What are the features of 'Royal Velvet' lavender?

'Royal Velvet' lavender (Lavandula angustifolia 'Royal Velvet') is a highly esteemed cultivar of English lavender, widely appreciated by gardeners and commercial growers alike. It's known for a combination of classic English lavender traits with some particularly enhanced features, making it a very reliable and desirable variety.

Here are the key features of 'Royal Velvet' lavender:

1. Vibrant, Deep Purple Flowers:

   • 'Royal Velvet' is particularly celebrated for its rich, dark, velvety, deep violet-blue to dark purple flowers. The color is intense and holds well, even when dried. The calyxes (the part that holds the petals) are often a dark navy blue, while the petals (corollas) are violet, creating a striking multi-dimensional deep purple hue.

   • The flower spikes are notable for being long and elegant, often reaching 3-4 inches in length, and are held upright on strong stems. This makes them excellent for cutting.

2. Exceptional Fragrance (Culinary Quality):

   • As an Lavandula angustifolia (English lavender) variety, 'Royal Velvet' boasts the classic sweet, clean, and pure floral lavender fragrance. It has a very low camphor content (typically less than 0.6% in its essential oil), ensuring a clean, non-medicinal scent.

   • This makes it a prime choice for culinary use. Its mild and pleasing flavor is excellent for baking, teas, infusions, honeys, and savory dishes.

   • Its strong and lasting aroma also makes it a favorite for aromatherapy, sachets, potpourri, and other crafts.

3. Good for Drying and Crafts:

   • One of the standout features of 'Royal Velvet' is its superior drying quality. The flowers retain their vibrant, deep color and strong fragrance exceptionally well when dried. This makes it a top choice for dried flower arrangements, wreaths, lavender wands, and scented sachets. The long, sturdy stems contribute to this ease of use.

4. Growth Habit: Medium-Sized and Bushy:

   • 'Royal Velvet' typically grows into a well-formed, bushy, and semi-woody perennial shrub. It usually reaches a mature height of 24-30 inches (60-75 cm) tall and about 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) wide, though some sources may list it slightly larger (up to 3 feet in ideal conditions).

   • Its foliage is narrow, aromatic, and a soft gray-green, providing a lovely backdrop for the dark blooms. It remains evergreen in warmer climates.

   • Its relatively compact and tidy habit makes it versatile for various garden designs.

5. Cold Hardiness and Adaptability:

   • 'Royal Velvet' is a solid cold-hardy English lavender, generally reliable in USDA Zones 5-9. This makes it a suitable choice for many northern climates, including areas like Door County WI, provided it has the essential well-drained soil.

   • It exhibits good drought tolerance once established, thriving in dry to medium moisture conditions.

   • Like all lavenders, it requires full sun (at least 6-8 hours daily) and exceptionally well-drained soil. It prefers lean, sandy, or rocky soils with a neutral to alkaline pH (pH 6.7-7.5). Good air circulation is also beneficial, especially in areas with higher summer humidity.

6. Bloom Time and Potential Rebloom:

   • It typically has its main flush of bloom in late spring to early summer (around June-July in Northern Hemisphere climates).

   • 'Royal Velvet' is often cited as a "double bloomer" or having a long bloom period, meaning it can produce a good second flush of flowers in late summer or early fall, especially if the spent flowers from the first bloom are promptly deadheaded or harvested.

In summary, 'Royal Velvet' lavender is special because it combines:

• Intense, deep violet-blue flowers on long, elegant stems.

• A classic, sweet, and pure English lavender fragrance, making it excellent for culinary use.

• Superior drying qualities, retaining both color and scent for crafts.

• A dependable, medium-sized, bushy growth habit.

• Good cold hardiness (Zone 5-9) and adaptability to full sun and well-drained conditions.

• The potential for a second flush of blooms if properly managed.

These features make 'Royal Velvet' a highly popular and versatile choice, whether for a vibrant garden display, a fragrant addition to the kitchen, or for high-quality dried lavender products from a lavender farm or when you buy lavender online.