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white lavender

White lavender is a stunning addition to the flower garden. The pale-hued flowers contrast beautifully against the green foliage and beside more traditional purple lavender varieties. Here are 8 of the best white lavender varieties to add to your garden.

White lavender

1. Nana Alba lavender

Nana Alba Lavender is perhaps the most popular variety of white lavender. This dwarf 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.

White lavender - ballerina white flowers

2. 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 wind. Ballerina Lavender is an ornamental variety that is spectacular in the garden and can also be trained to create a beautiful lavender tree topiary.

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.

3. Celestial Star lavender

Celestial Star Lavender is a taller variety of English Lavender with white flowers. This variety is perfect in the garden and as a hedging lavender, and can also be used for scented crafts like potpourri. This variety was discovered in New Zealand by Virginia McNaughton.

Celestial Star Lavender (Lavandula angustifoliaCelestial Star’) is a medium-tall lavender. Plants typically grow to about 28″ tall (70 cm). Celestial Star Lavender is hardy in Zones 5-9.

4. 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.

5. Crystal Lights lavender

Crystal Lights Lavender is a compact white lavender variety. This type has a rounded small habit with dense green foliage. Crystal Lights is perfect for growing in a pot or for low lavender hedges or garden edging. This variety was bred by Virginia McNaughton in the 1980s (New Zealand).

Crystal Lights Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Crystal Lights’) is a small variety of lavender. Mature plants reach only 16″ tall (40 cm). Crystal Lights Lavender can be grown in Zones 5-9.

English lavender alba

6. Alba lavender

Alba Lavender is a heritage white lavender variety from New Zealand. Although less popular than the tiny Nana Alba Lavender (see above), this larger type is also beautiful in the garden.

Alba Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Alba’) is a medium-sized lavender. Mature plants are typically around 24″ tall (60 cm). Alba Lavender is hardy in Zones 5-8.

7. Alba lavandin

Alba Lavandin is a tall, hybrid white lavender. This heritage variety has silver-grey foliage and very long flower stems. Lavandin ‘Alba’ is much taller than English Lavender ‘Alba’ from New Zealand described above (read more about different types of lavender).

Alba Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia ‘Alba’) is a large lavender. Plants reach 32″ tall (80 cm). Alba Lavandin is hardy in Zones 5-9.

8. Lacy Frills lavender

Lacy Frills Lavender is a compact reblooming white lavender variety. This new variety is known as the only white lavender that can be reliably grown from seed. These compact plants reach only 12″-14″ tall and have a beautiful fragrance.

Even though seeds are available, beginner gardeners will likely have greater success purchasing starter plants as lavender seeds can be tricky to germinate. Lacy Frills Lavender is hardy in Zones 5-8.

Resources

Mary Jane Duford
Mary Jane Duford

Mary Jane Duford is a passionate gardener and well-acclaimed authority in the world of horticulture. As a certified Master Gardener and Permaculture Garden Designer with over a decade of hands-on experience, she has honed her skills to cultivate a deeper understanding of the natural world around us. Beyond her gardening prowess, Mary Jane holds a distinct edge as a Professional Engineer, an expertise that often intertwines with her gardening methodologies, bringing a unique perspective to her readers.

She is the proud founder of the renowned gardening website, Home for the Harvest, a platform dedicated to helping fellow gardeners, both novice and experienced, find their green thumbs. Her gardening expertise hasn't gone unnoticed; she's been spotlighted as a go-to gardening expert by notable publications like Better Homes & Gardens, Good Housekeeping, Mother Earth News, Real Simple, and the National Garden Bureau.

Delving deep into specific fields of study within horticulture, Mary Jane has an extensive knowledge base on sustainable gardening practices (including permaculture), soil science, and selecting cultivars well-suited to home gardeners. Her passion isn't just limited to plants; she's a staunch advocate for holistic, eco-friendly gardening techniques that benefit both flora and fauna.

Currently residing in the picturesque Okanagan Valley, Mary Jane cherishes the time she spends with her family amidst nature, always exploring, learning, and growing both as a gardener and as an individual.

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