Lavender is a versatile herb that can be used in various culinary dishes and also adds a beautiful touch to borders and perennial gardens. Its stunning silvery-green foliage, upright flower spikes, and compact shape make it perfect for informal hedges. Additionally, you can use it to create fragrant floral arrangements, sachets, and potpourri. Below are some of the most popular types of lavender worth knowing about.
English lavender, scientifically known as L. angustifolia, is a beautiful plant that blooms from June to August in zones 5-8. It typically grows to be 2-3 feet tall and boasts lovely flowers in shades of lavender, deep blue-purple, light pink, and white. While it originated in the Mediterranean, it was named after England because of its successful growth in cooler climates and popularity in English herb gardens. With attractive gray-green foliage and clusters of tiny flowers, English lavender is a beloved addition to any garden. This variety is particularly cold-hardy and boasts low camphor content, making it ideal for culinary use. For more information on how to grow and harvest English lavender, read on or check out the Sweet Romance® lavender from Proven Winners pictured above.
The plant known as French lavender, also called fringed lavender, has the scientific name L. dentata. It thrives in zones 8-11 and typically blooms from early summer to fall. This variety can grow up to 36 inches tall or more and boasts stunning light purple flowers that grow in compact heads with purple bracts. While its flowers have a less noticeable scent than English lavender, French lavender is prized for its fragrant, narrow, finely-toothed leaves that release an intoxicating rosemary-like aroma.
Lavender has several varieties, and one of them is the Spanish lavender. Its scientific name is L. stoechas, and it thrives in zones 8 to 11. This lavender blooms from mid to late summer and can grow up to 18 to 24 inches tall. Its flowers are deep purple and feature distinctive pineapple-shaped blooms with colorful bracts, also known as “bunny ears,” that come out of each flower spike. While the flowers themselves are not particularly fragrant, the light-green leaves release a lovely aroma. If you want to know more about cultivating Spanish lavender, read on!
Lavandin, or L. ×intermedia, is a hybrid that combines the cold hardiness of English lavender with the heat tolerance of Portuguese lavender. It blooms in mid to late summer and stands at 24 to 30 inches tall with dark violet or white flowers. While not edible due to high camphor content, the flowers and foliage are often used in sachets and potpourris. Lavender, or Lavandula, comes in different bloom times, colors, flower forms, and sizes, with some hybrids in pastel hues such as rose, pale pink, white, and yellow. Growing lavender is easy and rewarding, as it can be grown in garden beds or in pots, but requires well-drained soil and full sun. Lavender grows as a perennial in arid climates, but as an annual in humid climates. To plant lavender, purchase healthy plants, choose a location with full sun, unpot and water the plant, and provide consistent watering until it becomes established. Lavender requires well-drained soil, especially during winter months, and should be watered with a long soak to promote root growth, avoiding short and frequent watering cycles that can result in unhealthy roots.
Lavender is a low-maintenance plant that requires annual pruning to prevent it from becoming woody and sprawling. In cold climates like Zone 7, prune after flowering in the spring, while in warmer regions like Zones 8 and above, prune after summer flowering. To stimulate new growth, prune back lavender by 1/3 to 1/2 of its height, being careful not to cut into the woody base. Throughout the blooming season, clip off faded bloom stalks to encourage repeat blooming. Lavender loves hot sun and dry soil and will thrive in cooler climates if planted in a sheltered location with winter protection. English lavenders are ideal for culinary purposes, and both the buds and leaves can be used fresh or dried. Lavender can be used as a natural pest repellent, especially near patios and porches where the scent deters mosquitoes, flies, and fleas. To get leggy lavender plants back in shape, renovate them by brushing off dead foliage, shortening half the old, gray stems, and cutting back old wood to the lowest emerging bud. By early summer, all the old stems should be shortened to a few inches above the base, resulting in bushy lavender that will only need pruning once a year.
