13 Types of Lavender Plants: Varieties of Lavender for Gardens

Lavender is an herb in the mint family, which also contains rosemary, sage, and thyme. Gardeners grow lavender as an ornamental plant, for its fragrance, and for its many culinary uses. Lavender lends an herbaceous, floral flavor to a range of dishes, as well as a pop of color that dresses up any plate.

You can differentiate the many existing lavender species by their strong fragrances and flower colors. These different types of lavender and different species of lavender can make incredible additions to your herb garden or rock garden with their showy and fragrant flowers. You can plant lavender in your garden as long as you provide full sun and a dry soil that is either acidic or alkaline with good drainage. Lavender flowers can grow year-round in some warmer climates and will often bloom in late spring to early summer. Most lavender plants will grow best in USDA Hardiness Zone 5 and above.

1. 1. English lavender: English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is the most common variety of lavender plant, which is why gardeners often call it “common lavender” or “true lavender.” This variety grows clusters of lavender flowers or dark purple flowers and has gray-green foliage that makes it a popular choice for bouquets. Essential oil manufacturers will typically cultivate English lavender because of its strong aroma.
2. 2. ‘Hidcote’ English Lavender: ‘Hidcote’ lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia ‘Hidcote’) is an English lavender type that blooms dark purple flowers once in the season. It is drought-tolerant and very hardy in hot climates.
3. 3. Spanish lavender: Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas) is a fragrant flowering plant with gray-green leaves and dark purple flower heads. Also known as French lavender, Spanish lavender plants grow in evergreen mounds and attract pollinators during the blooming season from mid-spring to late summer. The flowers on Spanish lavender plants include bracts that resemble rabbit ears. Some cultivars have pink flowers or white flowers.
4. 4. Portuguese lavender: Portuguese lavender (Lavandula Latifolia) is also known by the names “spiked lavender” or “broadleaved lavender” and is a type that originates from the Mediterranean. It has elliptical-shaped leaves with a strong scent similar to camphor.
5. 5. Lavandin lavender: Lavandin lavender (Lavandula x intermedia) is a hybrid lavender that crosses English lavender and Portuguese lavender to create a highly fragrant variety with lilac and violet-blue flowers.
6. 6. Fringed lavender: Fringed lavender (Lavandula dentata) has a mild scent and pale purple flowers. It often appears as a ground cover or as borders in gardens or along walls. The flowers have petals that point upward at the tip like flower spikes, and the foliage has small teeth along the leaves.
7. 7. ‘Thumbelina Leigh’ lavender: ‘Thumbelina Leigh’ (Lavandula angustifolia) is a type of dense, compact English lavender with dark blue flowers at the tops of its long stems. Gardeners often grow it in containers and see it bloom up to three times a year.
8. 8. ‘Royal Purple’ lavender: Royal purple lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Royal Purple’) is a tall plant with deep purple flowers. It can retain its strong scent for a long time, which makes it a very common choice for perfumes, potpourri, or scented sachets.
9. 9. ‘Provence’ lavender: ‘Provence’ (Lavandula x intermedia ‘Provence’) originates from the Mediterranean region of Provence, France, and has large flower heads with a deep violet purple color. It is often a popular choice for gardens in humid regions.
10. 10. ‘Grosso’ lavender: ‘Grosso’ (Lavandula x Intermedia ‘Grosso’) grows very quickly. The thin stalks have distinct, spike-shaped flower heads with violet flowers.
11. 11. ‘Munstead’ English Lavender: ‘Munstead’ English (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’) has a very compact growth habit and purple flowers with distinct petals.
12. 12. ‘Anouk’ French Lavender: ‘Anouk’ (Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk’) is a cultivar of French lavender that has showy purple flowers with long and wide petals that grow upright, giving the appearance of rabbit ears peeking out over grass. This variety is also known to attract butterflies.
13. 13. ‘Ballerina’ French Lavender: ‘Ballerina’ (Lavandula stoechas ‘Ballerina’) has distinct white flowers at the top of tall flower heads with smaller violet flowers. It is a popular choice as a border plant along walls or walkways.

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