Lavender: which to choose?

Different types of lavender

There isn’t just one lavender but many! Among the most emblematic and widely grown in our gardens are:

• Lavandula angustifolia or Lavandula officinalis, sometimes called true lavender or fine lavender, stands out for a very compact habit, bushy and rounded, aromatic evergreen foliage of a beautiful silvery-green colour, short flower spikes but an abundant, highly scented summer flowering. It is available in numerous cultivars with white flowers such as ‘Hidcote White’, ‘Alba’, ‘Silbermöwe’ or pink ‘Rosea’. It is hardy and grows in calcareous soils.

Lavandula ‘Hidcote’, ‘Alba’ and ‘Rosea’

• the Lavandula stoechas, “butterfly lavender” or “topped lavender”, is undoubtedly the most unusual of lavenders! It bears the largest flowers in the genus and a very distinctive flowering crowned by a tuft reminiscent of small, upturned butterfly wings. Unlike most other lavenders, it is moderately hardy and prefers soil that is not very calcareous.

• lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia) is a hybrid resulting from the cross-breeding of L. angustifolia and L. latifolia. It has given rise to many cultivars with white flowers such as ‘Edelweiss’ or with distinctive grey-green leaves edged with white like ‘Walberton’s Silver Edge’ (Walwera) or variegated (‘Platinum Blonde’), all easy to plant in the garden and tolerant of calcareous soil. They are distinguished by broader foliage, less silvery and less aromatic than that of true lavender but bear an exuberant, highly scented flowering.

Lavandin ‘Platinum Blonde’, variegated flowers and foliage / Lavandin ‘Edelweiss’

• Lavandula dentata or “English lavender” flowers in spring and bears very characteristic dentate leaves and bluish-violet flowers topped by purple bracts.

English lavender with characteristic dentate leaves

• Lavandula latifolia or “aspic lavender” offers later flowering and larger leaves than true lavender and is also less hardy.

Aspic lavender with leaves larger than those of true lavender

• Lavandula lanata or “woolly lavender” with leaves covered in white down.

Woolly lavender with downy foliage

Lavenders with unusual flower colours

Recent varieties bring a breath of genuine novelty to category of lavenders with classically blue flowers : vivid pink, bleu pourpré, white or lilac pink, lavender now declinates into various colours.

Lavandula stoechas The Princess - French Lavender

A newcomer that represents a real improvement among butterfly lavenders, thanks to the vivid pink colour of its flowering, which is remarkably intense. It flowers early and then throughout summer in rockery and as a border edge, or in a pretty pot on the terrace.

• Flowering time May to August
• Height at maturity 45 cm

See the product sheet

Lavandula angustifolila Rosea - True Lavender

This variety stands out for its pretty, fragrant summer flowering in lilac pink. It offers endless pairing possibilities for gardeners!

• Flowering time July to September
• Height at maturity 60 cm

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Lavandula angustifolia Twickel Purple - True Lavender

A lovely variety with deep violet-blue flowering and evergreen grey-green foliage that sometimes tinges purple in winter.

• Flowering time August, September
• Height at maturity 70 cm

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Lavandula angustifolia Alba - True Lavender

This lavender bears a profusion of very fragrant white flowers. Ideal in a romantic, elegant flower bed!

• Flowering time July to September
• Height at maturity 50 cm

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Lavandula intermedia Grappenhall - Lavandin

This variety produces the palest flowering within the range of lavender-blue tones.

• Flowering time July to September
• Height at maturity 90 cm

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Hardiest lavender varieties

Depending on variety, lavender is more or less sensitive to frost. Different species and varieties of lavender of the angustifolia type or lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia) have good hardiness (-15°C/-20°C) and are easy to grow across all our regions.

Only the Lavandula Stoechas or “butterfly lavender”, more tender, is semi-hardy (down to -8/-10°C) and should be grown in a raised bed, sheltered by a south-facing wall or kept in a pot to overwinter in colder regions.

Lavandula intermedia Phenomenal - Lavandin

A variety that does not thin out in the centre and is more resistant to cold, wet soils in winter. One of the best for the northern Loire.

