Melissa English Lavender | Soft White and Pink Culinary Lavender

Melissa is one of the most unique English lavenders available. Instead of the traditional deep purple flowers, Melissa produces elegant pale pink to creamy white flower spikes that create a soft, romantic look in the garden. Its sweet, mild fragrance and low camphor content also make it one of the finest lavender varieties for cooking, baking, teas, and herbal creations.

Our favorite culinary lavender. This compact English lavender is an excellent choice for herb gardens, cottage gardens, pollinator gardens, containers, and borders where its pastel blooms provide beautiful contrast with darker flowering plants.

Spring 2027 Preorder

Reserve your organically grown Melissa Lavender now for spring delivery. Local delivery is free. Quantities are limited, and plants will begin shipping or delivering in May 2027, weather permitting.

Melissa Lavender at a Glance

Why You'll Love Melissa Lavender

• Beautiful soft pink flowers unlike traditional purple lavender
• One of the best culinary lavender varieties
• Sweet, mild flavor perfect for baking and tea
• Compact plant ideal for smaller gardens and containers
• Excellent for pollinators
• Wonderful for dried flowers and sachets
• Grown in Michigan's Upper Peninsula using organic growing practices

Perfect For

Melissa is ideal for gardeners who want something a little different from traditional lavender. Its pastel flowers pair beautifully with white roses, catmint, salvia, yarrow, and other cottage garden favorites.

Because Melissa is an English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), it has a sweeter fragrance and lower camphor content than lavandins, making it especially well suited for culinary use.

How to Plant Melissa Lavender

Choose a location receiving at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily.

Plant in well-drained soil. Lavender dislikes wet feet, especially during winter. Raised beds, sandy soils, and gentle slopes all improve drainage and winter survival.

Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart to encourage good air circulation and healthy growth.

Watering

Water regularly during the first growing season while roots become established. Once mature, water deeply but infrequently, allowing the soil to dry between waterings.

Pruning

Lightly prune after flowering or in early spring when new growth begins. Avoid cutting into old woody stems. Regular pruning keeps plants compact, healthy, and productive.

Harvesting

Harvest stems when the first few flowers have opened for the best fragrance and flavor.

Melissa is especially prized for:

• Lavender sugar
• Cookies and cakes
• Tea blends
• Syrups
• Ice cream
• Lemonade
• Herbal blends

Growing Melissa in Michigan

Melissa performs well in northern gardens when planted in full sun with excellent drainage. Like all English lavender, winter survival depends largely on avoiding wet soil. Raised planting areas, gravelly soil, and good air circulation greatly improve success in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

About Our Plants

Our lavender plants are grown at Pause Lavender Farm in Michigan's Upper Peninsula using organic growing practices. We never use synthetic pesticides on our lavender.

Every plant is carefully grown in a northern climate and hardened for outdoor conditions before spring delivery.