“Silver Anouk lavender (Lavandula stoechas 'Silver Anouk') is one of those plants that has it all — stunning silver foliage paired with dark violet flowers topped by lighter purple bracts. This…”
Hydrangea chinensis
'Silver Anouk' Lavender Stands Up to Drought in the Garden or Containers
Silver Anouk lavender (Lavandula stoechas 'Silver Anouk') is one of those plants that has it all — stunning silver foliage paired with dark violet flowers topped by lighter purple bracts. This fragrant beauty handles heat and drought without breaking a sweat, resists diseases, and performs beautifully in borders, rock gardens, and containers. It starts blooming in spring and keeps at it for weeks. 'Silver Anouk' is a Spanish lavender cultivar, and here's the thing — it's much more likely to thrive in hot, humid climates than English lavender (L. angustifolia and L. x intermedia).
Common name: 'Silver Anouk' lavender
Botanical name: Lavandula stoechas 'Silver Anouk'
Origin: The species Lavandula stoechas hails from the Mediterranean region. The cultivar 'Silver Anouk' was discovered as a natural mutation of a Spanish lavender called 'Anouk' at a nursery in the Netherlands — one of those happy accidents that plant people love.
Flowers: Deep purple flowers appear in upright spikes, topped with light, leaf-like bracts that give them that distinctive Spanish lavender look. Flowering kicks off in spring and can last for weeks. Deadheading may keep the show going even longer.
Foliage: The leaves are fine textured and a gorgeous silver color — noticeably more silver than its greenish parent 'Anouk'. They've got a pine-like fragrance that's just wonderful.
With its fragrance and fuzzy feel, Spanish lavender tends to stay off the deer's menu. Check out "Perennials That Deer Avoid in the Garden" for more options if deer are a problem in your yard.
Size and habit: An evergreen subshrub, 'Silver Anouk' grows 24 to 30 inches tall and wide, with upright woody stems forming a tidy low mound.
Growing 'Silver Anouk' lavender
How to grow it: Plant this Spanish lavender in loose, low-nutrient soil that drains quickly. To guard against rot, position the crown of the plant just slightly above ground level and top-dress with gravel. And here's a key one — don't fertilize! This is a drought-tolerant perennial, but remember that even drought-proof plants need regular moisture while they're settling into the garden. Once it's done blooming, deadhead 'Silver Anouk' and shear the stems back by up to half their length to keep it looking neat. USDA Zones 6–10.
Image courtesy of Monrovia
