Growing Lavender: Tips at a Glance
There are almost 40 species in the lavender family; this aromatic native of the sunny, dry Mediterranean prefers sun and mild winters.
- Type Ornamental herb
- Lifespan Perennial
- USDA Zones 5-9
- Light Full sun
- Water Drought tolerant
- Care Cut low in fall
- Design Tip Calm gray foliage
- Companions Low-water perennials
- Peak Season Blooms in summer
Lavender: A Field Guide
Other herbs are fragrant, but the scent of lavender is unmistakable: sweet but sharp, calming but invigorating.
There are nearly 40 species in the lavender family, but not surprisingly for a native of the sunny, dry Mediterranean region, many varieties cannot survive harsh winters. Varieties are idiosyncratic: English lavender (L. angustifolia) hates humidity; Lavandin (L. x intermedia ‘Grosso’) is highly fragrant; and bunny-eared Spanish lavender (L. stoechas) blooms in spring. With gray-green foliage and flower spikes ranging in hue from deep purple to its namesake color, Lavender has a mounding habit that makes it an amenable edging plant.