One of the most recognizable garden plants, lavender can greatly enhance the pleasure your backyard brings, but do you know about their different varieties?
All lavender varieties are neat-growing, aromatic, drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, evergreen shrubs that appreciate good drainage and plenty of sunshine. Though they vary in size from 14in-4ft, many are highly suited to borders, path edging, and low hedges, plus patio pots and large containers. An essential ingredient in many fragrances, new varieties feature a higher oil content, plus attractive foliage and improved hardiness. Most have gray foliage that sets off their purple, lavender, pink, or white flowers prettily.
Most types of lavender fall into two groups. Hardy lavenders are those that are rated by the USDA as Zone 5 or above. These are mainly derived from the Mediterranean Lavandula angustifolia (English lavender) and from L. x intermedia (lavandin).
For those keen to grow lavender, hardy types make fine small specimens. They create attractive edging for garden paths and driveways, and they are the richest in aromatic oils.
Patio lavenders are less hardy (USDA H7), but can be moved into a cold greenhouse, sunroom, or sunroom for winter. Lavenders grown in containers need warmer winter temperatures than they would in the ground. Patio lavenders are derived from L. dentata with toothed leaves, L. lanata with woolly leaves, plus L. pedunculata (Spanish lavender), L. stoechas (French lavender) and lemon-scented L. viridis (green lavender).
14 modern and classic lavender varieties for every garden
This selection of some of the best lavender features new varieties bred specifically for variegated foliage and extra hardiness, as well as the best fragrant flowers you can grow.
‘The large diversity of lavenders offers a range of suitable growing conditions,’ says Jim & Dotti Becker of Goodwin Creek Gardens in Oregon. ‘You can’t grow all lavender varieties in all parts of the US, but with planning there is a lavender for everyone.’ Try ‘Nana Alba’ and ‘Sweet Romance’ for windowboxes, ‘Hidcote’ and ‘Imperial Gem’ for hedges, and ‘Meerlo’ and ‘Tiara’ for a patio pot.
New varieties arrive in garden centers and nurseries every year, yet some of the golden oldies are still among the best.
1. Lavender BeeZee Series
- Type: Lavandula angustifolia
- Hardiness: USDA Z5
- Height: 15in
- Good for: Low hedges, containers, drought gardens
The BeeZee Series of lavender varieties are some of the hardiest you can grow. They are ideal for drought-tolerant planting ideas as well as containers and low hedges. They form a series of five matching compact, prolific and early flowering varieties. These lavenders produce flowers in three shades of blue, plus pink and white.
2. Lavender ‘Goodwin Creek Gray’
- Type: Lavandula dentata hybrid
- Hardiness: USDA Z7
- Height: 3ft
- Good for: Patio and deck containers
If you are looking for the best patio plants as well as the best lavender options, this is an excellent choice for patio and deck containers. Foliage with this lavender, discovered in Oregon, can be both untoothed and toothed in silvery gray. The flowers, stems and spikes of ‘Goodwin Creek Gray’ are unusually long and topped with violet sails.
3. Lavender ‘Hidcote’
- Type: Lavandula angustifolia
- Hardiness: USDA Z5
- Height: 26-30in
- Good for: Hedges, dry gardens, Mediterranean gardens
‘Hidcote’ is another of the hardiest types of lavender you can grow and it has been popular for over a hundred years. It works especially well with other Mediterranean plants, as well as dry gardens and hedges. This is one of the classic lavender varieties with dense spikes of violet flowers held above slender, grey-green leaves. ‘Hidcote Giant’ is different, with floppier growth.
4. Lavender ‘Imperial Gem’
- Type: Lavandula angustifolia
- Hardiness: USDA Z5
- Height: 26-30in
- Good for: Hedges, dry gardens, Mediterranean gardens
Compact, bushy and hardy, ‘Imperial Gem’ is one of the most intensely colored lavender varieties in our selection. If you are looking for richly toned purple plants then this is one of the best lavender options you can try. The dense spikes of deep violet flowers are darker in color than those of ‘Hidcote’ and the leaves are more silvery. Ideal for dry gardens, hedges and Mediterranean plantings.
5. Lavender Javelin Series
- Type: Lavandula stoechas
- Hardiness: USDA Z8
- Height: 14-20in
- Good for: Patio and deck containers
These types of lavender are perfect if you are growing herbs in pots and need something for a patio or deck container. Two series make up this group: Forte and Compact. Varieties in the Javelin Forte Series make slightly larger plants than the Javelin Compact Series. The Javelin Forte Series of lavenders are also ideal for beds, borders and dwarf hedging. All are unusually disease resistant.
