'Betty's Blue' lavender (Lavandula angustifolia 'Betty's Blue') is a highly regarded cultivar of English lavender, prized for its vibrant color, compact growth, and versatility. Like other Lavandula angustifolia varieties, it's a solid choice for colder climates (such as Door County WI) and is widely available when you buy lavender online.
Here are the key characteristics of 'Betty's Blue' lavender:
-
Flower Color: Deep Violet-Blue:
-
'Betty's Blue' is particularly celebrated for its intense, deep violet-blue flowers. The color is often described as a true, rich blue-purple, making a striking visual impact in the garden. The calyx (the cup-like structure holding the flower) is often dark purple, with the corolla (the petals) being violet, contributing to its deep hue.
-
The flowers form on short, terminal spikes that are upright and do not tend to splay, creating a tidy appearance.
-
-
Scent Profile: Sweet and Classic English Lavender:
-
As an Lavandula angustifolia cultivar, 'Betty's Blue' carries the quintessential sweet, pure, and aromatic fragrance characteristic of English lavenders. It has a low camphor content (typically less than 0.6% in its essential oil), ensuring a clean, non-medicinal scent.
-
This makes it an excellent choice for culinary applications, including baking, infusions, and savory dishes, as its flavor is mild and pleasant.
-
Its strong, delightful aroma also makes it popular for aromatherapy and crafts.
-
-
Growth Habit: Compact, Upright, and Tidy:
-
'Betty's Blue' forms a compact, mound-forming, and upright bush. It typically reaches a mature height of 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) tall and a similar spread, though some sources might list it up to 30 inches wide.
-
Its foliage is aromatic, slender, and typically silver-gray with a hint of green, providing a beautiful contrast to the deep blue flowers. It's evergreen in warmer climates.
-
Its tidy habit makes it suitable for formal settings, low hedges, edging, or container planting.
-
-
Hardiness and Growing Conditions:
-
Cold Hardy: 'Betty's Blue' is quite cold-hardy, typically thriving in USDA Zones 5-9. This makes it a reliable perennial for many northern regions, including Door County WI, provided it has proper care.
-
Drought Tolerant: Once established, it's very drought-tolerant, requiring minimal watering.
-
Full Sun & Well-Drained Soil: Like all lavenders, it demands at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily and exceptionally well-drained soil. It prefers lean, sandy, or rocky soils with a neutral to alkaline pH (pH 6.7-7.5). Poor drainage is the quickest way to kill a lavender plant, especially in winter.
-
Deer and Rabbit Resistant: Its strong aroma deters most Browse animals.
-
-
Bloom Time and Drying Quality:
-
'Betty's Blue' typically blooms once in mid-summer (around July in many Northern Hemisphere climates), with the potential for a lighter second flush if deadheaded after the initial bloom.
-
It is excellent for both fresh-cut and dried flowers. The deep violet-blue color holds exceptionally well when dried, making it a favorite for sachets, potpourri, and dried floral arrangements. Its strong, erect stems also contribute to its suitability as a cut flower.
-
Why 'Betty's Blue' is Popular:
-
Vibrant Color: The intense deep violet-blue is highly sought after for its visual appeal.
-
Classic Scent: Its true English lavender fragrance is perfect for a wide range of uses, from culinary to aromatic.
-
Drying Quality: Its ability to retain color and fragrance when dried makes it a top choice for crafts and floral design.
-
Compact and Tidy: Its neat growth habit makes it easy to incorporate into various garden designs, including smaller spaces.
Overall, 'Betty's Blue' is a robust and visually appealing English lavender cultivar that delivers on all the classic expectations: beautiful color, wonderful scent, and reliable performance, making it a staple for many gardeners and lavender farm operations. You can often find it available from sellers like islandlavender.com when you buy lavender online.