How to choose the right Lavender?
Lavender Types, Lavender Varieties
Lavender is a wonderful and very appealing plant: attractive, fragrant, easy to grow, drought and deer tolerant. It enjoys a long flowering season and is also highly versatile as it can be used in a myriad of ways: edging, hedging, accent plant, and containers, not to mention its culinary or medicinal uses. Lavender does not generally suffer from any pest or disease attack and its only requirements are a site with good drainage and an open sunny situation.
There are over 450 Lavender varieties and finding the best Lavender plant for your needs might be a daunting task. To assist you in selecting the right plant, we have prepared this guide, which we hope will be helpful to you.
Main Lavender Types
- Lavandula angustifolia, also called True Lavender or Common Lavender has long been cultivated for its high-quality lavender oil. Cultivars of this species tend to be compact in habit and have grayish-green narrow leaves and relatively short compact flower spikes. This Lavender type is great for formal or informal edging along walkways, raised wall beds, rock gardens, herb gardens, and in mass plantings. Flowering typically occurs from late spring to mid-summer.
Guide Information
Hardiness |
5 - 9
|
---|---|
Heat Zones |
5 - 8
|
Climate Zones | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
Plant Type | Herbs, Perennials, Shrubs |
Plant Family | Lavandula - Lavender |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) |
Water Needs | Low |
Maintenance | Average |
Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy |
Tolerance | Deer, Drought, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
Attracts | Butterflies |
Landscaping Ideas | Banks and Slopes, Beds and Borders, Edging, Hedges and Screens, Patio and Containers |
Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden, Traditional Garden |
Pictures: Sequim Lavender Festival, Downderry Nursery, 123RF Stock Photo
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Guide Information
Hardiness |
5 - 9
|
---|---|
Heat Zones |
5 - 8
|
Climate Zones | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
Plant Type | Herbs, Perennials, Shrubs |
Plant Family | Lavandula - Lavender |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) |
Water Needs | Low |
Maintenance | Average |
Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy |
Tolerance | Deer, Drought, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
Attracts | Butterflies |
Landscaping Ideas | Banks and Slopes, Beds and Borders, Edging, Hedges and Screens, Patio and Containers |
Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden, Traditional Garden |