Plant care & info

Genus: Lavandula, from the Latin verb ‘lavare’ meaning ‘to wash’, reference to the use of water perfumed by oils of members of the genus.

Common Name: Lavender

30 species of small shrubs or herbs, native to France and the western Mediterranean. Lavender is cultivated worldwide for its volatile oils, fragrance, craft material, and is grown as a garden plant as far north as Norway.

The basic requirements for successfully growing lavender are full sun and good drainage. Lavender is a hardy plant and will tolerate neglect, but it will flourish best if these two requirements are met.

In general, lavender is a very hardy plant and the impact of disease is minimal, although it is susceptible to root rot when given poor drainage. Additionally, windburn may affect some species. This will look similar to rust, but it is actually not fungal. The leaves will rejuvenate by next spring.

Pruning is the best way to maintain a healthy and vigorous bush. Pruning should be done at least once a year for the whole life of the plant. Cut back one third of the bush in early to mid-autumn, it will flower in spring and then again in late summer/autumn.

Lavenders generally transplant well but will usually not flower much during the first summer following transplanting. The best times to transplant are late autumn/early winter and very early spring.

Lavandula angustifolia (English Lavender) is the most common narrow-leafed variety. It grows to about 1 to 3 feet high and occasionally taller in gardens. This lavender has short, but irregular, crooked stems that are covered with a flakey yellowish grey bark. The flowers grow on short stemmed laterals with one to six flowers on the terminal end.

Explore More Lavender

Lavender flowers in flower garden. — Lavender Flowers

English Lavender

Hardy to 25 ° F Lavender-blue flower spikes. Narrow foliage. Compact form. 2’x2′

Lavandula angustifolia: ‘Baby Blue’	6-8” stalks of deep purple flowers. Fragrant. Compact gray foliage. Dwarf.	12”X15”
Lavandula angustifolia: ‘Betty’s Blue’	Dark purple flowers dry very well. Silver-gray leaves. Compact.	18”X20”
Lavandula angustifolia: ‘Blue Cushion’	Deep Blue flowers on 6” spikes. Very free flowering. Dwarf..	12”X16”
Lavandula angustifolia: ‘Bowles Early’	Lavender flowers. Compact gray foliage. Same as ‘Bowles’.	24″X36”
Lavandula angustifolia: ‘Buena Vista’	Long stemmed, dark violet flower heads. Exceptional fragrance. Excellent drying. Blooms continuously summer and into fall.	18”X24”
Lavandula angustifolia: ‘Croxton’s Wild’	Light Blue spikes w/lovely fragrance. Vigorous, nicely shaped. Very hardy.	20”X24”
Lavandula angustifolia: ‘Fiona’	Very dark purple flowers on 810” stems, beautiful silver foliage and compact growth habit, very fragrant.	20”-24”
Lavandula angustifolia: ‘HIdcote Blue’	Deep purple, fragrant flowers. Small silvery leaves. Slow grower. Same plant as ‘HIdcote’.	18”X24”
Lavandula angustifolia: ‘HIdcote Pink’	Grayer foliage, more compact flower head & deeper pink flowers than ‘Jean Davis’. Semidwarf.	18”X20”
Lavandula angustifolia: ‘Irene Doyle’	Short lavender-Blue spikes. Very fragrant. Blooms in June then second heavy bloom in September.	18”X20”
Lavandula angustifolia: ‘Jean Davis’	Dainty rose-pink flowers. Gray-green foliage. Very round, semi dwarf bush.	20”X24”
Lavandula angustifolia: ‘Lady’	6-8” stalks of medium violet flowers. Blooms 1st year from seed. Becomes rangy after the 2nd year, so plant often.	12”X14”
Lavandula angustifolia: ‘Martha Roderick’	Bright violet flowers. Fragrant. Large gray leaves. Beautiful mounding habit.	18”X20”
Lavandula angustifolia: ‘Melissa’	Unique flowers of pink & white. Fragrant. Compact plant. Blooms early and long. Introduced by Van Hevelingen.	20”X24”
Lavandula angustifolia: ‘Munstead’	Bright, deep lavender-Blue flowers (lighter than ‘HIdcote’). Very fragrant. Early bloomer.	14”X14”
Lavandula angustifolia: ‘Premier’	Large, fluffy violet flowers. Strong flower stems. Thick bright green foliage. Vigorous. Blooms early in summer also August-September.	18”X24”
Lavandula angustifolia: ‘Royal Purple’	Dark deep purple fragrant flowers. Compact gray foliage. Good for hedging. An introduction from Norfolk Lavender in England.	18”X20”
Lavandula angustifolia: ‘Royal Velvet’	12-14”, deep purple flower spikes with long flower heads. Compact gray foliage. Excellent form for dried flower bouquet.	18”X20”
Lavandula angustifolia: ‘Sachet’	Dark violet blooms. Wonderfully fragrant. Neat, symmetrical habit. Blooms in June and again in August-September.	18”X24”
Lavandula angustifolia: ‘Sarah’	Bright, dark violet flowers on 12” stems. Very floriferous 2nd year.	18”X24”
Lavandula angustifolia: ‘Seal’s Seven Oaks’	Bright lavender flowers on 10-12” spikes. Fragrant. Compact grower. One of the first English lavenders to bloom. Re blooms in fall.	20”X24”
Lavandula angustifolia: ‘Twickel Purple’	Long, bright lavender-Blue flower heads. Fanlike blooming habit. Fragrant.	18”X20”

Lavandula x Intermedia

Lavandula x intermedia is a hybrid lavender that is a cross of Lavandula angustifolia with Lavandula latifolia. These hybrids, frequently called LAVANDIN, originated as a natural cross and were initially developed in France as early as the 1820s for their heightened oil content. Lavandula x intermedia is quite a large shrub and one of the most fragrant. Counting its slender spikes of flowers, most reach a height of five feet tall and about eight feet wide. It is in full flower by mid-July and continues to flower well into autumn, even through a couple of frosts.

