Lavender is an incredibly versatile plant, with hundreds of different varieties available to grow. There are lavender plants with pink flowers, short types and tall types, and cold-hardy cultivars. Read on to learn all about 30+ of the most popular Lavender varieties!
1. Hidcote lavender
Hidcote lavender is a very popular variety of English lavender. This variety is known for its dark purple flowers, sweet floral scent, and dense gray-green foliage. ‘Hidcote’ is a heritage variety of English lavender bred by Major Lawrence Johnston in the UK.
Hidcote lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’) is a medium-sized lavender with a bushy base. Plants grow to reach 24″-28″ tall (60-70 cm). This variety is hardy in Zones 5-9.
Hidcote lavender is sometimes called Hidcote Blue lavender or Hidcote Purple lavender. True Hidcote lavender is propagated from cuttings off a mother plant (not from seed).
2. Phenomenal lavender
Phenomenal lavender is one of the most popular varieties of lavender to grow. This hybrid lavender is a lavandin (Lavandula angustifolia × Lavandula latifolia) and is known for its dual tolerance to both cold temperatures and to summertime heat. Phenomenal lavender is commonly used as a garden ornamental or hedging plant and can also be used in scented crafts like lavender sachets and potpourri.
Phenomenal lavender (Lavandula x intermedia ‘Niko’) is a medium-large lavender. Plants typically grow to reach 24″-36″ tall (60-90 cm). Phenomenal lavender is hardy in Zones 5-8. Phenomenal lavender is sometimes called Niko lavender.
3. Munstead lavender
Munstead lavender is the most popular variety of culinary lavender that is also grown purely for its ornamental value. This variety of English lavender is known for its sweet lavender taste and is used as a hedging plant in kitchen gardens and potagers. Munstead lavender is thought to have been bred by Gertrude Jekyll of the United Kingdom.
Munstead lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’) is a medium-sized lavender plant with a bushy base of foliage. Plants grow to reach 24″-28″ tall (60-70 cm). This variety is hardy in Zones 5-8. Munstead lavender is sometimes called Munstead Blue lavender or Munstead Short lavender.
4. Provence lavender
Provence Lavender is a tall variety of lavandin known for its high-quality scent. This cultivar is wonderful for planting in mixed flower borders or as a hedge. Provence Lavender is grown commercially for the production of lavender oil for perfume.
Provence lavender (Lavandula x intermedia ‘Provence’) is a large lavender variety. Plants typically grow to reach 24″-36″ tall (60-90 cm). This cultivar is hardy in Zones 5-8.
5. Grosso lavender
Grosso lavender is one of the most popular varieties grown for producing lavender essential oil. Grosso Lavender is also grown as an ornamental hedging plant due to its rounded shape and profusion of flower spikes. This lavender variety is a lavandin – a hybrid of English lavender with Portuguese lavender.
Grosso lavender (Lavandula x intermedia ‘Grosso’) is a medium-large lavender that typically reaches 28″-32″ tall (70-80 cm). Grosso lavender was discovered in France and is naturally resistant to the lavender plant disease Yellow Decline. This variety can be grown in Zones 5-8. Grosso is sometimes called ‘Dilly Dilly’ lavender or ‘Wilson’s Giant’ lavender.
6. Royal Velvet lavender
Royal Velvet lavender is a compact variety of English lavender with gorgeous dark purple flowers. While this variety is highly ornamental, it is also known for its strong and sweet fragrance. Royal Velvet lavender was bred by Andrew Van Hevelingen of the USA.
Royal Velvet lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Royal Velvet’) is a small-to-medium lavender. When established, plants reach 20″-24″ tall (50-60 cm). Royal Velvet lavender is hardy in Zones 5-8.
7. Sensational lavender
Sensational lavender is a specialty lavandin variety with dark purple flowers accompanied by silver-green foliage. This variety is unique due to its branched flower stems, plump blooms, and dense grey foliage. Sensational lavender can be used in mass plantings or hedges and can also be used to make lavender sachets and wands.
Sensational lavender (Lavandula x intermedia ‘Tesseract’) is a medium-large lavender. Plants reach 24″-30″ tall (60-75) cm. Sensational lavender is hardy in Zones 5-9.
