The French lavender grows into a dense and rounded shrub, to 3 ft. high and 3-4 ft. wide. Narrow green leaves have lobed margins that create a distinctly toothed and braided appearance. Flowers are light to medium blue-purple and develop on long stalks that extend 6-8 in. above the foliage. Best flowering begins in late winter into early spring, then can recur intermittently into summer and fall with timely pruning.
French lavender is the most vigorous and adaptable species of lavenders for Mediterranean plantings in Inland Empire gardens. It is well adapted to warm locations, tolerates winter temperatures to 20°F, and requires good drainage. One cultivar, L. d. var. candicans, is a robust plant that has gray foliage and a wider growth habit to 3-5 ft. across. It provide good foliage contrast and performs nicely as a clipped hedge. As with most lavenders, it grows very well for 3-4 years, but needs hard clipping and cutting to keep plants in good form and to encourage vigorous growth each season.