Variety: Edelweiss
Species: Lavandula × intermedia (Dutch lavender / Lavandin)
Colour: White — buds open with a pale pink blush that fades to pure white
Foliage: Evergreen, aromatic, grey-green
Height: 60–75cm (24–30in)
Spread: 60–75cm
Flowering: July to September, later than English lavenders
Scent: Strong, sweet — less camphor than Grosso, unusually gentle for a Lavandin
Hardiness: Fully hardy throughout the UK
RHS AGM: No
Introduced: Believed to have originated in Kent
Sold as: Pot-grown plants (P9 & 2L available depending on season)
Plant outdoors: From late April onwards when soil is warming
Delivered: From April/May, weather dependent

Edelweiss Lavender — A White Lavender that really is

White lavender is one of those ideas that sounds better than it usually looks. Most are small, reluctant to flower, or go a disappointing grey-green when they dry. Edelweiss is the exception. It is a Lavandin — the same sub-species as Grosso and Phenomenal — which gives it the vigour and height that most white lavenders lack. The flowers open from buds that start with a pale pink blush, fading to pure white as the spike matures, which means you get a soft, shifting display rather than a flat block of colour.

As a garden plant, Edelweiss is steady and reliable. It makes a broad, rounded mound of grey-green foliage about 60–75cm across, with flower spikes held well above on long stems — good for cutting. The scent is sweeter and gentler than most Lavandins, without the camphor hit that Grosso carries. It also flowers later than white English lavenders such as Arctic Snow, from July into September, and it is hardy in the UK.

A Different Kind of Lavender Border

White lavender changes how a border looks. Where purple lavender says Mediterranean, cottage garden, or traditional English, white says something more contemporary. Edelweiss works beautifully in modern planting schemes - Piet Oudolf has been known to use it — with ornamental grasses, with pale roses, with silver foliage plants like Artemisia and Stachys. It is the lavender for people who want the scent and the structure but not the colour cliché. It also makes a quietly striking single-colour hedge, though you need to accept that white lavender will never have the visual punch of royal purple — what it loses in drama it gains in subtlety.

Planting Companions

The classic pairing is with Hidcote — deep purple against white for a clean, high-contrast combination. Plant Edelweiss behind Rosea for a pink-and-white scheme that nobody expects from lavender. Alongside rosemary, it makes an evergreen, low-maintenance Mediterranean border in silver and white. For a more dramatic effect, alternate it with Grosso in a mixed Lavandin hedge — the white and blue-purple together at the same height is a strong combination.

Why Ashridge?

Edelweiss is grown right here in the West Country. We deliver by next-day courier, and your plants come with our guarantee and advice from gardeners in Somerset if you need it. See our Dutch lavender collection or browse all our lavender plants. Our Feefo Platinum Service Award says something too.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best white lavender?

Edelweiss is the tallest and most vigorous white lavender we sell. It is a Lavandin, so it has more flower power than white English lavenders like Arctic Snow. If you want a compact white for a small space or a pot, Arctic Snow is the better choice. If you want presence and cutting stems, Edelweiss.

Does white lavender smell the same as purple?

This one does. There is less camphor in Edelweiss than in other Lavandins, which makes it one of the gentler-scented varieties in our range.

Can I grow Edelweiss in a pot?

You can, though like all Lavandins it is a bigger plant than English lavenders. Use a pot at least 35cm across with sharp drainage. If you want white lavender specifically for a container, Arctic Snow will stay more compact. Full advice in our lavender growing guide.

Is Edelweiss lavender good for cooking?

Not really (like most Lavandins). For cooking look for English lavenders like Munstead. The flowers make a pretty garnish, though — white lavender on a dark chocolate cake is a good look.

When does Edelweiss lavender flower?

July to September — later than English lavenders and roughly the same window as Grosso. Plant it alongside Munstead or Hidcote and you get colour from June right through to early autumn.

Dutch Lavandin Plants

'Edelweiss' White Dutch Lavender Plants