Desert Lavender

Carried by 8 nurseries

Estimated plant range Estimated plant range

Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Plant description

Desert lavender (Condea emoryi) is a fast-growing, aromatic shrub prized for its silvery-white, lavender-scented foliage and vibrant purple flowers, which can bloom year-round. Its fuzzy leaves and stems add texture to gardens, and it forms a dense, upright bush that can reach up to 12 feet tall and 8 feet wide.

As a semi-deciduous plant, desert lavender may drop some of its leaves during the heat of summer. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it an excellent choice for low-maintenance, water-wise landscapes. While highly drought-tolerant, it can handle occasional summer watering, about once a month.

This versatile shrub can be pruned into a hedge, with pruning ideally done in summer or fall. desert lavender is deer-resistant and attracts pollinators, making its fragrant flowers a favorite for hummingbirds and bees.

Plant overview

Plant type

Shrub

Size

6 - 12 ft Tall
8 ft Wide

Form

Rounded, Upright Columnar

Growth rate

Moderate

Dormancy

Summer Semi-deciduous

Fragrance

Pleasant

Color

Blue, Lavender

Flowering season

Spring, Winter

Special uses

Hedge

Landscaping information

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Very Low, Low

Summer irrigation

Max 1x / month once established

Ease of care

Moderate

Cold tolerance

Tolerates cold to 25° F

Soil drainage

Fast

Soil description

Prefers sandy or decomposed granite soil.
Soil PH: 6.0 - 7.5

Maintenance

Prune as desired in Summer or Fall

Sunset Zones

8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

Natural setting

Site type

Gravelly, sandy washes, canyon bottoms and alluvial fans of the Colorado Desert, extending slightly into the Mojave Desert, usually as part of creosote bush scrub

Plant communities

Creosote Bush Scrub, Desert-Holly Scrub, Joshua Tree Woodland

Companion plants

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Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis), California Fan Palm (Washingtonia filifera), Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata), Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens), Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis), Blue Paloverde (Parkinsonia florida), White Bursage (Ambrosia dumosa), Chuparosa (Justicia californica), Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus cylindraceus), Desert Agave (Agave deserti), Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa), Indigo Bush (Psorothamnus spp.), Smoke Tree (Psorothamnus spinosus), Apricot Mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua), Opuntia spp., numerous annual wildflowers

Caterpillars

Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

1 confirmed and 0 likely

Confirmed Likely

See all

Gray Hairstreak

Strymon melinus

Alternative names

Common names:

Bushmints

Botanical names:

Hyptis emoryi

Sources

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