Lavender Main Types

Lavandula dentata – French Lavender

• Also called Fringed Lavender, this evergreen shrub is native to Eastern and Southern Spain and derives its name from the toothed (dentate) leaves with a rich, aromatic lavender-rosemary scent.
• Showy compact flower heads with light purple bracts on top. Corollas are a light lavender blue, sterile bracts a slightly deeper color.
• Blooms nonstop from early summer to fall and nearly all year if given enough light and warmth.
• Not as fragrant as other lavenders, but the spikes are very colorful.
• Bright gray-green leaves with toothed leaf margins and a strong camphor-lavender or rosemary-like scent.
• Forms a 12-36 inches (30-90 cm) upright, medium-sized shrub with medium-length spikes
• Has an inflorescence (spike) that has reduced sterile bracts
• Hardy from zones 8 – 9

Lavandula x intermedia – Lavandin

• Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia) is a popular hybrid lavender combining the cold-hardiness of the English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and the heat tolerance of the Portuguese Lavender (Lavandula latifolia), therefore providing an answer to the many gardeners’ worldwide quest for a Provencal atmosphere in their gardens.
• Long spikes of highly fragrant flowers, from dark violet to white
• Profuse blooming from mid to late summer
• Both gray-green foliage and flowers are extremely aromatic
• Grows in a shrubby compact mound up to 30 inches tall (75 cm)
• Hardy from zones 5 – 9
• Great candidate for mass planting, hedges, herb gardens, borders, rock gardens, or as accent plants.

Lavandula latifolia – Portuguese Lavender

• Also called Spike Lavender, this lavender is native to the western Mediterranean region. Its scent is stronger and more pungent than the Lavandula Angustifolia scent.
• Pale lilac flowers on long stems
• Bloom occurs profusely from late spring to late summer
• Broad, coarse evergreen leaves.
• Strongly aromatic shrub growing to 1-3 feet tall (30–90 cm)
• Hardy from zones 6-8

Lavandula stoechas – Spanish Lavender

• Also called French Lavender or Butterfly Lavender, this type of lavender is native to the Mediterranean and Northern Africa. Grown for its silvery aromatic leaves, it is used extensively for essential oils or potpourris. The very distinctive flowers, however, steal the show with their “ears” sprouting from each flower head.
• Distinctive deep purple flower with a pinecone shape and upright flower petals.
• Bloom occurs profusely, almost continuously, from mid-spring to late summer.
• The flowers are not fragrant, but the silvery foliage is very aromatic.
• Forms a bushy evergreen mound, 18-24 in. (45-60 cm).
• Hardy from zones 8 – 9
• Tolerates higher levels of humidity than English lavenders.
• Great in mass planting, as ground cover, in containers.

Planting and Growing Lavender

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.