Cultivars between Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula latifolia commonly called LAVANDIN. Long, mauve flower spikes, good for lavender wands. Broad foliage. One of the tallest lavenders. 3’X4′

Lavandula x intermedia ‘Dilly Dilly’	Beautiful 24” long flower spikes of lightest purple top dense medium graygreen foliage. Compact, rounded shape works well for hedges..	12”X24”
Lavandula x intermedia ‘Dutch’	Long, light lavender flower spikes. Extremely fragrant. Beautiful, mounding, large lavender w/broader, foliage more silvery than ‘Dutch Mill’.	36″X48”
Lavandula x intermedia ‘Fat Spike’	Distinct from ‘Grosso’, flowers are larger and slightly darker in color making it an excellent cut, dried flower, extremely fragrant.	20”X24”
Lavandula x intermedia ‘Fred Boutin’	Long, violet flowers. Very fragrant. Beautiful, compact, silvergray foliage has one of the most attractive winter foliage of all the lavenders. One of the last lavenders to bloom.	18”X20”
Lavandula x intermedia ‘Grosso’	A commercial cultivar raised in France for oil production. Tight, silvery foliage with 12-24” spikes of violet flowers, fanlike blooming habit, very fragrant. Highly recommended.	20”X24”
Lavandula x intermedia ‘Provence’	Long flower spikes of mauve flowers. Excellent for lavender wands and potpourris.	24″X36”
Lavandula x intermedia ‘Seal’	A tall growing variety with mauve flowers, known for its ability to produce large numbers of flower spikes per plant. Very free blooming.	36″X48”

Woolly lavender plant, curry plant. Whitish ends of fresh leaves. Nature defocused background — Woolly Lavender

Wooly Lavenders

White woolly stems and leaves. Flower spikes are deep purple, 14” long. Balsamic scent. 3′

Lavandula angustifolia x lanata: ‘Jennifer’	Frosted gray flower buds open to lovely Blue-violet flowers. Downy silver foliage. Similar to L. ‘Lisa Marie’ but is more vigorous, has larger flower heads and nicer shape. Chance seedling from Van Hevelingen.	12”X15”
Lavandula angustifolia x lanata: ‘Richard Gray’	Very fragrant dark violet flowers open on felt covered buds, 12” flower stalks. Densely white felted leaves remain attractive all winter.	15″X18”
Lavandula angustifolia x lanata: ‘Sawyers’	Broad wands of very fragrant deep purple blossoms in summer. Densely felted woolly leaves. Ever gray. Recent introduction from England. Susceptible to wet.	18”X20”
Lavandula angustifolia x lanata: ‘Silver Frost’	Sprays of 15” spikes topped w/large heads of fragrant dark violet flowers in whitish woolly calyces in JuneJuly. Beautiful white woolly foliage is ever gray..	12”X15”

Spanish Lavender

Spanish Lavender forms a pretty little shrub, with narrow leaves and very small, dark violet flowers, terminated with a tuft of bright colored leaflets, which makes it very attractive.

Hardy to at least 20° F Pinecone shaped flowers with deep purple bracts, rosemary-lavender scent. Blooms in April. 18”X24”

Lavandula stoechas ‘Blue Star’	A new Lavandula stoechas cultivar from Germany. Very large, plump, dark plum colored flower heads with purplish-Blue top bracts on short stalks. Very vigorous, compact plant.	20”X24”
Lavandula stoechas ‘Kew Red’	Plump fuchsia-red flowers topped by pale pink bracts from spring through midsummer.	24″X36”
Lavandula stoechas ‘Madrid Blue’	Lavender-Blue flowers and top bract. The Madrid Series*, have a compact growth habit, large flowers and a long bloom period.	24″
Lavandula stoechas ‘Madrid Pink’	Magenta flowers w/lighter pink top bracts. Similar to ‘Peter’s Pink’ but the flowers are slightly larger.	24″
Lavandula stoechas ‘Madrid Purple’	Great compact form with showy deep purple flowers and a light purplish-pink top bract.	24″
Lavandula stoechas ‘Madrid White’	Clean white flowers and top bracts. Larger, more elongated flower head than species.	24″
Lavandula stoechas ‘Otto Quast’	Large flower heads with dark purple bracts and bright violet top bracts.	18”X24”
Lavandula stoechas ‘Wings of Night’	A cultivar with darker purple bracts and a slightly darker purple top bract. Seems to be a slightly smaller version of the species.	18”X20”

Vibrant close-up of a blooming French lavender (Lavandula dentata) field, featuring purple flower spikes and serrated gray-green foliage under natural sunlight — French Lavender

Green French Lavender

Mauve flowers. Green, toothed foliage. Very fragrant. Scent has a more menthol, balsamic, or eucalyptus quality. 2’X3′

Lavandula dentata ‘Linda Ligon’	Variegated, toothed foliage. Mauve flowers.	2’X3′
Lavandula dentata ‘Goodwin Creek Grey’	Wooly grey foliage. Developed at Goodwin Creek Nursery in Southern Oregon. Long stalks of Blue-gray flowers. Superb wooly gray foliage. Hardy to at least 10°F.	20”X24”