So many reasons to love different types of lavender!
Lavender is incredible! It blooms for weeks during the summer, requires minimal maintenance, attracts bees and butterflies while repelling deer, adds a delightful touch to recipes, and of course, smells absolutely fantastic! The flowers, stems, and foliage are filled with oils that sometimes waft through the garden on a warm breeze. However, the most intense experience comes from running your hands through the stems, releasing the aromatic oils. You can even use it to create an easy-to-make sugar scrub.
Growing lavender
There are approximately 30 lavender species and hundreds of cultivars. Although commonly mistaken for a perennial, lavender is actually a subshrub. This means it develops a woody base as it ages, while the long stems covered in foliage die back in cold winters.
Keep lavender healthy
Lavender thrives in well-drained soil and full sun. While it’s drought-tolerant, providing extra water during dry periods enhances oil production, resulting in more fragrant foliage. Regular pruning is necessary to maintain a tidy shape and encourage abundant flowering. Harvest the stems for your projects when the blooms are just starting to open.
Add fragrance to your garden with lavender
All varieties of lavender are fragrant, but some cultivars have a higher concentration of oils in their foliage, intensifying the aroma. Soil and weather conditions can also impact oil production. While most lavender flowers are shades of purple, pink or white blooms can also be found. Let’s explore a few species and their cultivars.
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Which type of lavender will you grow?
English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
This is the classic lavender with a strong, sweet scent and long stems topped by lavender to deep purple flowers. Deadheading encourages many cultivars to rebloom lightly. English lavender is commonly used in cooking, crafts, and dried arrangements. For drying purposes, deep purple blooming varieties are recommended as they retain their color and appearance longer than pink or white flowering varieties.
English lavender is known for its cold-hardiness and is widely available in garden centers. ‘Hidcote’ is a popular cultivar with deep purple blooms. It grows 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. If you prefer a smaller variety, ‘Petite Sweet Romance®’ only reaches 12 to 18 inches in height. Another interesting choice is ‘Miss Katherine’ with its pale pink blooms, growing 15 to 18 inches tall.
Blooms: Purple, blue, pink, or white in late spring to early summer
Size: 1 to 4 ft. tall, 1 to 5 ft. wide
Hardiness: Cold hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9
Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia)
Lavandin is a hybrid of two species, L. angustifolia and L. latifolia, producing a more camphor-like scent compared to English lavender. It is renowned for its long, sturdy stems (some reaching up to 2 feet in length) and high oil content, resulting in a stronger fragrance. Lavandin is perfect for lavender wands, dried arrangements, or projects such as soap making.
The grasslike appearance of lavandin’s long, slender stems makes it easy to incorporate into any perennial border. ‘Gros Bleu’ is a popular compact variety, growing 24 to 30 inches tall and wide. For a taller plant with a strong fragrance, consider ‘Provence,’ reaching 2 to 3 feet in height and width. Phenomenal® has garnered praise for its cold-hardiness, reliably returning in USDA zone 5. It also demonstrates good resistance to fungal diseases, which can be problematic for many lavender types in humid climates.
Blooms: Shades of purple or white in midsummer
Size: 2 to 5 ft. tall, 2 to 6 ft. wide
Hardiness: Cold hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8
French lavender (Lavandula dentata)
French lavender’s silver-gray foliage resembles it has been delicately trimmed with pinking shears. It emits a sweet scent perfect for sachets, potpourri, and various crafts. It is not typically used in cooking. The large lavender blooms start in late spring and continue until fall.
This species tolerates humidity better than English lavender, but it is not as cold-hardy. In areas where it is not suitable for planting in the ground, petite varieties like the 12- to 14-inch-tall-and-wide ‘Evermore Blue’ can be grown in containers on the patio. Enjoy its pretty leaves and lovely fragrance. Most French lavenders have green foliage, but ‘Linda Ligon’ offers irregular cream variegation.
Blooms: Purple in late spring to summer
Size: 2 to 4 ft. tall, 2 to 3 ft. wide
Cold hardiness: Cold hardy in USDA zones 9 to 10
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Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas)
The distinctive blooms of Spanish lavender resemble they are ready to take flight. The “flag” on top is a bract, a small leaf-like structure that varies in length depending on the cultivar. The species blooms purple. Cultivar ‘Bandera Pink’ is a compact variety, growing just 7 to 9 inches tall and 10 to 12 inches wide. It’s an excellent choice for a drought-tolerant front-of-the-border plant. ‘Lavela Compact White’ offers white flowers and grows 13 to 15 inches tall and 10 to 12 inches wide. Once the first flush of blooms fades, removing the spent blossoms can encourage a second round. For a striking display, try ‘Anouk’ with deep purple blooms and a mauve flag, growing 24 to 30 inches tall and wide.
Spanish lavender is the best choice in humid summers. It can tolerate muggy conditions without succumbing to fungal diseases, which can be detrimental to other lavender varieties with their attractive silver-gray foliage.
Blooms: Purple, pink, or white in spring to summer
Size: 1 to 4 ft. tall, 1 to 5 ft. wide
Hardiness: Cold hardy in USDA zones 8 to 11
