What kind of lavender is right for you?
So you are thinking about adding Lavender plants to your garden but then discover that there are so many different kinds!!!! How do you know which one will work for your space??? Here are some things to consider…..
Lavender is a beloved herb known for its fragrant blooms and multitude of uses. However, not all lavender is created equal. With over 450 different varieties of lavender available, choosing the right one for your garden can be a daunting task. To help you navigate the world of lavender, here is a guide to some of the most popular varieties:
Which Is The Best Lavender For You?
When considering which type of lavender is right for your garden, you’ll first need to pay close attention to your own climate. Next, you’ll check in with the four main types, to determine which will give you the outcome that matters most to you.
Lavenders are divided into four main groups:
English Lavender (Zones 5 – 8): (Lavandula angustifolia) small, tight flower clusters, that bloom in the early part of the season, set against blue-green leaves. These hardy lavenders perform well for northern gardeners, overwintering to zone 5. Those gardening in colder zones will need to rely on a warmer microclimate within their garden beds to ensure the plants’ survival.
These lavenders are typically fragrant and are the first choice for culinary gardeners.
Lavandin Hybrids (Zones 5-10): “Lavandins” are English Lavender Hybrids (Lavandula x intermedia) that bloom later than species lavenders and have a higher essential oil content. They have large, gray-green leaves and are known for their speedy growth and strong fragrance.
This group features some of our most popular lavender cultivars, including ‘Provence,’ the famous perfume lavender, 'Phenomenal,' and 'Grosso'.
French Lavender (Zones 5 – 10): (Lavandula dentata) well-suited to milder climates without the scare of harsh winters, French lavenders are ornamental plants known for their needle-like, toothed leaves (hence their Latin name – dentata). Their fragrance is lighter than the perfumy English varieties. These plants work well in fast-draining containers and rock gardens, and add a good dose of beauty when lining walkway and entry paths. They prefer full sun and gritty soil.
Spanish Lavender (Zones 7 – 10): (Lavandula stoechas), have silvery leaves and larger flowers with bigger, pine-cone-shaped petals at the top. The flowers alone are quite eye-catching. Carrying a eucalyptus fragrance, Spanish lavenders can tolerate a bit more humidity than most of their relatives. Popular as focal points in courtyard and small-space gardens, Spanish lavenders take well to containers and stylized pruning.
There are so many kinds to talk about …..
At Heron’s Hollow Farms we have been experimenting with a number of varieties… and with our fairly harsh winters (we are located in Feversham, ON - near Collingwood) it has been interesting to see which ones will survive and which ones will flourish.
Our soil up here is quite rocky which the Lavender definitely enjoys and we have made sure to plant them where they will receive full sun - we also cover them in the winter to protect them from the harsh cold winds that we are subject to.
The types that we have planted so far are:
Royal Velvet
Melissa Lilac
Melissa
Hidcote
Grosso
Munstead
Phenomenal
Folgate
Mailette
Super Blue
Tesseract
A lot of these are quite new to us and we are still waiting to see how things turn out…. But we have had tremendous success with Royal Velvet - Lavandula angustifolia 'Royal Velvet' is a member of the first group - the English Lavender - This flower is very showy in bloom. It is covered with long stemmed, dark navy blue and lavender flower spikes. The 3 to 4-inch long flower spikes hold their dark color and make them an excellent choice for dried flowers. They can also be used for culinary lavender - which is something that you may not have considered in the past. I will be sharing ways that you can use this as an herb in cooking etc in future posts!!
I will definitely let you know how the others have weathered our winter as soon as things start to progress this spring. The winter cover has been off since March and so far they look like they have all survived…. We’ll see!!!
In conclusion, whether you’re looking for intense fragrance, beautiful blooms, or high oil content, there is a lavender variety to suit every garden and every gardener. By choosing the right lavender for your garden, you can enjoy the beauty and benefits of this versatile herb for years to come.
If you have any questions about your lavender please send them to heronshollow8@gmail.com and I will do my best to help you on your planting journey 🙂
…..stay tuned for next week's post on “Why should I plant Lavender??