6. Lavender Little Lady (‘Batlad’)
- Type: Lavandula angustifolia
- Hardiness: USDA Z5
- Height: 20in
- Good for: Very low hedges, window boxes, individual pots
Little Lady (‘Batlad’) is an excellent hardy garden lavender. It is perfect for tidy yet attractive lawn edging ideas, as it is neat and compact in growth, and naturally bushy without pruning. This is amongst the best lavender varieties for window boxes and low hedges. Its lilac-blue flower spikes rise above unusually glossy green foliage which is more aromatic than most.
7. Lavender ‘Meerlo’
- Type: Lavandula dentata hybrid
- Hardiness: USDA Z9
- Height: 40in
- Good for: Pots on the patio or deck
‘Meerlo’ is one of the best lavender varieties if you want ornamental shrubs for containers you can keep on a patio or deck. Fragrant and variegated, its foliage is quite a departure from a lot of other lavenders you might recognize. Each grey-green toothed leaf is edged in cream, topped by spikes of pale blue flowers on long stems.
8. Lavender ‘Miss Katherine’
- Type: Lavandula angustifolia
- Hardiness: USDA Z5
- Height: 2ft
- Good for: Hedges, dry gardens, Mediterranean gardens
Another of the finest hardy garden lavenders, ‘Miss Katherine’ is also amongst the best drought tolerant herbs you can grow as part of hedges or dry gardens. These types of lavender are some of the darkest pinks available, and very prolific. Individual flowers have a neat star-shaped mark, and the grey-green leaves are very aromatic.
9. Lavender ‘Nana Alba’
- Type: Lavandula angustifolia
- Hardiness: USDA Z5
- Height: 12in
- Good for: Very low hedges, window boxes, individual pots
If you are looking for unusual lavender varieties to harmonize with white garden ideas or silver color themes, this is one of the best lavender options. ‘Nana Alba’ is a fine hardy lavender for window boxes and very low hedges. This dwarf and bushy variety has unusually broad, highly aromatic foliage in a pretty grey-green shade that sets off flowers nicely.
10. Lavender Phenomenal (‘Niko’)
- Type: Lavandula x intermedia
- Hardiness: USDA Z4
- Height: 3-4ft
- Good for: Drought gardens, growing with roses
Phenomenal (‘Niko’) is one of the best types of lavender for drought gardens and does well in the west and south. It is also one of the most striking plant partners if you are interested in dramatic rose garden ideas for cottage gardens and modern themes. Long, slender, purplish blue flower spikes are held above silver foliage on large plants that are unusually tolerant of heat and humidity.
11. Lavender Sensational (‘Tesseract’)
- Type: Lavandula x intermedia
- Hardiness: USDA Z5
- Height: 2-3ft
- Good for: Drought gardens, small specimens, large containers
Another of the best lavender options for drought tolerant plants for pots, Sensational (‘Tesseract’) is also excellent for drought gardens. They are also great lavender varieties to grow as small specimens. Narrow, brightly silvered foliage makes for very attractive plants. In spring and summer, you will be treated to densely packed purple flower spikes.
12. Lavender Sweet Romance (‘Kerlavangem’)
- Type: Lavandula angustifolia
- Hardiness: USDA Z5
- Height: 12-16in
- Good for: Edging, very low hedges, patio pots
Lavenders for containers don’t come much better than Sweet Romance (‘Kerlavangem’). This compact lavender is ideal for patio planting ideas as well as pots, low hedges and edging. Its low, grey-green mound of foliage is topped by an unusually long season of deep purple flowers. These types of lavender will start flowering before most varieties. Flowers open low on stems for a richer display.
13. Lavender ‘Tiara’
- Type: Lavandula viridis hybrid
- Hardiness: USDA Z7
- Height: 26in
- Good for: Pots on the patio or deck, sunny gravel gardens
If you are looking for dramatic lavender varieties for dramatic garden color schemes then ‘Tiara’ is ideal. This is also one of the best lavender options for vibrant patio or deck-based container gardening, as well as sunny gravel gardens. Its playful flowerheads feature a vivid combination of rich blue flowers topped with white sails tinted green at the base.
14. Lavender ‘Willow Vale’
- Type: Lavandula stoechas hybrid
- Hardiness: USDA Z7
- Height: 20in
- Good for: Patio and deck containers, and sunny, sheltered borders, gravel gardens
‘Willow Vale’ is one of the most vigorous lavender varieties and another excellent choice for patio and deck containers. This strong-growing lavender is also ideal for delicate gravel garden ideas and sunny, sheltered borders. These two-toned types of lavender feature grey-green foliage and long, slightly crinkled sails topping each violet flower head.
The rich diversity of lavender varieties means that whichever breed you choose, you are helping to add color and character to your plot. You are also helping to attract pollinators and wildlife by growing enduring sensory garden plants that will reward you with fragrance for years to come. Also, once you harvest lavender, you can use it decoratively at cut flowers, as a fragrant edible in the kitchen garden, or homeopathically as an ingredient in essential oils.
