Skip to content

OPEN EVERY DAY 10AM - 5PM

$6.99 FLAT RATE SHIPPING. ORDERS OVER $50 SHIP FREE.

Is Spanish lavender edible in Wisconsin?

Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas) is generally considered edible regardless of where it's grown, including in Wisconsin.

However, the more important question for culinary purposes is: Is it palatable or desirable for cooking/baking? And the answer to that, for Spanish lavender, is almost universally no, it is not recommended for most culinary uses.

Here's why, specifically considering its use in Wisconsin:

  • Flavor Profile Remains the Same (Bad for Eating): Spanish lavender naturally contains high levels of camphor. This compound gives it a strong, medicinal, piney, or even bitter and soapy taste. Its flavor profile doesn't change just because it's grown in Wisconsin; it will still have those undesirable characteristics for most culinary applications like baking or sweet dishes.

  • Growing in Wisconsin: Wisconsin has cold winters, with USDA Hardiness Zones ranging from 3b to 5b. Spanish lavender is only hardy to USDA Zones 8-10. This means:

    • It is NOT winter-hardy outdoors in Wisconsin. If planted in the ground, it will almost certainly die during the winter.

    • It must be grown as an annual (planted each spring and discarded after frost) or grown in a container and brought indoors for the winter to survive.

    • The fact that it might not survive the winter in Wisconsin doesn't change its edibility, but it does affect how you would grow it if you intended to use it.

In summary for Wisconsin:

  • Is it edible? Yes, you can technically eat it, and it's not toxic.

  • Is it recommended for cooking/baking? No, absolutely not for typical recipes, especially in baking or sweet dishes. Its high camphor content makes it taste bitter and medicinal.

  • Can you grow it in Wisconsin? Yes, but you'll need to treat it as an annual or bring it indoors for the winter.

If you want to cook or bake with lavender in Wisconsin, always choose English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). It's not only cold-hardy enough to thrive outdoors in Wisconsin winters (making it a perennial for your garden), but it also has the sweet, floral flavor profile that is desirable in culinary applications.