Lavender Bloom Status — 2021

The Lavender Labyrinth at Bees N Blooms has seven different varieties of lavender, with each of the seven circles having a different variety of lavender. We also have our production lavender field that is planted with Grosso lavender. Lavender bloom season in Sonoma County is from mid-May to early August, with most of the varieties in the labyrinth usually peaking in early to mid-June and the outer ring of the labyrinth and the grosso lavender production field peaking in late June to mid-July. Below we have photos of the current bloom status. We will update the lavender status every week, so check back!

You can also check out the Lavender Bloom Status pages from 2020 here and 2019 here.

July 7, 2021

Most of the labyrinth lavender is finished with bloom and is now developing the oils that make the amazing fragrances. The outer ring of the labyrinth, with Hidcote Giant, is getting close to peak. Quite beautiful and truly GIANT! The Grosso lavender field is ready for U-Cut harvest, with about 50% bloom now. Perfect for cutting to preserve the purple color.

June 23, 2021

Hidcote Giant is coming on strong as the colors from some of the earlier-blooming lavenders are fading, although still with some blooms. The Grosso lavender field is just coming into full bloom.

June 15, 2021

The Hidcote Giant (outer ring of the labyrinth) is coming into its own now, while the Munstead and Folgate are starting to fade a bit. The White Spike and Melissa lavenders are still blooming well, but this will probably be their last week of bloom. There is still some nice bloom on the Royal Velvet and Violet Intrigue. Just in time for the U-Cut Lavender Experience, the 1-acre Grosso field is just starting to bloom. It should be really beautiful for the U-Cut weekends, June 26-27 and July 10-11.

June 9, 2021

The entrance to the labyrinth is spectacular now, with the Folgate and Munstead lavenders at their peak. The White Spike and Melissa are there too, with a more subtle touch. Royal Velvet and Violet Intrigue are both blooming well too. A few blooms are starting to open on the Hidcote Giant, but the Grosso field doesn’t have any open blooms yet, just a hint of purple. We’re having a cool week, so that should extend the bloom a bit. Click on any photo below to expand.

June  3, 2021

The labyrinth is looking quite spectacular  now, with the Munstead, Folgate, White Spike, and Melissa ramping up to full bloom, with lots of open flowers. The bees know it, and the bumblebees and honey bees are very busy now! The Royal Velvet and Violet Intrigue are a bit behind, but coming on strong. The outer ring off the labyrinth, Hidcote Giant, is starting to get purple, but won’t be in full bloom for a few weeks.

May 24, 2021

This week, the Munstead, White Spike, Folgate, Melissa, and Royal Velvet lavender varieties all have more color in their buds, which means the labyrinth is starting to radiate light purple and white. The buds have not yet opened up into blooms yet on all of the varieties, but the color is coming on. The Hidcote Giant and Grosso lavenders are usually the last to bud and bloom, but their buds are forming nevertheless and will turn purple in the next couple of weeks. For now, they are green while the plant itself grows in circumference.

May 17, 2021

With higher temperatures predicted for next week, we expect the bloom to get better every day. Folgate, White Spike, and Munstead are looking quite full, with good color and buds well-formed but not open yet.  The buds on the Hidcote Giant are just starting to color up and the Grosso lavender has buds,  but no color. Click on any photo to enlarge it.

Hidcote Giant

The lavender in the outer ring of the labyrinth is Hidcote Giant, a lavandin hybrid.* One of the largest varieties of lavender, Hidcote Giant lives up to its name, forming a 4-foot wide by 4-foot tall bush, with 2-4 inch long bright violet blooms on 24-30 inch stems. With its long stem and intoxicating fragrance, Hidcote Giant  is a favorite both for making wands and for culinary use. Blooming in early summer, Hidcote Giant is lovely in both herb gardens and as a landscaping border.

Munstead

The second ring from the outside of the labyrinth as well as the sides of the entrance path are composed of Munstead lavender. Munstead is an angustifolia variety*, which forms a 2-2.5-foot tall shrub with stems 6-8 inches in length and bright purple blooms. With its robust fragrance and compact stem, Munstead lavender is a favorite for sachets and small dried bouquets, as well as a staple for culinary uses. Blooming once in the spring and again in late summer, Munstead lavender is a landscaping favorite for both its color and its fragrance.

White Spike  and Alba

The third ring from the outside of the labyrinth contains White Spike and Alba lavenders. White Spike is a smaller angustifolia lavender* that forms a 2-foot wide and tall shrub with bright white blooms and long stems, at 16-20 inches. With its elegant flowers and peppery scent, White Spike is a favorite in floral arrangements and for culinary use. Blooming in early summer, White Spike is a beautiful addition to any herb or cut flower garden. Alba is a larger very light purple lavender that blooms at bit later, with taller spikes of light lavender-colored buds.

Folgate

The fourth ring from the outside of the labyrinth contains mostly Folgate lavender, with a few Phenomenal lavender plants sprinkled in. Folgate is an angustifolia lavender* with an almost iridescent periwinkle bloom, forming a 3-foot wide and tall shrub with stems of 8-10 inches. With a beautiful scent and high oil content, Folgate is commonly used for lavender oil production. Blooming once in summer, Folgate is both a beautiful and practical choice for a garden.

Melissa

The fifth ring from the outside of the labyrinth contains Melissa lavender. Melissa is an angustifolia lavender*, forming a 2-foot tall and wide shrub with delicate light pink blooms and stems of 10-12 inches. It is a favorite for culinary use, as it has a slightly peppery flavor. Melissa blooms just once in early summer, and is beautiful in cut flower bouquets and a top choice for savory recipes with meats, salad dressings and marinades.

Violet Intrigue

The sixth ring from the outside of the labyrinth is composed of Violet Intrigue, an angustifolia lavender.* Violet Intrigue has lovely dark violet purple blooms and 10-12 inch stems on a 2-foot tall and wide shrub. This variety blooms once in the spring. With its strong stems and beautiful blooms, this lavender is an excellent choice for wands, wreaths and sachets.

Royal Velvet Lavender

The innermost ring of the labyrinth is composed of Royal Velvet lavender. Royal Velvet is an angustifolia lavender* with velvety soft, dark royal purple blooms and 12-15 inch stems with gray-green foliage. Blooming once in spring and again in late summer, Royal Velvet is beautiful in both fresh cut and dried bouquets and for making lavender sugar, lavender lemonade and dessert dishes.

Grosso Lavender

On one acre in the “North Block” of the farm, we are growing a type of lavender called, ‘Grosso’, the most widely planted lavender in the world. The plant grows as a 3-foot wide by 3-foot tall shrub and is renowned for its fragrant dark flowers that yield large amounts of lavender oil. Its flower spikes are rich with nectar for pollinators. This later-blooming variety is at its peak near the middle of July. A lavendin hybrid*, Grosso can only be propagated from stem cuttings, as the seeds are sterile.

*Lavender belongs to the mint family. “True lavenders” (Lavandula angustifolia) can be grown from seed and are often referred to as English lavenders. Hybrids created by crossing Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula latifolia are called lavandins (Lavandula x intermedia) produce sterile seed and must be propagated from cuttings.