• Flowering time August to October
• Height at maturity 70 cm

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Lavandula angustifolia Munstead - True Lavender

This excellent, vigorous variety combines good hardiness with longevity and ages very well.

• Flowering time August, September
• Height at maturity 50 cm

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Lavandula intermedia Dutch Group - Lavandin

Very long flowering and good resistance to cold in well-drained soil!

• Flowering time July to October
• Height at maturity 60 cm

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Most fragrant lavenders

All lavender flowers give off a herbaceous, fresh scent with floral notes, instantly recognisable, while foliage emits a pine or camphor scent when crushed. Some are more fragrant than others, especially in warm, sunny conditions. They are all ideal for making long-lasting dried or fresh bouquets and for scenting your wardrobes!

Lavandula angustifolia Essence Purple - True Lavender

Evergreen flowering and foliage haloed with a powerful scent. In warm, sunny positions, its scent becomes even more intense.

• Flowering time July to September
• Height at maturity 50 cm

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Lavandula angustifolia Arctic Snow - True Lavender

This small, very hardy lavender produces numerous, divinely scented flowers of a pure white!

• Flowering time August, September
• Height at maturity 50 cm

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Lavandula angustifolia Hidcote - True Lavender

'Hidcote' variety has a very compact habit and an abundant, highly fragrant summer flowering!

• Flowering time August, September
• Height at maturity 60 cm

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The best lavenders for flower borders

Lavender is a boon for creating large or small flowering borders throughout summer, decorative even in winter in milder regions.

Compact varieties are perfect when planted in ribbons to create neat, low, regular hedges along paths or as small dividing hedges.

Lavandula x chaytorae Richard Gray - Hybrid Lavender

This is one of the most compact hybrids, forming a cushion of very pale grey wooly foliage that remains dense with age. It ages much better than most varieties.

• Flowering time July to September
• Height at maturity 40 cm

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Lavandula intermedia Grosso - Lavandin

A compact lavender, very bushy, dense and full. Perfect for creating regular borders.

• Flowering time July to September
• Height at maturity 60 cm

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Lavandula angustifolia Dwarf Blue - True Lavender

Variety with purple-violet flowering and a compact, dense habit, ideal for borders

• Flowering time July, August
• Height at maturity 40 cm

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Best plants to grow in pots

Lavender is very well suited to growing in pots on the terrace or balcony. Small-sized varieties, with a very compact, dense and ramified habit, are perfect in pots where they form pretty, rounded, bushy clumps. In cold regions, store the pot away for winter and bring it out again as soon as fine weather returns!

→ Find the best lavender varieties for pots in our dedicated guide: best lavender varieties for pots.

Lavandula intermedia Walburtons Silver Edge - Lavandin

This hybrid forms a pretty rounded cushion. Its grey-green foliage edged with white gives the plant the appearance of a snowy, fragrant ball.

• Flowering time August, September
• Height at maturity 60 cm

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Lavandula angustifolia Bleu de Gien - True Lavender

This modest-sized variety is ideal in a pot on the terrace.

• Flowering time July to September
• Height at maturity 40 cm

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Lavandula stoechas - French Lavender

Moderately hardy, this lavender prefers to be grown in a pot in regions with very cold winters.

• Flowering time May to October
• Height at maturity 50 cm

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Lavenders with variegated foliage

Lavender leaves mostly take on a pretty silvery-grey colour but some stand out with very bright foliage variegated in grey and white, purple or cream-yellow.

Lavandula intermedia Platinum Blonde - Lavandin

A lavender that stands out for its green-grey foliage variegated with cream-yellow and silver. A true ball of light!

• Flowering time September to December
• Height at maturity 50 cm

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Lavandula allardii Meerlo - Lavender

Lovely tall lavender with foliage variegated in cream and olive green, exceptional and aromatic. It can be grown in a pot in cold regions as its hardiness does not exceed -5°C.

• Flowering time July, August
• Height at maturity 90 cm

See the product sheet

Find out more

Discover our other articles dedicated to lavender :

• How to fail at lavender in 5 lessons?
• Lavender: planting, growing and pruning
• How to dry lavender?
• How to propagate lavender?
• Discover our ideas for pairing lavender in the garden