short lavender plants

Top Short Lavender Varieties for New Zealand Gardens

When choosing short lavender plants, it’s important to consider both their growth habit and flowering performance so your garden shines season after season. Well-known compact lavenders often feature dense foliage and vibrant blooms, making them excellent for edging, pathways, or mixing with other shrubs.

• Lavender angustifolia 'Hidcote'
  One of the best loved short lavender plants, Lavender angustifolia 'Hidcote' is renowned for its deep purple flowers and dense, neat form. Typically growing to around 40-50cm high, it brings classic fragrance and beauty to containers, garden borders, or even modern landscapes.

• Lavender 'Sidonie'
  Another excellent compact option, Lavender 'Sidonie' offers delicate blush-toned flowers and soft grey-green foliage. Its low, tidy habit makes 'Sidonie' a favourite for pot planting and small gardens. In addition to its beauty, this variety attracts pollinators while staying comfortably petite.

• Lavender 'Lavish Blue'
  If you’re looking for reliable blue blooms on a neat plant, Lavender 'Lavish Blue' is a top pick. It reaches a modest height and bursts into flower throughout summer, providing visual interest and a soothing fragrance ideal for patios and borders.

• Lavender dentata (French Lavender)
  Although French lavender often grows a bit taller, some compact forms of Lavender dentata (French Lavender) can be pruned to stay short and bushy. Its serrated foliage and sunny spikes add a Mediterranean flair to both formal and informal garden spaces.

Planting and Uses for Short Lavender Plants

Short lavender plants are well-suited to both decorative and practical roles. Their smaller size makes them perfect for edging paths, filling gaps in perennial gardens, or planting as low hedges in formal settings. They also fare beautifully in pots and containers, where their manageable growth won’t crowd out other plants.

To grow the healthiest lavender, select a sunny spot with good drainage and avoid overwatering. Compact lavenders are especially appreciated for their resilience and drought tolerance once established. Plus, their aromatic leaves and flowers repel many pests and delight garden visitors—humans and bees alike.

Short lavender plants pair well with other silver-leaved shrubs, such as Perovskia atriplicifolia (Perovskia plant), to create layered, textural borders. In cottage gardens or along modern walkways, these compact cultivars inject colour, fragrance, and year-round interest.

Find Your Perfect Short Lavender Plants

At our New Zealand nursery, we offer a range of beautiful short lavender plants designed to thrive locally. Whether you’re after ‘Hidcote’ for classic elegance, ‘Sidonie’ for soft romance, or ‘Lavish Blue’ for vibrant colour, browse our selection and create a garden that fits your space and style. Get started today and treat your garden to the best in compact, fragrant lavender.