Lavender is one of the most attractive and versatile garden plants. This woody perennial herb is easy to care for, with evergreen leaves and flowers in shades of purple, mauve, pink or white.
You can harvest lavender for cut bouquets, as a fragrance, for drying, or for culinary purposes, and enjoy its decorative properties in your garden.
Lavender plants native to the Mediterranean region generally prefer well-drained soil, warm temperatures, and plenty of sun.
Different species of lavender have slightly different properties and care needs, but they share several useful characteristics, including resistance to garden pests such as deer, drought tolerance, fragrant flowers, and minimal care.
Here are 23 types of lavender you can use in your garden.
Warning:
Lavender plants ( Lavendula species and hybrids) are poisonous to cats, dogs, and horses.
Like French lavender, Spanish lavender's tall pink-purple inflorescences hide the tiny flowers they contain. The flowers and leaves of this compact, low-growing plant are edible. This heat-tolerant species requires plenty of sun and warm temperatures for normal development.
Name: Spanish lavender ( Lavandula stoechas ).
USDA hardiness zones: 7b-9b.
Flower color: pink
Light Full Sun
Land well-drained soil , neutral to alkaline.
Adult size: 12 to 18 inches high, 18 to 24 inches wide.
English lavender is one of the most common varieties with tall stems covered in small blue flowers in mid-summer. This hardy herb is a perennial in cold climates, making it ideal for northern gardeners.
Name: English lavender ( Lavandula angustifolia ).
USDA hardiness zones: 4b-9b.
Flower color: light purple.
Light Full Sun
Land well-drained soil , neutral to alkaline.
Adult Size: 24 to 36 inches tall and wide.
Manstead English Lavender
Munstead is a variety of English lavender and is a low-growing species ideal for borders and borders. This long-lived variety's long gray-green leaves resemble rosemary, and its purple flowers grow in slender clusters at the tips of compact stems. Cut back the flowers when they have faded to encourage a second bloom.
Name: English lavender “ Munstead” ( Lavandula angustifolia “Munstead”)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
Flower color: purple
Light Full Sun
Land well-drained soil , neutral to alkaline.
Adult Size: 12 to 18 inches tall and wide.
France is so famous for its lavender cultivation that this popular lavender variety was named after the country. French lavender's small, fragrant flowers are surrounded by pale purple bracts that look like large petals on a spike, and the leaves are spiny rather than smooth. This type of lavender does well when neglected, but you can remove spent flowers for future blooms.
Name: French lavender ( Lavandula dentata ).
USDA hardiness zones: 7b-11b.
Flower color: light blue-purple.
Light Full Sun
Land well-drained soil , neutral to alkaline.
Adult size: 1 to 3 feet tall, 4 to 5 feet wide.
lavender
Lavandin is a natural lavender hybrid that has a particularly strong scent due to its camphor content. Care is similar to lavender, but there are some differences. Its stems are longer, with many flower spikes on each stem reaching to the tip. It also blooms later in the season.
Name: Lavandula ( Lavandula x Intermedia)
USDA hardiness zones: 4b-9b.
Flower color: light purple
Light Full Sun
Land well-drained soil , neutral to alkaline.
Adult size: 2 to 3 feet tall and wide.
Lavender from fern leaves
Fernleaf lavender gets its name from the feathery, leaf-like shape of its silvery leaves. Its tall stems bloom in summer with slightly pointed clusters of showy pale purple flowers. This fragrant variety is particularly attractive to pollinators.
Name: Lavender leaf ( Lavandula multifida ).
USDA Hardiness Zones: 8b-10b.
Flower color: light purple.
Light Full Sun
Land well-drained soil , neutral to alkaline.
Adult size: 18 to 24 inches tall, 2 to 3 feet wide.
Portuguese lavender
Portuguese lavender, also known as bay lavender, is particularly fragrant and is therefore ideal for scented sachets and scented oils. It has long leaves with a white tint. Clusters of lush, attractive flowers grow on two- to three-foot-tall spikes.
Name: Portuguese lavender ( Lavandula latifolia ).
USDA hardiness zones: 5b-9b.
Flower color: blue-purple.
Light Full Sun
Land well-drained soil , neutral to alkaline.
