NEW ZEALAND BLUE

Species:  Lavandula angustifolia

Cultivar: ‘New Zealand Blue’

Flower Color: Medium-violet blue

Stem Length:  10 – 12 inches

Plant Height:  15 – 18 inches

Origin: Introduced by Van Hevelingen Nursery, Newberg, OR

This lavender cultivar was imported from New Zealand and thought to be L. angustifolia ‘Pacific Blue’, which it was not!  So the Van Hevelingens decided to name it ‘New Zealand Blue’ for their records.  When they took floral samples of this lavender to the U.S. Lavender Conference, several years ago, Nancy Baggett, author of The Art of Cooking with Lavender, thought it was one of the best culinary lavenders she had yet to come across!  From there, this lavender was accepted and sold as ‘New Zealand Blue’ in the Pacific NW.

This cultivar is grown by several LNW lavender farmers and used in some of their culinary lavender products.  The buds (calyces) and flowers (corollas) are sweetly scented and can be used fresh and dried in foods and beverages.  In the Pacific NW, this hardy lavender is a vigorous grower.  It will form a dense, compact bush over time and be covered with profuse flower spikes on sturdy stems. ‘New Zealand Blue’ blooms early in June and has a long bloom period.  It may also produce flowers throughout the summer, if it is harvested regularly.  Consider growing this cultivar in the landscape to create a fragrant, long-blooming lavender border.  It will provide a good supply of lavender bouquets for arrangements and crafts, and lavender for culinary use throughout most of the summer.

Photo credits: Andy Van Hevelingen