Lavender Varieties: 31 Different Types of Lavender Cultivars (2024)

With its delicate floral aroma and ravishing spikes of vibrant flowers, lavender has captivated gardeners for over 2,500 years. This Mediterranean-native plant is a perennial herb that thrives in USDA growing zones 4-10, delivering stunning violet, blue, pink, or white blossoms all summer long to attract a medley of pollinators, beneficial insects, and curious noses.

Revered globally for its calming, sweet scent, lavender has an array of uses in the garden, kitchen, and around the house. Yet in spite of all its nobility, cultivating this elegant plant is far easier than one might imagine. The secret lies in choosing the perfect variety for your climate and preferences.

Let’s dig into the top lavender varieties for gardeners who crave the enticing aroma of lovely lavender.

Origins of Lavender

Lavender has been cultivated in the Mediterranean, Middle East, and India for thousands of years. In ancient Greece, lavender was a holy herb used in early Christian rituals. However, in ancient Indian ayurvedic medicine, lavender is considered to impart a cooling, calming, and soothing effect that aids in headaches and gastrointestinal upsets.

In Latin, the name lavender comes from “lavare” which means “to wash”- an allusion to lavender’s delightfully scented antimicrobial properties perfectly suited for bathing or washing bedding, clothes, and household items.

A member of the mint or Lamiaceae family, lavender is a perennial plant that comes in an array of shapes and sizes. All lavenders are perennial plants belonging to the genus Lavandula.

While most of us think of lavender as the classic purple-hued spike flower, there are over 45 species of lavender containing a vast diversity of some 450 unique varieties. Each type has its own growing preferences, uses, floral shape, and distinctive aroma.

Whether you live in a cold climate, prefer to grow container herbs, or are seeking a one-of-a-kind lavender experience, there are lavender cultivars for nearly every garden.

Main Types of Lavender

To find the best lavender for your garden, you must begin by matching your climate with one of the four main types of lavender: Spanish, English, Lavandins, or French.Let’s dive in a little deeper on each, as well as the lavender types under each climate classification.

Spanish Lavender

Native to the Mediterranean and North Africa, Spanish Lavenders (Lavendula stoechas) are known for their silvery-toned leaves and larger pine-cone shaped flowers. Sometimes called “rabbit’s ears” lavender, Spanish varieties have flowers with little bracts that stick up at the top like a rabbit’s ears.

These types thrive in warm growing zones 8-10 and tolerate more humidity and heat than other types. It is hardy down to about 15 or 20°F, but really prefers the warmth. Gardeners in the mid-Atlantic and southern regions of the United States tend to gravitate toward Spanish lavender for its drought hardiness and resilience through steamy summers.

With a distinct scent reminiscent of eucalyptus, pine, or rosemary, Spanish lavender is more often coveted for its ornamental use as a drought-tolerant, compact shrub. These low-growing dense bushes tend to be about 2’ x 3’ and mix perfectly as filler plants or edging borders in xeriscape or perimeter fence plantings.

English Lavender

Native to the rocky, dry slopes of the Mediterranean, English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is the classic “true lavender” that produces the tight purple (or blue, violet, white, or pink) flower spikes against a backdrop of aromatic grayish-green foliage. Culinary or herbal gardeners who want the most fragrant lavender possible should probably opt for an English Lavender variety.

English Lavenders are fairly hardy and can overwinter in growing zones 5-8, however, many northern gardeners rely on a microclimate or frost protection in the coldest regions of their zone. Like most lavenders, English types are drought resilient and thrive in full sun. The semi-woody perennials tend to grow about 2-3 feet tall and 2-4 feet wide.They are extremely hardy, and it takes quite a bit to kill lavender plants from this variety.

Lavandin Hybrids

Bred specifically for ultra-high essential oil content, Lavandins are English Lavender Hybrids that belong to the species Lavandula intermedia. They bloom later than other types and have extremely strong fragrances.

Most Lavandin types were created by crossing Lavandula angustifolia (English Lavender) and Lavandula latifolia (Portuguese Lavender). Being hybrids, these varieties tend to be the most vigorous and disease-resistant. They also have very aromatic sage-colored foliage that looks gorgeous in the garden throughout the year.