8. Goodwin Creek Grey lavender
Goodwin Creek Grey lavender is a specialty type of lavender with grey foliage and thin grey-violet flower spikes. This variety is an intersectional hybrid with slightly toothed foliage (suggesting that it perhaps has some French lavender parentage). The spikes of this flower are elegant and long with dainty violet bracts. This variety was developed at Goodwin Creek Gardens in Oregon (USA).
Goodwin Creek Grey lavender (Lavandula ‘Goodwin Creek Grey’) is a medium-large lavender variety. Plants grow to reach 24″-32″ tall (60-80 cm). Goodwin Creek Grey lavender is hardy in Zones 7-9.
9. Melissa lavender
Melissa lavender is a variety of English lavender with pink flowers. This type can be planted alone as a feature ornamental or in a flower border, or it can be used as a hedging plant. Melissa lavender was bred by Andrew Van Hevelingen of the USA.
Melissa lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Melissa’) is a medium-sized lavender. When established, plants reach 24″-28″ tall (60-70 cm). This cultivar can be grown in climate Zones 5-9. Melissa lavender is also known as Melissa Pink lavender (there is also a lilac purple variety available).
10. Otto Quast lavender
Otto Quast lavender is a popular variety of Spanish lavender topped with red-purple petals. The petals (sterile bracts) at the top of the beautiful flower spikes are ruffled. This variety makes an excellent hedging lavender.
Otto Quast lavender (Lavandula stoechas ‘Otto Quast’) is a medium-tall lavender variety. Plants grow to about 28″ tall (70 cm). Otto Quast lavender is hardy in Zones 7-9.
11. Hidcote Giant lavender
Hidcote Giant lavender is a popular lavandin variety with tall flower stems. As the name suggests, this lavender is very much like a large version of the traditional Hidcote English lavender. Hidcote Giant lavender has dark violet-blue flowers and can be used as a feature plant or as an informal hedging plant.
Hidcote Giant lavender (Lavandula x intermedia ‘Hidcote Giant’) is a large variety of lavender. Plants grow to reach 32″ tall (80 cm). Hidcote Giant lavender is hardy in Zones 5-8.
12. Lady lavender
Lady lavender is a modern cultivar of English lavender developed by the Burpee Seed Company. This type of lavender is one of the few varieties commonly grown from seed. Because it is grown from seed (rather than cuttings), there are quite a few variations of this variety in different gardens. Burpee introduced this variety in the 1990s. Lady lavender was named an AAS Winner in 1994.
Lady lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Lady’) is a small lavender variety. Plants grow to 16″-20″ tall (40-50 cm), although there is some variation in height between seed-grown plants. Lady lavender is hardy in Zones 5-9. Lady lavender is sometimes called Burpee lavender, Atlee Burpee lavender, or Lavender Lady lavender.
13. Fred Boutin lavender
Fred Boutin lavender is a large lavandin variety with grey foliage and this purple flower spikes. This type is perfect for larger lavender hedges or placed in the middle of a flower border. Fred Boutin lavender was developed at the Huntington Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California (USA) by botanist Fredrick C. Boutin.
Fred Boutin lavender (Lavandula x intermedia ‘Fred Boutin’) is a large lavender variety. Established plants grow to about 32″ tall (80 cm). Fred Boutin lavender is hardy in Zones 6-9.
14. Buena Vista lavender
Buena Vista lavender is an elegant variety of English Lavender with delicate long flower spikes. This type works well in graceful flower borders and can also be used for making scented crafts. Buena Vista lavender was bred by Dr. Don Roberts (Oregon, USA) of Premier Botanicals.
Buena Vista lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Buena Vista’) is a medium-sized lavender variety. Plants grow in the range of 20″-28″ tall (50-70 cm). Buena Vista lavender is hardy in Zones 5-10.
15. Violet Intrigue lavender
Violet Intrigue lavender is a larger variety of English lavender with an elegant upright shape. This variety is quite versatile in the garden and is perfect as a feature plant, hedging plant, or grouped in a flower border.
