Types Of Lavender Plants

Choosing the right types of lavender plants can make all the difference for your garden. Whether you dream of a fragrant hedge, a splash of purple in a pot, or a low-maintenance border, there’s a lavender that fits perfectly.

This guide walks you through the main varieties. We’ll look at their unique traits, hardiness, and the garden styles they suit best. You’ll find it easy to pick the perfect lavender for your space.

Lavender belongs to the genus Lavandula, and several species are popular in cultivation. The main types you’ll encounter are English, French, Spanish, and hybrid lavenders. Each has its own personality and growing needs.

Knowing the difference helps you avoid disappointment. A lavender that thrives in cool, dry climates might struggle in humid heat. Let’s break down the key players.

English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

This is the classic lavender many people imagine. It’s known for its sweet fragrance and cold hardiness. English lavender is a perennial favorite for good reason.

Appearance: Compact, mounding shrubs with narrow, silvery-green leaves. Flower spikes are relatively short and held above the foliage.
Fragrance: Strong, sweet, and floral. This is the best type for culinary uses and sachets.
Hardiness: Very cold tolerant (USDA zones 5-8). It prefers dry winters and well-drained soil.
Best For: Formal hedges, knot gardens, cottage gardens, and containers in cooler climates.

Popular English Lavender Cultivars

‘Hidcote’: Deep purple flowers and very compact growth. A stunning choice for edging.
‘Munstead’: Slightly lighter purple flowers and a bit more tolerant of damp conditions.
‘Jean Davis’: Unique soft pink flowers that stand out in the garden.

French Lavender (Lavandula stoechas)

French lavender is instantly recognizable by it’s showy, butterfly-like bracts on top of the flower heads. It’s more tender than English types but offers a long blooming season.

Appearance: Bushier growth with broader, grey-green leaves. The flower heads are topped with colorful, leaf-like bracts (often purple or pink).
Fragrance: More resinous and camphorous, less sweet than English lavender. Not typically used for cooking.
Hardiness: Less cold hardy (USDA zones 8-9). It thrives in hot, dry climates and is more tolerant of humidity.
Best For: Hot, dry gardens, coastal areas, containers that can be brought indoors in winter, and xeriscaping.

Popular French Lavender Cultivars

‘Ballerina’: White bracts that fade to a purplish-pink, offering a long display.
‘Anouk’: Dark purple flowers with long, vibrant purple bracts. Very eye-catching.
‘Regal Splendour’: Similar to ‘Anouk’ but known for its especially vigorous growth.

Lavandin Hybrids (Lavandula x intermedia)

These are natural hybrids between English and Portuguese lavender. They are larger, more robust plants with long stems, making them the champions of lavender production.

Appearance: Large, vigorous shrubs with long flower stems and silvery foliage. They can grow 2-3 feet tall and wide.
Fragrance: Strong, often more camphorous than English types. Widely used in perfumes and soaps.
Hardiness: Good cold tolerance (USDA zones 5-8). They are very heat and drought tolerant once established.
Best For: Lavender fields, large hedges, and areas where you want a big visual and fragrant impact.

Popular Lavandin Cultivars

‘Grosso’: The most widely grown for oil production. Deep violet flowers and an intense scent.
‘Provence’: Named for the famous region, it has long stems perfect for drying.
‘Phenomenal’: A newer cultivar praised for its exceptional tolerance to both cold and humidity.

Spanish Lavender (Lavandula dentata)

Spanish lavender is distinguished by its serrated, “toothed” leaves and pineapple-shaped flower heads. It’s a tender shrub that blooms almost continuously in warm climates.

Appearance: Bushy with green, serrated leaves that have a soft, fuzzy texture. Flowers have small, flag-like bracts at the top.
Fragrance: More pungent and eucalyptus-like, with a hint of camphor.
Hardiness: Least cold hardy (USDA zones 8-9). It needs protection from frost and loves full sun.
Best For: Warm climate gardens, rockeries, and containers where its unique foliage and long bloom time can be appreciated.

