How to Grow English Lavender Grosso

Tiny cotyledons emerging, very fragile with narrow linear leaves. Growth is slow; seedlings may be only 1-2 inches tall after 4 weeks.

Keep soil moist but never waterlogged; provide 14-16 hours of bright light daily. Avoid damping-off by ensuring excellent air circulation. Bottom heat (70-75°F) accelerates germination.

Young plant develops bushy form with multiple stems and increasing number of narrow, linear, gray-green leaves. Plant begins to establish its characteristic mounded shape.

Transition gradually to outdoor conditions if grown indoors. Water less frequently as plant establishes. Pinch growing tips once or twice to encourage bushiness. Reduce fertilization; use low-nitrogen formula if needed.

Mature shrub with well-developed woody base, dense foliage, and established root system. Plant is 12-18 inches tall and becoming broader.

Establish deep watering schedule during dry periods. Begin light pruning after first year to shape plant. No fertilization needed in well-draining soil. Monitor for overwatering stress.

Long spikes (6-8 inches for Grosso) of deep purple, densely-packed florets emerge from the foliage. Peak bloom is midsummer. Flowers attract bees and other pollinators.

Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continued blooming and bushier growth, or allow some flowers to remain for extended ornamental display. Harvest flowers for drying at peak bloom when lower florets open but upper buds remain tight.

After bloom period, gray-green foliage persists. In cooler zones, plant becomes dormant but remains evergreen; foliage may take on purple or bronze tones.

Do not prune heavily in fall; wait until late spring (after last frost). Remove only dead or diseased wood. In zone 5, mulch lightly around base with gravel. No supplemental watering in dormancy unless drought conditions persist.