Violet Intrigue lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Lavang 21’) is a medium-tall variety of lavender. Plants reach 28″-32″ tall (70-80 cm). Violet Intrigue lavender is hardy in Zones 5-8.
16. Blue Cushion lavender
Blue Cushion lavender is a compact English variety with blue-violet flowers. This type can be used for low hedges, garden edging, or for container growing. Blue Cushion is also among the most cold-hardy lavenders. Blue Cushion lavender was bred by Blooms of Bressingham (UK) in the 1990s.
Blue Cushion lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Blue Cushion’) is a small lavender. Plants reach about 20″ tall (50 cm). Blue Cushion lavender is hardy in Zones 4-9.
17. Miss Katherine lavender
Miss Katherine lavender is a larger variety of English Lavender with soft pink flowers. This variety has a tidy, round, bushy form. The light pink flower spikes are plump and provide a lovely color contrast when planted near darker lavender types. Miss Katherine lavender was bred by Norfolk Lavender in the UK.
Miss Katherine lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Miss Katherine’) is a medium-tall lavender. Plants reach about 28″ tall (70 cm). Miss Katherine lavender is hardy in Zones 5-8.
18. Nana Alba lavender
Nana Alba lavender is the smallest popular variety of lavender with white flowers. This variety of English lavender is well suited to the front of border gardens and to growing in containers. Nana Alba lavender is a UK heirloom variety bred by Charles Musgrave.
Nana Alba lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Nana Alba’) is a very small variety. Plants reach only 12″-16″ tall (30-40 cm). Nana Alba lavender is hardy in Zones 5-9. Nana Alba lavender is sometimes called Baby White lavender.
19. Dutch lavender
Dutch lavender is a large lavandin variety with grey foliage and violet-blue flowers. This heirloom variety is perfect for flowering border gardens and lining winding pathways.
Dutch lavender (Lavandula x intermedia ‘Dutch’) is a large lavender variety. Plants grow to reach 32″ tall (80 cm). Dutch lavender is hardy in Zones 5-8. Dutch lavender is sometimes called Early Dutch lavender.
20. Ballerina lavender
Ballerina lavender is a specialty variety of Spanish lavender with white flowers. The flower spikes are pink-purple and topped with elegant white petals (sterile bracts). These dainty petals truly do look like ballerinas dancing in the wind. Ballerina lavender is an ornamental variety.
Ballerina lavender (Lavandula stoechas ‘Ballerina’) is a medium-sized lavender. Plants grow to about 24″ tall (60 cm). Ballerina lavender is hardy in Zones 8-9. Ballerina lavender was bred by Peter Carter of New Zealand in the 1990s.
21. Imperial Gem lavender
Imperial Gem lavender is a classic variety of English lavender with similarities to the popular Hidcote lavender variety. Imperial Gem also has dark violet flowers, but the plants tend to have slightly wider flower spikes. The shape of the shrub foliage also tends to be a bit tidier. Imperial Gem lavender was developed by Norfolk Lavender (UK).
Imperial Gem lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Imperial Gem’) is a medium-sized bushy lavender variety. These plants grow to 24″-28″ tall (60-70 cm) in the garden. Imperial Gem lavender is hardy in Zones 5-9.
22. Blueberry Ruffles lavender
Blueberry Ruffles lavender is an elegant variety of Spanish lavender with blue-violet flowers reminiscent of a blueberry. The petals (sterile bracts) at the top of the flower spike are uniquely ruffled. This variety is perfect for low hedges as the flowers tend to bloom all at a similar height. Blueberry Ruffles lavender was bred by Virginia McNaughton and Dennis Matthews (New Zealand, 1997).
Blueberry Ruffles lavender (Lavandula stoechas ‘Blueberry Ruffles’) is a medium-sized variety of lavender. The plants grow to reach 24″-28″ tall (60-70 cm). Blueberry Ruffles is hardy in USDA Zones 8-9.
23. Thumbelina Leigh lavender
Thumbelina Leigh lavender is a very compact lavender variety with purple flowers. This cute little plant is perfect for planting at the front of border gardens, low hedges, and for container growing. Thumbelina Leigh lavender was bred by Elsie Hall and Brian Hall (New Zealand) in the 1990s.