Adult size: 1 to 3 feet tall, 18 inches wide.
Lavender Hidcote
The compact size and compactness of this English lavender variety make it an excellent addition to borders and decorative flower beds. Large clusters of dark purple flowers attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
Name: Hidcote lavender ( Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote')
USDA hardiness zones: 4b-9b.
Flower color: dark purple.
Light Full Sun
Land well-drained soil , neutral to alkaline.
Adult Size: 18 to 24 inches tall and wide.
Creeping Top Lavandula stoechas
This Spanish lavender variety has a deep purple color, but its striking upper breasts are the real star of the show. The slightly lighter, almost pinkish-purple bracts are matted and curved and give every garden a visual highlight.
Name: Spanish lavender “Curly Top” (Lavandula stoechas “Curly Top”)
USDA hardiness zones: 8 to 10.
Flower color: dark purple.
Light Full Sun
Land well-drained soil , neutral to alkaline.
Adult size: 12 to 18 inches high, 12 to 18 inches wide.
Spanish Lavender Anuk.
This vigorous variety has the same showy pink-purple flowers as Spanish lavender. This drought-tolerant addition to the sunny herb garden. You can expect this lavender variety to bloom in early to mid spring.
Name: Spanish lavender “Anouk” ( Lavandula stoechas “Anouk”).
USDA hardiness zones: 7-10.
Flower color: pink-purple.
Light Full Sun
Land well-drained soil , neutral to alkaline.
Adult size: 24 to 30 inches high, 18 to 24 inches wide.
Sarah's English Lavender
At just 12 inches tall, this compact lavender variety is perfect for planting in containers. Dark purple inflorescences with small, light purple flowers give the flowers of this variety a more intense color. Collect flowers for drying or culinary use.
Name: Sarah's English lavender ( Lavandula angustifolia Sarah).
USDA hardiness zones: 5-11.
Flower color: purple
Light Full Sun
Land well-drained soil , neutral to alkaline.
Adult size: 12 inches tall.
Spanish lavender “Kew Red”
“Q Red” is a Spanish lavender variety known for its pale pink spikes that resemble rabbit ears at the tip of each flower spike. Ideal for growing in hot and humid climates. Due to its strong resinous aroma, this variety of lavender is more suitable for decoration or aromatherapy purposes than for cooking.
Name: Spanish lavender “Kew Red” ( Lavandula stoechas “Kew Red”)
USDA Hardiness Zones.
Flower color: pink
Light Full Sun
Land well-drained soil , neutral to alkaline.
Adult size: 18 to 24 inches tall.
White lavender “Alba”
Not all types of lavender bloom pink or purple. “Alba” is a type of lavender known for its white tubular flowers with small yellow centers. Cut off the spent blooms of this bushy, deer-resistant variety to encourage a second bloom later in the season.
Name: White lavender “Alba” ( Lavandula x intermedia “Alba”)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
Flower color: white
Light Full Sun
Land well-drained soil , neutral to alkaline.
Adult size: 36" high, 24" wide.
Spanish Lavender “Fathead”
Fathead gets its name from the thick, round flower heads covered in the style of Spanish lavender, which change color from purple to pink as the flowers age.
Name: Spanish lavender “Fathead” ( Lavandula stoechas “Fathead”)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 8-9
Flower color: purple, pink.
Light Full Sun
Land well-drained soil , neutral to alkaline.
Adult size: 12 to 24 inches tall and wide.
English lavender 'Jean Davies'
The flowers of most lavender varieties are true lavender, but some, such as 'Jean Davies', vary in shades of purple. This variety has delicate, pale pink, almost white flowers with a fruity, non-bitter taste, making it ideal for use in sweets or other recipes. Although most lavender species are heat-loving, 'Jean Davies' grows best where there is no persistent summer heat.
Name: English lavender “Jean Davis” ( Lavandula angustifolia “Jean Davis”)
USDA hardiness zones: 5-11.
Flower color: pink
Light Full Sun
Land well-drained soil , neutral to alkaline.
Adult size: 18 inches tall.
Spanish lavender “Strawberry Raffles”
The Spanish lavender variety 'Strawberry Ruffles' features wavy clusters of pink bracts atop large clusters of tiny purple flowers. It tolerates a range of conditions including extreme heat, high humidity and drought and is known for its repeat blooms.
