crafts, sachets, and aromatic preparations. The plant's continuous flowering makes it particularly valuable for prolonged harvests of dried flowers throughout the summer and fall.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds indoors at 65, 75°F, which typically takes place 6, 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Keep soil lightly moist until germination. Seedlings can be grown under bright light until large enough to harden off.
Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7, 10 days. Transplant after the last frost date into full sun locations with excellent drainage. Space plants 12, 24 inches apart to allow for mature width.
Harvest flowers once they have fully opened and the color is developed, typically from June through September. Pick flowers in the morning after dew has dried but before intense heat. Pinch or cut flower spikes just above the foliage to encourage further blooming. Dry harvested flowers in a warm, well-ventilated space away from direct sunlight for use in crafts and preparations.
Remove faded flowers throughout the growing season to extend blooming and maintain a tidy appearance. As the plant matures and develops woody stems over time, light pruning after flowering will keep it from becoming leggy. In zone 8, prune in spring after any danger of severe frost has passed to remove winter-damaged growth.
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“French Lace lavender hails from the warm climates of northwestern Mediterranean regions and the Canary Islands, where it evolved to handle intense sun, minimal rainfall, and poor soils. Its dissected, fern-like foliage represents a natural variation within the Lavandula genus, adapted to withstand Mediterranean heat and scarcity. The plant reached northern gardeners as a tender perennial treasure, prized for its ornamental lacy texture and continuous blooming habit. In climates cold enough to threaten its survival, it has been preserved and distributed by gardeners seeking both aesthetic beauty and practical herbal value.”