Sensational Lavender Plants

• Variety: Sensational
• Species: Lavandula × intermedia (Dutch lavender / Lavandin)
• Colour: Deep violet-purple, darker than Phenomenal, on thick stems
• Foliage: Evergreen, aromatic, broad silver-green leaves; notably heavier than other Lavandins
• Height: 60–75cm (24–30in)
• Spread: 60–90cm (24–36in)
• Flowering: Late June to September, with strong secondary blooms after deadheading
• Scent: Sweet and floral for a Lavandin, with less camphor than Grosso or Phenomenal
• Hardiness: Fully hardy throughout the UK
• RHS AGM: No
• Introduced: By Lloyd Traven at Peace Tree Farm, Pennsylvania. The next generation after Phenomenal
• Sold as: P9 and 3L deep pots, grown on by us in Somerset from licensed young plants. Peat-free compost
• Plant outdoors: From late April in the south. May is safer for northern and exposed gardens
• Delivered: From April/May, weather dependent. Collection from Castle Cary also available

Sensational Lavender — Phenomenal's Bigger-Flowered Successor

Sensational is what happens when a breeder looks at one of the most successful lavender introductions of the last twenty years and decides it can be improved. Lloyd Traven at Peace Tree Farm in Pennsylvania bred Phenomenal; then he bred Sensational. The flowers are larger, the stems thicker, the habit more compact and upright, and the camphor note in the scent is lower. If Phenomenal was the plant that proved a Lavandin could look good all year round in a British garden, Sensational is the version that proves the point more emphatically. The flower spikes are around 10cm long, dense and fat, held on sturdy stems that do not flop even in wet weather. The colour is a deep violet-purple, a shade or two darker than Phenomenal's already strong showing.

It flowers from late June (earlier than most Lavandins) and, if you deadhead the first flush, produces a genuine second round of bloom that carries the display into September. The silver-green foliage is broader and heavier than Phenomenal's, giving the plant a more substantial, almost shrubby look through winter. It is fully hardy throughout the UK and, like its predecessor, tolerates humidity and heavy rain better than older Lavandin varieties. If we had to pick one weakness, it would be that Sensational is a new variety and has not yet been tested through as many British winters as Grosso or Phenomenal. Early signs, here in Somerset at least, are good.

Peace Tree Farm and the Phenomenal Family

Lloyd Traven runs Peace Tree Farm in Kintnersville, Pennsylvania, and he is responsible for a quiet revolution in lavender growing. Before Phenomenal appeared in 2007 (as a chance sport from Grosso), the standard advice for Lavandins in cold or humid climates was: don't bother. Phenomenal changed that because it simply refused to die in conditions that killed other varieties. Sensational is the deliberate follow-up: selected, not accidental, and protected by Plant Breeders' Rights (a bit like copyright for plants). The cultivar name is 'Tesseract'. Traven's stated aim was to produce a more compact plant with bigger flowers and lower camphor, and by most accounts he has succeeded. Whether the UK gardening public takes to Sensational the way it took to Phenomenal remains to be seen. We think it will.

Where Sensational Works Best

At 60–75cm, Sensational sits between the compact English lavenders and the tall, loose Lavandins like Grosso and Vera. It makes an impressive mid-border plant, a substantial low hedge (space at 45cm apart for a solid line), or a statement in a large pot (40cm minimum). For a layered lavender border, plant Hidcote or Munstead at the front, Sensational behind, and ornamental grasses or rosemary at the back. The thick stems make Sensational a good cut flower; the spikes hold their shape and colour well when dried. Browse our Dutch lavender range or see all our lavender plants.

Why Use Ashridge?

Your Sensational plants are grown on by us in Somerset from licensed young plants in peat-free compost. We only send them when conditions are right for planting, by next-day courier, and they come with our guarantee and support from the gardening team here if you need advice. We hold a Which? Best Plant Supplier award, which we mention because it keeps our customers happy when we do.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sensational lavender better than Phenomenal?

Different rather than better. Sensational has larger flowers, thicker stems, and less camphor in the scent; the habit is more compact and upright. Phenomenal has a longer UK track record while Sensational has yet to be tested in a hard winter. (Of course, we may never see another one of those). The truth is they are similar, coming from the same breeding programme.

What is a Lavandin? How is it different from English lavender?

Lavandin (Lavandula × intermedia) is a natural hybrid between English lavender and Spike lavender. The plants are bigger and the flower spikes longer. The scent is stronger but it has that camphor note English lavenders lack. Lavandins are hardier than people think; Sensational, Phenomenal, and Grosso are all fully hardy in the UK. The main difference for the gardener is scale: Lavandins are 60cm to over a metre while English lavenders don't get much taller than 60 cm. For cooking, English lavender is better but for dried flowers and moth deterrance pick a Lavandins.

Can I use Sensational lavender for oil or potpourri?

The thick flower spikes and sturdy stems make Sensational one of the best varieties for cutting and drying. The scent is sweeter and less camphor-heavy than Grosso's, which some people prefer in pot-pourri and lavender bags. For serious oil extraction you would still choose Grosso (the world standard for commercial lavender oil), but for home use Sensational produces plenty of fragrant material.

How far apart should I plant Sensational for a hedge?

45cm apart for a solid hedge. This is the standard spacing for Lavandins, which are wider-spreading than English varieties. At that distance, plants from 2L pots fill in by the end of the second summer; P9s take a season longer. Always plant into warm soil. May is ideal in most of the UK.

Does Sensational lavender come back every year?

Lavender is an evergreen shrub, not a herbaceous perennial; it keeps its foliage all year and does not die back in winter. Sensational's broad silver leaves look particularly good through the colder months. With annual pruning after flowering, a healthy plant should last eight to ten years before it gets too woody to recover. When that happens, take cuttings or plant fresh; you can put new lavender exactly where the old one was without any replant problems.