Lavandins tend to be the most popular lavender types because they are widely adapted to growing zones 5-10 and contain the most infamous perfume lavender scents such as ‘Provence’ and ‘Grosso’. Keep in mind that the seeds of these hybrids are all sterile, meaning that they can only be propagated by cutting (which is more common anyhow).

French Lavender

Suited to mild climates in zones 7-10, French Lavenders (Lavandula dentata) got their name from their toothed needle-shaped leaves. Their flowers are a bit “fluffier” than the slender spikes of English and Lavandin hybrids, and tend to be topped with terminal bracts similar to the “rabbits ear” Spanish types.

They are not quite as perfumy or strong-smelling as English varieties, however, they have a subtle delicious fragrance that is still a charm in the garden. The French types are perfect for gritty soil, rock gardens, and container plantings. They bloom practically non-stop from summer to fall in zones 7 and warmer. They are mostly ornamental and not often used in culinary or herbal preparations.

Portuguese Lavender

Also known as broadleaved lavender or spike lavender, Portuguese Lavender types belong to the species Lavandula latifolia, which is most commonly used in the hybridization of ultra-fragrant Lavandin varieties.

Portuguese Lavenders tend to have long stems and lilac-colored classic-shaped flowers loved by bees. They have a strong, pungent smell and coarse evergreen foliage. Hardy in zones 6-8, Portuguese Lavender is the national flower of Portugal and thrives in similar Mediterranean climates with warm, dry summers and cool, mild winters.

Picking the Best Lavender Variety

With such a captivating diversity of lavender varieties available, going to the nursery or garden store can be a bit overwhelming. You can find incredible lavender varieties online or even from your friend’s gardens, but you want to be sure they’ll perform in your garden before you put in all the effort of planting them. After all, the most work you’ll ever do on a lavender plant happens within the first few months of establishment.

As you thumb through photographs and the unique adaptability of each cultivar, keep in mind your reasoning for growing this aromatic perennial herb. Finding the ideal lavender variety for your garden comes down to a few key questions:

Use the chart below to narrow down your particular needs and then reference their respective sections in the following variety guide. Remember that you can experiment with as many types of lavender as you’d like but they may have differing growth habits and pruning needs throughout the season.

Top 31 Lavender Varieties

These tried-and-true lavender cultivars are staples in herb gardens around the world. Whether you’re seeking a laid back landscape plant, aromatic dried bouquets, or a delicious garnish for lavender lemon cookies, you can find a lavender variety perfect for your climate and needs.

‘Anouk’

• Lavender Type: Spanish
• Hardiness: Zones 6-10

This compact, hardy Spanish variety has dark plum-colored flowers with vibrant violet “rabbits ear” bracts that fade to pastel pink as they age. Sometimes called “butterfly lavender”, ‘Anouk’ is a cultivar that looks extra distinctive in the garden and has nice aromatic foliage that glows a silvery hue. This variety blooms practically continuously throughout the summer, with multiple flushes from May through late fall.

‘Anouk’ actually performs best in poor soils that are dry, sandy, and rocky. This plant handles drought like a champ and is great for xeriscaping installations. As they repel deer and rabbits, they magnetize your favorite butterflies and bees to the garden. For the best results, shear or prune ‘Anouk’ back fairly hard after the peak summer bloom to encourage sturdy flower stems in its fall flushes.

‘Ballerina’

• Lavender Type: Spanish
• Hardiness: Zones 8-9

Another gorgeous butterfly-style lavender, ‘Ballerina’ puts on a captivating display of deep bluish-purple cone-shaped flowers that are topped with frilly white bracts. This bicolor Spanish lavender is eager to please in the garden and blooms throughout the season. Its foliage looks similar to rosemary and has a nice strong aroma.

‘Ballerina’ received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society as one of the most beautiful and best performing Spanish lavenders. It grows excellently in poor, dry soils. The multicolored flowers look spectacular in mass or clump plantings that will magnify a buzzing array of pollinators. These plants also make excellent low-growing hedges (up to 2 feet tall) for vibrant pops of color against a bland grassy landscape.