Name: Spanish lavender “Strawberry Rush” ( Lavandula stoechas “Strawberry Rush”)
USDA hardiness zones: 8-9
Flower color: pink, purple
Light Full Sun
Land well-drained soil , neutral to alkaline.
Adult size: 20 to 24 inches high, 18 to 21 inches wide.
French Lavender “Goodwin Creek Gray”
This French lavender hybrid is suitable for growing in large pots. Its smooth-edged leaves are silvery-gray-green in color. This hybrid variety offers large areas of deep purple flowers from early summer to early fall.
Name: French lavender “Goodwin Creek Gray” ( Lavandula × ginginsii “Goodwin Creek Gray”).
USDA Hardiness Zones: 7-9.
Flower color: purple
Light Full Sun
Land well-drained soil , neutral to alkaline.
Adult size: 18 to 24 inches high, 24 to 30 inches wide.
English Lavender 'Hidcote Giant'
This cross-species hybrid can reach a height of almost 1.20 m during flowering. The bluish-purple flowers appear in dense clusters in early summer and, due to their long stems, are a great addition to cut bouquets or decorative dried flowers. In autumn the foliage takes on a beautiful copper color.
Name: English lavender “Hidcote Giant” ( Lavandula angustifolia “Hidcote Giant”)
USDA hardiness zones: 5-8
Flower color: blue-purple.
Light Full Sun
Land well-drained soil , neutral to alkaline.
Adult size: 36 to 40 inches tall.
Spanish lavender “Ballerina”.
This bicolor lavender has beautiful stems that change color from white to pink or light purple as they mature. This lavender is very fragrant and perfect for bees and butterflies.
Name: Lavender Spanish “Ballerina” (Lavandula stoechas “Ballerina”)
USDA hardiness zones: 8-9
Flower color from pink to light purple.
Light Full Sun
Land well-drained soil , neutral to alkaline.
Adult size: 12 to 24 inches high, 12 to 24 inches wide.
English Lavender 'Tumbnail Lee'
'Lee's Thumbelina' is a dwarf variety of English lavender that is ideal for borders, borders and container plantings due to its compact size and clump shape. The flowers begin with purple bud clusters that open to produce fragrant light purple flowers.
Name: English lavender “Thumbelina Leigh” ( Lavandula augustifolia “Thumbelina Leigh”)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-10.
Flower color: purple, violet.
Light Full Sun
Land well-drained soil , neutral to alkaline.
Adult size: 12 to 15 inches tall.
Spanish lavender “La Diva Big Night”
La Diva Big Night is the first hybrid of English Lavender and Spanish Lavender, giving this unique hybrid vigorous growth and excellent resistance to cold, heat and humidity. Clusters of fragrant dark purple flowers are topped by purple bracts. This lavender's compact size and successive waves of blooms make it a welcome addition to the garden.
Name: Spanish lavender “La Diva Big Night” ( Lavandula stoechas “La Diva Big Night”)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-9.
Flower color: purple, dark purple.
Light Full Sun
Land well-drained soil , neutral to alkaline.
Adult size: 14" tall, 18" wide.
French lavender “Grosso”
Despite its name, this large variety is actually a type of lavender. The plants grow to about a meter high and almost a meter wide and produce an impressive display of flowers from mid-summer onwards. Give this very large lavender plenty of space and let pollinators enjoy it.
Name: French lavender “Grosso” ( Lavandula x intermedia “Grosso”).
USDA hardiness zones: 6-10.
Flower color: blue, purple.
Light Full Sun
Land well-drained soil , neutral to alkaline.
Adult size: 30 to 32 inches high, 36 to 48 inches wide.
Spanish Lavender Madrid Purple.
The deep purple flower heads of this perennial shrub are covered in bright purple bracts and attract pollinators.
Name: Spanish lavender “Madrid Purple” ( Lavandula stoechas “Madrid Purple ”)
USDA hardiness zones: 8 to 10.
Flower color: dark purple.
Light Full Sun
Land well-drained soil , neutral to alkaline.
Adult size: 12 to 24 inches high, 12 to 24 inches wide.
Read more. How do you grow lavender? Planting and care.
Read the original Exodus article.
