English Lavender, Portuguese Lavender, French Lavender, Spanish Lavender, Lavandin
Summary: The most-grown lavenders fall into five groups:
English (L. angustifolia, cold-hardiest, sweetest fragrance),
Lavandin (L. × intermedia, vigorous with very long stems),
Spanish (L. stoechas, earliest bloom with showy “rabbit-ear” bracts),
French / Fringed (L. dentata, soft toothed leaves, long season in mild climates), and
Portuguese (L. latifolia, heat-tolerant with camphor notes).
All prefer full sun, lean and sharply drained soils, and light annual shearing for shape and longevity.
| Exposure | Full sun (6–8+ hrs); open airflow |
|---|---|
| Soil | Very well-drained, sandy/loamy; lean/low fertility; pH neutral–alkaline |
| Water | Low once established; avoid overwatering, especially in summer |
| Hardiness (approx.) | English: USDA ~5–9 · Lavandin: ~5–9 · Spanish (stoechas): ~8–9 · French/Fringed (dentata): ~8–11 (best frost-free) · Portuguese (latifolia): ~6–8 |
| Bloom timing | Spanish earliest (spring); English late spring–early summer; Lavandin midsummer; Dentata has a long season in mild climates |
| Fragrance & use | Sweet (English, culinary/sachets); strong/camphor (lavandin, oils/cutting); resinous showiness (Spanish); soft herbal (dentata, bedding/containers) |
| ID tips | Stoechas: showy bracts on top; Dentata: soft, toothed leaves; Latifolia: broader leaves; Intermedia: very long stems; Angustifolia: narrow leaves, compact mounds. |
Extremely popular, Lavender (Lavandula) includes about 47 species, which are cultivated in temperate climates either as ornamental plants for the landscape or for the extraction of essential oils. Sun lover, this perennial or herb thrives in well-drained soil, is drought tolerant, and is pest or disease-resistant. Colors, flower or leaf shapes, bloom times, and hardiness vary across varieties. Since it can be confusing to know which lavender plant is right for your garden, here is a brief summary of the top 5 varieties.
| Hardiness |
5 - 11 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Genus | Lavandula |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late) |
| Maintenance | Average |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy |
| Tolerance | Drought, Deer, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
| Attracts | Bees, 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 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Creating a picturesque garden with lavender can be a rewarding project. These fragrant, drought-tolerant plants require a few specific conditions to thrive. Here are your steps to success:
Variety Selection: Lavenders come in several varieties with different growth habits, flower forms, and hardiness. English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is a popular choice due to its hardiness and lovely scent.
Site Selection: Lavenders love sunlight and good air circulation, so choose a spot in your garden that receives at least 6 hours of sun daily. Avoid areas prone to standing water.
Soil Preparation: These Mediterranean natives prefer well-draining soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH. If your garden has heavy clay soil, consider amending it with compost or growing your lavender in raised beds or containers.
Planting Time: Spring is the ideal time to plant lavenders after the risk of hard frost has passed.
Planting Process: Dig a hole twice the width and the same depth as the root ball. Place the plant in the hole, ensuring the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface. Backfill the hole, firm the soil around the base of the plant, and water thoroughly.
Watering: Lavender plants are drought-tolerant once established but need consistent watering until they mature.
Maintenance: Prune your plants back by about a third in early spring to promote new growth and bushiness. Avoid heavy winter mulches, which can lead to root rot.
Patience is key when growing lavender. It may take a season or two to establish fully, but the wait is well worth it for the beauty and fragrance they add to your garden.
Most retail and landscape plantings use five groups: English (Lavandula angustifolia), Lavandin (L. × intermedia), Spanish (L. stoechas), French/Fringed (L. dentata), and Portuguese (L. latifolia). Each group differs in cold-hardiness, fragrance profile, and flowering habit, so choosing by climate and purpose is key.
English lavender is the most cold-tolerant and typically survives to about USDA Zone 5 with excellent drainage and winter crown protection. Hardy lavandins can also cope in cooler zones, but Spanish and French (dentata) lavenders usually need mild, frost-free winters.
Common names can be confusing. Spanish lavender (L. stoechas) has showy top bracts that look like “rabbit ears” and flowers very early. French/Fringed lavender (L. dentata) has soft, toothed leaves and a long bloom season in mild climates; it’s often labeled “French lavender” in the trade, whereas L. stoechas is better called “Spanish” to avoid mix-ups.
Lavandin is a hybrid between English and Portuguese lavender, combining vigor and very long stems (excellent for cutting and oil production) with a stronger, sometimes camphoraceous fragrance. It typically blooms a bit later than English and forms larger mounds, great for hedges and rows.
For cooking, teas, and sweet-scented sachets, English lavender is preferred because of its cleaner, sweeter perfume. Lavandins and Portuguese types have higher camphor notes, which can taste resinous; they shine more in oils, potpourri, and cutting gardens than in the kitchen.
You’ll do well with lavandin, Portuguese, and Spanish lavenders, which thrive in heat and sun when the soil is sharply drained. French/Fringed (dentata) also performs beautifully in mild, frost-free areas, often flowering for extended periods.
Spanish lavender usually opens first in spring, providing early color. English follows in late spring to early summer (often with a light rebloom if sheared), while lavandin peaks around midsummer. In frost-free climates, dentata can flower over a long season with periodic grooming.
All lavenders demand excellent drainage, lean soil, and full sun. Water consistently to establish, then sparingly—deep, infrequent watering is better than frequent sips. Overwatering and heavy, organic mulches at the crown are the fastest routes to root/crown rot.
Shear plants by roughly one-third right after the main flush to keep compact mounds and encourage repeat flowers (English and some Spanish types). Avoid cutting into leafless old wood, which seldom resprouts; begin light shaping from year one to prevent legginess.
Lavandin cultivars (e.g., ‘Grosso’, ‘Provence’, ‘Phenomenal’) produce long, straight stems ideal for fresh or dried arrangements and are widely used in commercial oil production. English lavender still leads for sachets and culinary use due to its sweeter, classic fragrance.
Yes, with strategy. Use raised beds, amend with grit or gravel to speed drainage, mulch with gravel (not bark) around the crown, and space for airflow. Choose hardy English or lavandin cultivars, plant slightly high, and avoid summer overwatering.
Look for cues: Stoechas has conspicuous bracts on top of the flower heads; dentata has toothed, soft leaves; latifolia has broader leaves and a camphor scent; intermedia forms large mounds with very long stems; angustifolia stays more compact with narrow leaves and a sweet perfume. Checking the botanical name on the tag removes doubt.
Pictures are courtesy of s1001 / ElianeHaykal / 123RF Stock Photo
| Hardiness |
5 - 11 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Genus | Lavandula |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late) |
| Maintenance | Average |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy |
| Tolerance | Drought, Deer, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
| Attracts | Bees, 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 |
Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
Join now and start creating your dream garden!
Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
Join now and start creating your dream garden!