Matching Lavender to Your Garden Style

Now that you know the main types of lavender plants, let’s match them to specific garden looks. This makes planning your design much simpler.

For a Formal or Traditional Garden

Neatness and structure are key here. English lavender is your ideal choice. Its uniform, mounding habit is perfect for creating low hedges to edge pathways or define garden rooms.

Choose a compact cultivar like ‘Hidcote’ or ‘Munstead’.
Plant them 12-18 inches apart for a seamless hedge.
Prune lightly after flowering to maintain the shape.

For a Cottage Garden

Cottage gardens are all about charming, informal abundance. A mix of lavender types works wonderfully here, blending with roses, salvias, and daisies.

Use English lavender for its classic scent and form.
Add a few French lavender plants for their whimsical, colorful bracts that add a playful touch.
Let the plants soften and spill over onto walkways for that relaxed feel.

For a Mediterranean or Drought-Tolerant Garden

These gardens demand plants that love sun and despise wet feet. French lavender and Spanish lavender are superstars in this setting.

They thrive in poor, gravelly soil and can handle intense heat. Pair them with rosemary, sage, and ornamental grasses for a water-wise landscape that’s full of texture and scent.

For Container Gardening

Almost all lavenders can grow in pots if given excellent drainage. This is a great solution if you have heavy soil or limited space.

Select a pot at least 12-16 inches wide with drainage holes.
Use a gritty, well-draining potting mix (add perlite or sand).
Dwarf cultivars like English ‘Little Lottie’ or French ‘Anouk’ are excellent choices.
Water only when the soil feels dry to the touch.

Essential Planting and Care Tips

No matter which type you choose, a few golden rules apply. Following these will give your lavender the best chance to thrive.

Sun and Soil: The Non-Negotiables

Lavender demands full sun—at least 6-8 hours of direct light per day. Without it, plants become leggy and produce fewer flowers.

The soil must be very well-draining. Lavender roots rot easily in wet, heavy clay. If your soil is poor-draining, plant in raised beds or on a slope. Amending the soil with coarse sand or gravel can really help improve the situation.

Pruning for Longevity

Pruning is essential to prevent lavender from becoming woody and sprawling. The goal is to encourage new, bushy growth.

Prune lightly immediately after the main summer flowering, removing the spent flower stems and a little of the foliage.
Avoid cutting back into old, bare wood, as it may not regrow.
In early spring, give a slightly harder prune to shape the plant before new growth starts.

Watering and Feeding

Lavender is drought-tolerant once established. Overwatering is a far greater danger than underwatering.

Water new plants regularly for their first season.
Mature plants rarely need supplemental water except in prolonged droughts.
Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers. A light application of compost in spring is sufficient.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most fragrant type of lavender?

For a classic sweet fragrance, English lavender (like ‘Hidcote’) is the winner. For a stronger, more camphorous scent used in products, the Lavandin hybrids (like ‘Grosso’) are most potent.

Which lavender is best for cooking?

Always use English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) for culinary purposes. Cultivars like ‘Munstead’ and ‘Hidcote’ have a sweet, low-camphor oil perfect for baking, syrups, and herbes de Provence.

What lavender grows best in hot, humid climates?

This is a challenge, as lavender dislikes humidity. Your best bets are the Lavandin hybrid ‘Phenomenal’ or certain Spanish lavenders. Ensure excellent air circulation and very well-drained soil.

How long do lavender plants live?

With proper care and pruning, a lavender plant can live for 10-15 years, sometimes longer. They often become woody after 5-6 years, which is a good time to take cuttings to propagate new, vigorous plants.

Selecting from the different types of lavender plants allows you to enjoy their beauty and fragrance in almost any setting. Start with one that matches your climate and garden vision. With a sunny spot and the right soil, you’ll be rewarded with years of serene beauty and the timeless scent of summer.