‘Kew Red’

• Lavender Type: Spanish
• Hardiness: Zones 7-9

‘Kew Red’ is another bicolor lavender, except its lower flowers are crimson red and its bracts are frilly pastel pink. The abundance of these plump blossoms really stands out against the greenish-silver foliage.

Growing to a 24” bushy mound, ‘Kew Red’ works great for containers or clumped low-growing border plantings. They need full sun, well-drained soil, and a generous mid-summer pruning to keep them performing their best. Air circulation is essential for this densely-flowering Spanish lavender.

‘Fathead’

• Lavender Type: Spanish
• Hardiness: Zones 8-9

‘Fathead’ is another great compact Spanish variety perfect for containers or small gardens. It has plump rounded flower heads with dark purplish-black blossoms and fuschia top bracts. This butterfly lavender is evergreen in warm climates and grows in a nice bushy mounded shape. Like its Spanish lavender cousins, its foliage is reminiscent of rosemary and it thrives in chalky, sandy, or rocky soils. Incorporate ‘Fathead’ into plantings alongside perennial alliums, border beds, and patio perimeters.

‘Munstead’

• Lavender Type: English
• Hardiness: Zones 3-8

One of the hardiest varieties of lavender, these tough cold-tolerant plants can thrive down to the cold winter temperatures of growing zone 3. It is widely available and all-purpose for aroma, culinary use, landscaping, and pollinators. Though the stems can be a bit more crooked (not best for floral displays), the pastel purple perennial flowers dry excellently and maintain a strong perfume.

‘Royal Velvet’

• Lavender Type: English
• Hardiness: Zones 5-10

‘Royal Velvet’ is defined by its stunning soft-hued violet and dark blue blossoms that speckle its velvety-textured spikes. The 4” long blossoms exude a tremendous perfume that attracts bees, butterflies, and human noses. This English cultivar has tall long lasting floral stems that wave in the breeze and rebloom at least once after midsummer harvests. Perfect for cutting, this variety also holds its color and scent after drying.

‘Vera’

• Lavender Type: English
• Hardiness: Zones 5-10

If you love aromatherapy, you’ll be delighted to plant this narrow-leaved English lavender. ‘Vera’ is widely heralded as one of the best essential oil producing lavenders. It willingly thrives in poor soils on dry, sunny margins of the gardens. It blooms in spring and late summer for a minimum of two strongly fragrant harvests. When stored properly, the perfume of these blossoms lasts through winter and beyond.

‘Vera’ grows about 16-18” tall and 24-30” wide. It is considered an heirloom cultivar that has been planted for several centuries in Mediterranean gardens. It has superb cold hardiness and drought resistance once it is established.

‘Blue Cushion’

• Lavender Type: English
• Hardiness: Zones 5-9

This uniquely fuschia and blue-hued lavender is called a “cushion” for its compact shrubby habit. The gray-green foliage looks really nice in rock gardens or landscape perimeters. Perfect for small space gardens, ‘Blue Cushion’ is low growing and spreads a maximum of 18” in each direction.

It blooms again and again throughout the season, providing an abundance of fragrance, color, and pollinator-magnetizing nectar. The flowers fade to a pleasantly pastel purple after their long bloom time and will keep producing if regularly pruned.

‘Thumbelina Leigh’

• Lavender Type: English
• Hardiness: Zones 5-9

Another compact English Lavender, ‘Thumbelina Leigh’ is known for its perfect integration into containers and small spaces. The extra plump blooms are highly aromatic and usually appear twice during the growing season. This variety thrives in poor soils and is remarkably resistant to drought. It averages 12-15” tall and 18” wide and produces stems long enough for cute cut flower bouquets.

‘Pastor’s Pride’

• Lavender Type: English
• Hardiness: Zones 5-10

Monarchs and bees galore! ‘Pastors Pride’ provides a vibrant, generous display of medium-lilac colored blooms. This lavender has a more cylinder-shaped and stout flower shape that stands pairs perfectly with plantings of multicolored varieties like ‘Ballerina’.