Thumbelina Leigh lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Thumbelina Leigh’) is a very small variety of lavender. Plants reach about 16″ tall (40 cm) when mature. Thumbelina Leigh lavender can be grown in Zones 5-9.
24. Jean Davis lavender
Jean Davis lavender is a specialty variety of English Lavender with pale pink flowers. Flower spikes are pink, with the bloom clusters somewhat spaced out along the stem. The leaves of the plant are grey-green.
Jean Davis lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Jean Davis’) is a medium-sized lavender. Plants reach 24″-28″ tall (60-70 cm) when fully grown. Jean Davis lavender is particularly cold-hardy and can be grown in Zones 4-9.
25. Silver Frost lavender
Silver Frost lavender is a specialty hybrid lavender variety with dark purple flowers and silvery-grey foliage. This variety works well as a hedging or edging plant. Silver Frost lavender was bred by Andy Van Hevelingen of Hevelingen Herb Nursery (Oregon, USA).
Silver Frost lavender (Lavandula ‘Silver Frost’) is a small-medium lavender. Plants grow to about 18″-24″ tall (45-60 cm). Silver Frost lavender can be grown in Zones 7-10.
26. Fairy Wings lavender
Fairy Wings lavender is a large variety of Spanish lavender with long pink petals on top of the flower spikes. This variety is perfect as a feature plant but is also stunning in a mixed flower border or as a massed planting in a meadow. Fairy Wings lavender was originally bred by James Compton (UK).
Fairy Wings lavender (Lavandula stoechas ‘Fairy Wings’) is a tall lavender variety. Plants reach about 32″ tall (80 cm). Fairy Wings lavender can be grown as a perennial in Zones 8-9. Fairy Wings lavender is sometimes called James Compton lavender or Butterfly lavender.
27. Seal lavender
Seal lavender is a popular tall lavandin variety with violet-blue flowers. This variety has a rounded habit and grey-green foliage.
Seal lavender (Lavandula x intermedia ‘Seal’) is a large lavender variety. Plants grow in the range of 24″-36″ tall (60-90 cm). Seal lavender can be grown as a perennial in Zones 5-8, although plants may need to be replaced in the spring after particularly harsh winters (especially in Zone 5).
28. Sharon Roberts lavender
Sharon Roberts lavender is a versatile variety of lavender with violet-blue flowers. This cultivar can be used as a garden ornamental and is also suitable for fragrant crafts and for culinary use. Sharon Roberts lavender was bred by Dr. Don Roberts (Oregon, USA) of Premier Botanicals.
Sharon Roberts lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Sharon Roberts’) is a medium-sized lavender with a bushy habit. Plants grow to reach 24″-28″ tall (60-70 cm) when established. Sharon Roberts lavender is hardy in Zones 5-8.
29. Van Gogh lavender
Van Gogh lavender is a specialty type of Spanish lavender with elegant green-white petals at the top of flower spikes with light blue-violet flowers. This variety can be used for low hedges or on its own as a feature ornamental. Van Gogh lavender is another introduction from New Zealand in the 1990s.
Van Gogh lavender (Lavandula stoechas ‘Van Gogh’) is a medium-sized lavender. Plants grow to 24″-28″ tall (60-70 cm). Van Gogh lavender is hardy in Zones 8-9.
30. Rosea lavender
Rosea lavender is an heirloom lavender variety with pink flowers. Rosea is a compact variety that works well as a low-hedging plant.
Rosea lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Rosea’) is a medium-sized lavender variety. Plants grow to reach 24″-28″ tall (60-70 cm). Rosea lavender is hardy in Zones 5-9. Rosea lavender is sometimes called ‘Nana Rosea’ lavender or ‘Pink’ lavender.
31. Hidcote Pink lavender
Hidcote Pink lavender is another popular lavender variety introduced by Major Lawrence Johnston and named after his estate garden in the UK. This heritage variety remains another one of the best varieties of pink lavender for the garden. Flowers are a soft pink when they open, quickly fading to a pale blush tone.
Hidcote Pink lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote Pink’) is a medium-sized variety. Plants grow to reach about 28″ tall (70 cm). Hidcote Pink lavender is hardy in Zones 5-9.
