Lavandula dentata

French Lavender / Toothed Lavender

Botanical Name: Lavandula dentata
Family: Lamiaceae
Origin: Mediterranean region
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub

Overview

A classic Mediterranean lavender perfectly suited to Adelaide’s warm, dry climate, Lavandula dentata forms a soft, aromatic mound of grey-green foliage topped with long-lasting mauve-purple flower spikes. One of the most heat-tolerant and low-maintenance lavenders for SA, it flowers for much of the year—often from late winter through summer—with a naturally bushy, tidy form that responds well to light clipping. The finely toothed foliage is distinctly fragrant, releasing a clean, resinous lavender scent when brushed, and may develop slight silver or grey tints in dry or coastal conditions. Ideal for borders, hedging, coastal gardens, alfresco areas and waterwise Mediterranean plantings.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 0.6–1.0 m H × 0.6–1.0 m W (naturally rounded, compact habit)
• Growth Rate: 25-40 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Aromatic grey-green to silver-green leaves with soft toothed edges; stronger silver tints in heat, dryness or coastal winds
• Flowers: Mauve-purple spikes with distinctive “rabbit-ear” bracts; blooms for an extended season—late winter through summer in SA, with autumn spot-flowering
• Seasonal Interest: Evergreen silver foliage year-round, with an exceptionally long flowering window from late winter–summer; foliage colour subtly intensifies in dry periods
• Wildlife Value: Highly attractive to bees, butterflies and other pollinators; valuable nectar source for home gardens
• Tolerance: Heat-tolerant, drought-tolerant (once established), coastal-tolerant, wind-tolerant, and light frost hardy. Performs best in free-draining soils and dislikes waterlogging. Handles Adelaide’s reflective heat and sandy/alkaline soils extremely well
• Planting Density: Low hedge or edging: 30–40 cm apart (≈2.5–3 plants per metre); Borders/mass planting: 45–60 cm apart
• Pet Friendly: Use caution — like most lavenders, foliage contains aromatic oils that may be mildly toxic if eaten in large quantities. Low palatability; keep prunings away from pets

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun essential (6+ hours) for best flowering, fragrance and compact growth
• Soil: Very well-drained sandy or loamy soil; raised beds and gravelly mixes ideal. Avoid heavy clay unless significantly improved
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8-12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10-14 days in summer; little needed in winter
• Maintenance: Shear lightly after major flowering flushes to maintain a neat dome and encourage repeated blooms. Avoid cutting into old wood. Light feed in early spring with a low-nitrogen fertiliser. Mulch with gravel or coarse organic mulch to reduce humidity at the crown
• Lifespan: 5-10+ years in suitable, well-drained sites
• Climate Zones: Suited to temperate and Mediterranean South Australian gardens, including coastal suburbs and inland heat zones
• Soil pH: Prefers neutral to alkaline soils; tolerates slightly acidic soils if drainage is excellent

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Low hedging along driveways and paths for a fragrant, Mediterranean look
• Mass plant in gravel or dry gardens with rosemary, olives, and ornamental grasses
• Grow in pots near alfresco areas to enjoy scent and long flowering close-up

Why You Will Love It

Beautifully fragrant, long-flowering and exceptionally heat-tolerant, Lavandula dentata is one of the most reliable lavenders for Adelaide. With its soft silver foliage and extended season of mauve blooms, it delivers colour, scent and structure with very little maintenance—perfect for modern, Mediterranean and coastal garden styles.