‘Pastor’s Pride’ has moderate fragrance, two blooms per season, and a nice compact growth for containers. It is fairly cold-hardy and reliably resistant to deer and other pests.

‘SuperBlue’

• Lavender Type: English
• Hardiness: Zones 5-8

For a saturated and richly colored display in containers or small spaces, ‘SuperBlue’ blooms with stems that are tight together with less gaps. This compact English lavender maxes out its growth at just 12”, making it perfect for setting on the patio or edging along garden pathways. It is super tough, drought-tolerant, and reliably cold-tolerant for overwintering in zone 5.

‘Betty’s Blue’

• Lavender Type: English
• Hardiness: Zones 5-9

Large spikes of deep violet-blue and rose-tinted flowers sit atop erect stems that don’t droop or splay all about. This English Lavender has a tidy, compact growth habit that forms dome-shaped bushes. Its blooms are delightfully fragrant and sweet. They blossom once in the midsummer, sometimes offering a second small flush in the fall.

‘Betty’s Blue’ is particularly well-adapted to hot, humid climates and poor soils. It is drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and rabbit-repellent. If you trim this variety back in the spring after the first blooms, it will grow bushier and fuller. Deadheading spent flowers also encourages a more continuous bloom cycle.

‘Lavenite Petite’

• Lavender Type: English
• Hardiness: Zones 5-9

If you crave intense perfumey fragrance from a container-friendly lavender, this is the English variety for you! It has distinctive stout flower spikes that are shaped like pom-poms. The intense violet-blue color is a stunner in the garden and in pots. Being a petite type, it has short stems that only grow about 6-8” long.

Although ‘Lavenite Petite’ only blooms once or twice in the spring, the evergreen sage-silvery foliage is nearly as aromatic as the flowers and continues to share their perfume after blooms expire in late summer.

‘Hidcote’

• Lavender Type: English
• Hardiness: Zones 5-9

One of the most popular English Lavenders, ‘Hidcote’ is a true classic. It’s a free-flowering variety that can be found blooming around famous British gardens and castles. A winner of the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society, ‘Hidcote’ grows vigorously into a 12-20” tall shrub. It spreads up to 24”, creating a nice shapely bush.

In terms of fragrance, ‘Hidcote’ has one of the most long-lasting and exquisitely sweet scents that exudes from its deep purple flower spikes. The color contrast against the greenish-blue foliage is truly dazzling. This variety is perfect for crafters because it maintains its vibrant color when dried.

‘Grosso’

• Lavender Type: Lavandin Hybrids
• Hardiness: Zones 6-10

If you love to use lavender in desserts, co*cktails, garnishes, or dried ties, this is the variety for you. Arguably the most famous lavender of all, ‘Grosso’ is a French hybrid lavender with the loveliest bluish-purple spikes that bloom throughout the summer months.

‘Grosso’ is a large bush type that averages 2-4’ wide and 1-3’ tall, depending on pruning. It tends to bear in one big flush of flowers, but you can expect the blooms to be exquisitely abundant in quantity and fragrance. The long, graceful stems cut beautifully for displays in floral arrangements or dried hanging bouquets.

This hybrid has moderate cold tolerance, but really dislikes the wet, humid weather of the Gulf Coast or Florida. However, ‘Grosso’ absolutely thrives in the southwest, coastal California, and Pacific Northwest. It prefers low fertility soils that are well-drained and relatively sandy.

‘Impress Purple’

• Lavender Type: Lavandin Hybrids
• Hardiness: Zones 6-8

Hello spring and summer lavender bouquets! Perfect for cut flowers, ‘Impress Purple’ has straight, long stems crowned in richly scented dark purple flowers. This fast growing hybrid grows up to 36” tall and bushes out 3-4’ wide, depending on your pruning preferences. Though they can’t be tucked into small spaces, they make up for their massive size with a rugged tolerance for acidic, rocky soils.

‘Impress Purple’ doesn’t do as well in humid climates, but it can make do if it gets enough spacing and air circulation. These majestic plants are stunners in mass plantings, herb gardens, or rock gardens.

