Types of Lavender for a Fragrant and Colorful Garden
Lavender is a versatile and attractive garden plant, offering evergreen foliage, fragrant flowers, and various culinary and ornamental uses. With its diverse range of varieties, lavender can be tailored to suit any garden style and climate.
Choosing the Right Lavender Variety
Consider the following factors when selecting a lavender variety:
- Climate: Lavender prefers well-drained soil, warm temperatures, and plenty of sunlight. Choose varieties that are suited to your local climate.
- Flower color: Lavender flowers come in a wide range of colors, including purple, pink, blue, and white. Select varieties that complement your garden’s color scheme.
- Fragrance: Lavender is known for its distinctive and soothing aroma. Some varieties have a more pronounced fragrance than others.
- Size and shape: Lavender plants vary in size and shape, from compact and low-growing to tall and stately. Consider the available space in your garden and the desired aesthetic effect.
- Culinary and medicinal uses: Some lavender varieties are particularly well-suited for culinary or medicinal purposes. Choose varieties with a strong flavor or aroma for these uses.
Popular Lavender Varieties
Here are some of the most popular lavender varieties, grouped by their unique characteristics:
Fragrant Varieties
- English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): Known for its intense fragrance and tall, slender flower spikes.
- French Lavender (Lavandula dentata): Features large, showy flower heads with a sweet, floral aroma.
- Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia): A hybrid with a particularly strong scent, due to its high camphor content.
Heat-Tolerant Varieties
- Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas): Withstands heat and drought conditions, producing flowers with distinctive, showy bracts.
- Fernleaf Lavender (Lavandula multifida): Known for its fernlike foliage and heat tolerance.
- Portuguese Lavender (Lavandula latifolia): A drought-tolerant variety with long, aromatic flower spikes.
Compact Varieties
- English Lavender ‘Munstead’: A low-growing variety with delicate violet-colored flowers.
- English Lavender ‘Thumbelina Leigh’: A dwarf cultivar perfect for edging and containers.
- Spanish Lavender ‘La Diva Big Night’: A compact hybrid with a vigorous growth habit and tolerance to various climates.
Colorful Varieties
- English Lavender ‘Jean Davis’: Produces unique pale pink flowers with a fruity flavor.
- Spanish Lavender ‘Strawberry Ruffles’: Showcases wavy clusters of bright pink bracts and magenta flowers.
- White Lavender ‘Alba’: Features tubular white flowers with yellow centers.
Other Noteworthy Varieties
- Lavandula x ginginsii ‘Goodwin Creek Grey’: A French lavender hybrid with silvery gray-green leaves and large, dark purple flower spikes.
- English Lavender ‘Hidcote Giant’: A towering variety with violet-blue flowers and coppery fall foliage.
- French Lavender ‘Grosso’: An oversized cultivar with impressive blue-purple blooms and a wide spread.
Using Lavender in the Garden
Lavender can be used in a variety of ways in the garden, including:
- Ornamental: Plant lavender in borders, beds, or containers to add color, fragrance, and texture.
- Culinary: Use lavender buds and flowers to flavor teas, desserts, and savory dishes.
- Medicinal: Lavender has calming and antiseptic properties. Use it in aromatherapy, herbal remedies, or as a natural insect repellent.
- Pollinator attractant: Lavender flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.
Care and Maintenance
Lavender is relatively easy to care for, requiring well-drained soil, plenty of sunlight, and occasional watering. Prune spent flower spikes to encourage new growth and prevent the plant from becoming leggy. Fertilize lightly in spring and fall.
Additional Tips
- Consider companion planting with other herbs and flowers that complement lavender, such as rosemary, thyme, and marigolds.
- Deadhead spent flowers to promote continuous blooming.
- Divide lavender plants every few years to maintain vigor and prevent overcrowding.
- Protect lavender from overwatering, as this can lead to root rot.