How To Choose The Right Lavender?

IN THIS ARTICLE hide Top 5 Lavenders for Your Garden: A Quick Selection Guide Quick Facts — Lavender (How to choose the right one) Understand the Types of Lavender English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

Top 5 Lavenders for Your Garden: A Quick Selection Guide

Quick Facts — Lavender (How to choose the right one)

Summary: Lavender includes ~47 species grown for gardens and essential oils. All love sun and sharp drainage and show excellent drought, pest, and disease resistance once established. Because color, bloom time, leaf shape, and hardiness vary, choosing the right type matters. Below is a quick guide to the top five kinds you feature: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese (Spike), and Lavandin. Core rule: Match the type to your climate and intended use (edging, hedges, containers, fragrance, oils), then pick cultivars for color and size.

Main Types	English (L. angustifolia) • French (L. dentata) • Spanish (L. stoechas) • Portuguese / Spike (L. latifolia) • Lavandin (L. × intermedia)
Bloom & Display	English: wispy spikes early–mid summer; classic cool tones (blue-purple to white-pink). French: showy compact heads with light purple bracts; blooms late spring–fall (nearly year-round with warmth). Spanish: distinctive “butterfly-ear” bracts; profuse mid-spring–late summer; foliage aromatic, flowers less so. Portuguese/Spike: pale lilac flowers on long stems; abundant late spring–late summer. Lavandin: long, highly fragrant spikes; mid–late summer.
Size & Habit	English: semi-woody perennial forming upright clumps 1–3 ft (30–90 cm). French: medium shrub 24–36 in (60–90 cm) with toothed, gray-green leaves. Spanish: bushy evergreen mound 18–24 in (45–60 cm). Portuguese/Spike: strongly aromatic shrub 1–3 ft (30–90 cm) with broad, coarse evergreen leaves. Lavandin: compact, shrubby mound to ~30 in (75 cm).
Hardiness (USDA)	English: 5–9 • French: 8–11 • Spanish: 8–9 • Portuguese/Spike: 6–8 • Lavandin: 5–9
Fragrance & Uses	English: classic fragrance; edging, borders, rock gardens; herb gardens. French: colorful spikes, decorative foliage; long seasonal display; containers. Spanish: showpiece bracts; mass plantings, groundcover, pots; tolerates more humidity than English. Portuguese/Spike: stronger, pungent “spike” scent; oils, hot/dry borders. Lavandin: Provencal look; hedges, mass plantings; very aromatic flowers & foliage.
Soil & Exposure	Full sun (6–8+ hrs) and excellent airflow. Poor, sandy or gritty soil with very good drainage; slightly alkaline preferred. Avoid waterlogged sites.

Care (Quick)

• Plant in spring after hard frost risk. Use raised beds or add grit on heavy soils.
• Water to establish, then deeply but infrequently; let topsoil dry between waterings.
• Minimal feeding; excessive fertility and moisture increase rot risk.
• Space plants for airflow (typically 18–36 in / 45–90 cm).
• Prune back about one-third in early spring to promote bushiness (avoid cutting into old wood).

Choosing the right lavender for your garden can be a rewarding experience, given the plant’s aromatic qualities, beauty, and versatility. With over 40 species and numerous cultivars, selecting the best lavender plant for your needs involves considering various factors such as climate, growing conditions, and intended uses. This guide will help you navigate the process of choosing the perfect lavender for your garden.

Understand the Types of Lavender

Before making a choice, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the main types of lavender:

English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

• English Lavender has long been cultivated for its high-quality essential oil. Cultivars of this species have specific characteristics. They have a compact habit and narrow grayish-green leaves. The flower spikes are also relatively short and compact.
• This Lavender type is suitable for edging along walkways, raised wall beds, rock gardens, herb gardens, and mass plantings. It is ideal for both formal and informal settings.
• Flowering typically occurs from late spring to mid-summer.