Lavender Grosso 2 Litre Pot

Lavandula × intermedia 'Grosso' – Large-Flowered French Hybrid Lavender

Lavandula × intermedia 'Grosso' is one of the finest and most widely grown lavenders available, a vigorous French hybrid celebrated for its exceptionally large, richly fragrant flower spikes and bold, bushy habit. A cross between Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula latifolia, 'Grosso' inherits the best qualities of both parents — the intense, warm fragrance prized by the perfume industry and the impressive size and vigour that makes it such a dramatic presence in the garden. Flowering in mid to late summer, it produces long, branched stems carrying deep violet-blue flower spikes above broad mounds of soft, silver-grey aromatic foliage. Hardy, drought tolerant once established, and remarkably long-lived with proper care, 'Grosso' is outstanding for large-scale planting, fragrant hedges, gravel gardens, and naturalistic Mediterranean schemes.

Habit & Appearance

Foliage:
Broader and more silvery than traditional English lavenders, the soft grey-green leaves form generous, rounded mounds of aromatic foliage that provide strong year-round structure. The leaves are richly scented when touched or brushed, filling the surrounding air with warm, complex fragrance throughout the growing season.

Flowers:
From mid to late summer, 'Grosso' produces an impressive display of tall, branched flower stems carrying exceptionally long, dense spikes of deep violet-blue flowers. The blooms are intensely and warmly fragrant — among the most strongly scented of all garden lavenders — and are irresistible to bees, butterflies, and a wide range of beneficial pollinating insects. The flower spikes are also highly valued for cutting and drying, retaining their fragrance and colour beautifully when harvested.

Form:
More vigorous and substantially larger than Lavandula angustifolia, 'Grosso' develops a bold, domed, spreading habit that commands attention in the garden. Its generous proportions make it ideally suited to large borders, mass planting, and informal fragrant hedging, where its presence delivers maximum visual and sensory impact.

Growing Conditions

Position:
Plant in full sun for the strongest flowering performance and the most concentrated fragrance. Lavandula × intermedia 'Grosso' demands an open, sunny aspect and will not thrive in shade or restricted, poorly ventilated positions. Good air circulation around the plant also helps maintain health and vigour.

Soil:
Free-draining soil is essential. 'Grosso' performs best in light, sandy, or chalky soils and tolerates poor, low-fertility conditions with ease. Heavy, wet, or waterlogged soils — particularly in winter — are highly damaging and will cause root rot and rapid deterioration. On heavier soils, incorporating plenty of grit or sharp sand at planting time is strongly recommended to ensure adequate drainage.

Hardiness:
Hardy throughout most of the UK, tolerating temperatures down to approximately -10°C to -15°C. As a hybrid lavender, 'Grosso' is slightly less cold-hardy than pure Lavandula angustifolia forms in very exposed or waterlogged situations, but performs reliably in free-draining soils across the country. A sheltered position or a light mulch of grit around the crown can offer additional winter protection in colder regions.

Watering:
Once established, 'Grosso' is highly drought tolerant and requires very little supplementary watering. Overwatering or consistently wet soil around the roots is far more likely to cause problems than dry conditions, and should be avoided at all times.

Care & Pruning

Pruning:
Regular pruning is the single most important aspect of maintaining healthy, productive 'Grosso' plants over the long term. Trim back the flowered stems promptly after flowering in late summer, cutting into the leafy growth but taking great care never to cut back hard into old, bare, woody stems below the foliage zone, as lavender will not reliably regenerate from old wood. A second, lighter tidy in early spring removes any winter damage and encourages fresh, vigorous new growth. Annual pruning keeps plants compact, shapely, and productive for many years.

Feeding:
Little or no fertiliser is required. Like all lavenders, 'Grosso' thrives in lean conditions and performs best when not over-fed. Nitrogen-rich fertilisers in particular should be avoided, as they promote excessive soft, leafy growth at the direct expense of flowering and fragrance.

General Maintenance:
Lavandula × intermedia 'Grosso' is a naturally robust and low-maintenance plant once established. Harvesting flower spikes as they reach peak colour prolongs the display and provides excellent material for drying. Over time, without regular pruning, plants can become woody, open, and less productive at the centre — consistent light trimming each year is the key to keeping 'Grosso' at its generous, fragrant best.

Perfect For

• Large Borders & Mass Planting: The bold scale and vigour of 'Grosso' makes it superb for larger planting schemes where a strong, fragrant presence is desired.

• Fragrant Hedging: Excellent for creating generous, informal lavender hedges along paths, driveways, and garden boundaries.

• Gravel & Mediterranean Gardens: Thrives in the open, sunny, free-draining conditions of gravel and Mediterranean-inspired planting schemes.

• Pollinator & Wildlife Gardens: Among the most bee