Lavandula x intermedia 'Gros Bleu' Lavender

Lavandula × intermedia ‘Gros Bleu’, commonly known as Gros Bleu lavender, (pronounced like Grow Blue) is a standout variety prized for its exceptionally long stems and rich, true purple flower color. Among lavandins, ‘Gros Bleu’ is widely recognized for delivering one of the truest purples available, and that color holds beautifully whether the flowers are used fresh or dried.

This vigorous evergreen shrub forms a well-balanced plant with strong stems rising above aromatic gray-green foliage. In midsummer, it produces an abundant flush of showy flower spikes that create dramatic visual impact in the landscape while also excelling in bouquets, wreaths, and craft projects.

‘Gros Bleu’ is a favorite not only for its beauty, but also for its reliability and performance. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, tolerates heat and drought once established, and returns year after year with consistent bloom. For growers seeking a lavender that performs equally well in the garden and in cut-flower applications, this variety is a top choice.

Plant Highlights

• Lavandin with true purple flower color
• Exceptionally long stems for cutting and arranging
• Color holds well fresh and dried
• Strong, upright growth with reliable performance
• Excellent for bouquets, wreaths, and crafts
• One of our top-performing and most trusted varieties

Plant Details

• Botanical name: Lavandula × intermedia ‘Gros Bleu’
• Common name: Gros Bleu lavandin lavender
• Plant type: Evergreen shrub
• Mature size: Approx. 3 ft. tall × 3 ft. wide
• Flower color: True purple
• Bloom time: Midsummer
• Foliage: Gray-green, aromatic
• Sun exposure: Full sun
• Soil: Well-draining soil
• USDA Zones: 5–9

Best Uses

• Fresh and dried bouquets
• Floral crafts and wreaths
• Cut flower gardens
• Mass plantings and hedges
• Sunny landscape beds
• Lavender farms and production gardens

This Lavender Is a Great Fit If You:

• Want true purple flowers, not bluish-gray
• Cut lavender for bouquets, wreaths, or drying
• Need a strong, upright plant that won’t flop
• Are planting full sun with good drainage
• Want a proven, reliable lavandin, not an experiment

 Gros Bleu vs Other Lavandins

• Gros Bleu: truest purple, longest usable stems, excellent fresh and dried
• Grosso: heavier oil, slightly grayer purple
• Riverina Alan: larger shrub, more vigorous, slightly later bloom

If color and stem length matter most → Gros Bleu is the clear choice.