‘Hidcote Giant’

• Lavender Type: Lavandin Hybrids
• Hardiness: Zones 5-8

This distinctive lavender has giant violet flower blooms (2-4” long) atop elegant elongated stems. Award-winning for its extravagantly strong fragrance, Lavandula x intermedia ‘Hidcote Giant’ is prized for cut flowers and lavender wands. The abundance of dense blooms truly embodies the classic lavender field look, especially when planted in rows or clumps around the garden.

This large cultivar grows in big majestic mounds about 2-3’ tall and 3-4’ wide. It has the cold hardiness of English types and heat tolerance of Portuguese types while maintaining a superb drought tolerance and floral aroma.

‘Phenomenal’

• Lavender Type: Lavandin Hybrids
• Hardiness: Zones 5-9

Similar to ‘Grosso’, ‘Phenomenal’ is a French hybrid with – um, phenomenal – classic lavender flower spikes! It is renowned for its cold hardiness and drought tolerance, but it also performs in high-heat, high-humidity climates.

These big mounded plants eagerly grow fragrant deep green foliage year-round and bloom profusely throughout mid-summer. The flowers are gorgeously hued with purple to blue to lilac tones on each spike. A magnet for bees and butterflies, ‘Phenomenal’ is remarkably low maintenance and easy to grow in the herbal, ornamental, or edible garden. Just be sure to give it plenty of space to thrive.

‘Sensational’

• Lavender Type: Lavandin Hybrids
• Hardiness: Zones 5-9

For beginner perennial gardeners, ‘Sensational’ is an improved easy-to-grow hybrid that has exceptionally huge dark blue flowers on a compact plant. The silver-toned foliage yields thick stems and a pleasant bushy habit. The bush grows about 24” wide, and 18” tall (up to 30” when in full bloom).

‘Sensational’ lavender has a moderate to high level of floral fragrance and will eagerly thrive in sunny, hot, and dry conditions. However, unlike many of its relatives, this hybrid is also adapted to the humid heat and damp springs of the Eastern United States.

You can expect ‘Sensational’ to bloom in one or two long-lasting flushes from mid-summer to early fall. Its extra vigor, drought-resilience, and eye-catching flowers make it ideal for anyone first experimenting with growing lavender.

‘Nana Alba’

• Lavender Type: English
• Hardiness: Zones 5-9

This extra small 12-16” English lavender has a unique shape and color perfect for container gardening and borders. With nearly pure white blossoms, it adds a stunning contrast to darker purple or blue varieties. This heirloom variety comes straight from the UK and was bred by Charles Musgrave.

‘Alba’

• Lavender Type: English
• Hardiness: Zones 5-8

A heritage white cultivar from New Zealand, ‘Alba’ is larger and more creamy-colored than ‘Nana Alba’. Mature plants are medium-sized (around 24” tall) and readily tolerate humid conditions.

‘Alba White Grosso’

• Lavender Type: Lavandin Hybrids
• Hardiness: Zones 5-11

If you love the classic ‘Grosso’ hybrid French lavender, consider coupling it with this white hybrid for a brilliant juxtaposition of color and texture. ‘Alba White Grosso’ is a cross between Lavandula x intermedia and Lavandula angustifolia ‘Alba’.

Practically identical in shape and size, this white lavender grows equally as large and bushy as ‘Grosso’ (2 to 3 feet tall), with a very similar perfume and stem length. The white blossoms dry excellently and are a welcome backdrop to more eye-catching colors in dry bouquets.

‘Celestial Star’

• Lavender Type: English
• Hardiness: Zones 5-9

This taller type of English Lavender has vibrant white flowers that look incredible as hedges as well as scented crafts and dried bouquets. ‘Celestial Star’ is another New Zealand native that was bred from the classic Lavandula angustifolia. It grows roughly 28-30” tall and tolerates moderate frosts during its dormant phase.

‘Crystal Lights’

• Lavender Type: Lavandin Hybrids
• Hardiness: Zones 5-9

If you’re looking for a more compact white lavender, ‘Crystal Lights’ has a petite rounded growth habit perfect for containers and low landscaping. Mature plants only grow to about 15” tall. They can be interplanted with ‘SuperBlue’ and ‘Blue Cushion’ for a breathtaking speckling of blue, purple, and creamy white blossoms. ‘Crystal Lights’ blooms a few times per season and is especially adapted to mild coastal climates like its homeland of New Zealand.

