Lavender Varieties Companions to Lavender Pruning Lavender
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Lavender Varieties
Lavender is a large family.
There are over 39 species and within the species over 400 varieties!
The genus is called Lavandula.
Three species are commonly grown:
L. angustifolia 'Hidcote'
Members of this family come in every shade of purple, white and pink. The most frost tolerant varieties, L. angustifolia 'Munstead' and L. angustifolia 'Hidcote' are in this family.
L. angustifolia 'Nana Alba' - A lovely white variety in my front garden
2. Lavandula x intermedia.
These are hybrids between L. angustifolia and L. latifolia and are the backbone of the lavender oil industry. Most are fairly large plants, reaching one meter (3')in height. In the garden they make stunning specimen plants. Several in this group are frost hardy. The most common in my area are L. x intermedia 'Provence' and L. x intermedia 'Grosso'.
On
the left is L.x.intermedia 'Grosso'. Notice the
dark purple flowers and long stems.
Compare this to L. x intermedia 'Provence' left.
'Provence' also has long stems, but paler flowers.
L.x intermedia 'Silver Edge'.
This is a pretty variegated lavender. The green leaves are edged in white. There is a beautiful scent to the foliage. Traveling through Ohio this summer, I found it planted outside a Trader Joes. Although often sold as frost hardy in my area, I have never had any luck wintering it, so always plan to bring it inside.
'Silver Edge' at Trader Joes.
3.
Lavandula stoechas.
This beautiful plant bears flowers with 'wings' on top of them. Available in white and an array of purples, they are very showy in the garden. They are not frost tolerant but many make lovely container plants. Their scent is more camphorous than the traditional lavender scent. Sometimes called French lavender. Some will tolerate a light frost, but generally are not considered frost hardy. They are lovely in containers on the patio or in the garden where frost is not an issue.
The lavender on the right is a L. stoechas that I bought at a flower shop in downtown Toronto. It is not winter hardy, but a lovely container plant.
Choosing a Variety
What do you want the lavender for?
Rock Garden - choose smaller varieties like L.a.'Lady' or L.a. 'Munstead'.
Perennial Garden - How much space can you give a plant? What color lavender; pink, white, light purple or dark purple. The choice is yours!
Harvesting the buds for drying - Some popular choices are L. a. Hidcote Superior, L.x intermedia 'Grosso', L.x intermedia 'Provence'
Producing Lavender oil or hydrosols.
The most common Lavenders for oil production are:
L.x intermedia 'Grosso', L.x intermedia 'Abrialii', L.x intermedia 'Super', L.x intermedia 'Sumian' and L. angustifolia
For detailed information about lavender varieties, you can't beat this book:
Lavender, The Grower's Guide
by Virginia McNaughton
This beautiful hardcover book offers detailed information and beautiful photographs on most lavender varieties. If you are addicted to lavender, this is a 'must have' book. Detailed photographs compare many lavenders - their flowers and leaves. You will be amazed to see how many kinds and colors of lavender there are. She briefly covers history, botany, propagation, pests, and lavender growing around the world, but the focus of the book is cataloging all the different lavenders.
Virginia is considered one of the world authorities on lavender. With her husband she manages Lavender Downs, a specialist lavender and consulting business, while continuing her research into Lavender. She lives in New Zealand.