Munstead

Family: Lamiaceae Herb

Planting Schedule

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Aromatic as a summer breeze, Munstead Lavender fills the garden with a calm, silvery perfume and produces classic, neatly held flower spikes that feel poised and elegant in the hand.

Expect richly fragrant buds with a fine, dry texture that turns wonderfully aromatic when dried, making Munstead a favorite for sachets and fragrance blends. Grow it for its enduring beauty—an herbaceous mound that looks as refined as it smells, season after season.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 365 DaysHabit: Shrub

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Munstead Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Apr 6th	Jun 15th	Jun 15th – Jul 15th
Zone 1b	Mar 23rd	Jun 1st	Jun 1st – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Mar 16th	May 25th	May 25th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 6th	May 15th	May 15th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 6th	May 15th	May 15th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 10th	May 19th	May 19th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 6th	May 15th	May 15th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 4th	May 13th	May 13th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Feb 27th	May 8th	May 8th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Feb 23rd	May 4th	May 4th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Feb 20th	May 1st	May 1st – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Feb 14th	Apr 25th	Apr 25th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Feb 9th	Apr 20th	Apr 20th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Jan 30th	Apr 10th	Apr 10th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Jan 21st	Apr 1st	Apr 1st – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Jan 12th	Mar 23rd	Mar 23rd – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Dec 26th	Mar 6th	Mar 6th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 1st	Feb 9th	Feb 9th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Feb 28th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Feb 28th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Feb 28th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Feb 28th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Feb 28th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Feb 28th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Feb 28th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Feb 28th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	365
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Shrub
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	50
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Munstead’s flavor is all about the perfume: the buds come through as a dry, resinous floral that intensifies when cooked or steeped, but can turn soapy if you overdo it. Use it like a spice—infuse gently, then lean on honey, lemon, and cream to round the edges and make it sing.

Best Uses

dry it and steep for lavender syrup or quick tea
infuse cream or milk for custard, panna cotta, and gelato
bake into shortbread, cakes, or honeyed cookies where it can bloom
season lemonade or sparkling water with a restrained lavender-sugar pinch

Flavor Profile

floral, resinous aromatics dry, intensely fragrant buds cool, slightly camphor-like finish lightly bitter herbal edge

Kitchen Pairings

honey lemon vanilla dark chocolate almonds cream

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Lavandula angustifolia (Munstead) plants developing gray, fuzzy growth or dying back, and what should I do?

Gray mold (Botrytis) often shows up on Lavandula when foliage stays wet and airflow is poor. Water only at the soil line, space plants for good air movement, and remove any affected stems immediately. If it keeps spreading, apply a labeled fungicide for gray mold and avoid overhead watering for the rest of the season.

How often should I water Lavandula angustifolia during its main growing phase?

During active growth, water deeply only when the top 1–2 in (2.5–5 cm) of soil is dry, then let it drain completely—lavender does not tolerate consistently damp roots. In most home gardens this works out to about once per week in warm weather, but less in cooler or rainy periods. Mulch lightly and keep the crown out of standing moisture.

How can I tell when Munstead (Lavandula angustifolia) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when most flower spikes have formed and about half to two‑thirds of the buds are open, typically in mid-summer, for the best fragrance. Cut the stems in the morning after dew dries, leaving enough growth below so the plant can continue building buds. If you wait until nearly all florets are fully open and starting to fade, essential-oil intensity is usually lower.