‘Van Gogh’

• Lavender Type: Spanish
• Hardiness: Zones 8-9

Finally, a white lavender that isn’t English! This specialty Spanish lavender contrasts dark gorgeous green foliage with baby blue and pale violet flowers that are crowned in pasty white petals. The trio of colors makes for an incredible ornamental display. At 24-30”, ‘Van Gogh’ is a medium-sized lavender bush that readily blossoms throughout the growing season.

‘Lacy Frills’

• Lavender Type: English
• Hardiness: Zones 5-8

One of the only white lavenders that can be grown from seed, ‘Lacy Frills’ is a compact lavender with pale white-to-lilac-colored blossoms that reliably rebloom again and again. However, it is far easier to grow ‘Lacy Frills’ from cuttings or established plants.

This durable plant averages about 10-12” in width and 12-14” in height. It has a delightful fragrance that compliments the more complex aromas of true purple types.

‘Little Lottie’

• Lavender Type:English
• Hardiness: Zones 5-9

This English lavender has blooms speckled with rose pink and creamy white on a single spike. The fluffy-shaped flowers are uniquely rounded and stand out amongst the standard spike-shaped lavenders. It’s great for containers and can be used in culinary applications. This perennial lavender tends to bloom once in the early summer and may provide a second smaller flush in the fall (if trimmed back).

‘Little Lottie’ is among the most versatile and unique white lavenders, excelling in aesthetics, vigor, and fragrance.

French Lavender

• Lavender Type: French
• Hardiness: Zones 8-11

If you want a unique display of lavender blossoms in the garden for as long as possible, French Lavender is the variety for you! The bushy Lavandula dentata hails from the Mediterranean coast and Arabian Peninsula. It stands out from other types with its gracefully scalloped or toothed leaves.

Also called “fringed lavender”, the gray-green foliage has a slightly wool-like texture that contrasts beautifully against pale purple to blue flowers that grow in short spikes almost year-round. The display tends to peak in late summer and fall when most other lavenders have dwindled out. The only thing that stops French lavender blooms is a sudden cold snap below 20°F. Although these blooms aren’t recommended for eating, they are beautiful additions to an ornamental garden.

Lavandula dentata is drought tolerant and loves to bask in full sunlight. Be sure to plant this type in a very well-drained location with neutral to alkaline soils.

‘Goodwin Creek Grey’ French Lavender

• Lavender Type: French
• Hardiness: Zones 7-9

Technically from the species Lavandula ginginsii, this unique French lavender has one of the longest bloom times of the French types. The subtly silver-toned lobed leaves sprawl out beautifully beneath erect cone-shaped dark purple flowers. It averages about 24” tall and wide and thrives as a low-maintenance shrub for small gardens or containers.

Portuguese Lavender

• Lavender Type: Portuguese
• Hardiness: Zones 7-9

Originating in the higher elevation areas of the western Mediterranean, Lavandula latifolia can be found throughout Portugal, Southern France, and Northern Italy. It is one of the least hardy types of lavender and cannot handle super cold conditions. It should be grown as an annual or a container plant in cool climates.

Nonetheless, it is renowned for its high essential oil content. Portuguese Lavender has historically been used to treat snake venom and as an antimicrobial herb. Lavandula latifolia has complex elongated blossoms that are dark purple near the base and paler lilac toward the outer surfaces. They tend to bloom later in the summer and remain evergreen year-round.

Interestingly, this lavender is also willing to take on salty soil conditions.

Egyptian Lavender

• Lavender Type: Egyptian
• Hardiness: Zones 5-9

Sometimes called fernleaf lavender, Egyptian lavender or Lavandula multifida is different from all other lavenders thanks to its sprawling silvery fern-shaped leaves and complex layered flowers. Egyptian Lavender is perfect for landscapes, cut flowers, dried bouquets, and potpourri. It can also be used in cooking for a deliciously sweet lavender fragrance.