Here are the Best Types of Lavender that you can grow in containers and gardens for their amazing fragrance and appearance.
Lavender, with its delicate fragrance, beautiful blooms, and endless versatility, is a favorite among gardeners, aromatherapy enthusiasts, and culinary experts alike. With so many varieties to choose from, it can be challenging to pick the right one. So, let’s explore the Best Types of Lavender that will add a touch of beauty and relaxation to your garden, home, and life.
Here’s all you need to know about growing Lavender
Best Lavender Varieties
1. Betty’s Blue Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia ‘Betty’s Blue’
USDA Zones: 5-9
Betty’s Blue features large, deep-violet to blue blooms on dome-like foliage. The flowers emit a sweet fragrance and appear in the middle of summer.
2. Impress Purple Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula x intermedia ‘Impress Purple’
USDA Zones: 6-8
Impress Purple is popular in bouquets for its bunch of dark purple blooms. The plant blossoms from mid to late summer.
3. French Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula stoechas
USDA Zones: 7-10
The plant displays crimson violet blooms with pale pink petals on top. The flowering season starts from late spring to fall.
4. Hidcote Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’
USDA Zones: 5-9
This popular cultivar sports purple blossoms over contrasting blue-green leaves. It flowers in late spring or early summer.
5. Grosso Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula x intermedia ‘Grosso’
USDA Zones: 5-9
This variety grows up to 2-3 feet tall, with deep purple flowers and narrow aromatic foliage. It can tolerate cold winter as low as 15 F.
6. Ballerina Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula stoechas ‘Ballerina’
USDA Zones: 8-9
It has unique bulbs and produces white blossoms that fade to pink and purple with age. This French lavender flourishes in climates with mild summer and winter.
7. Egyptian Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula multifida
USDA Zones: 8-11
Also popular as fern-leaf lavender due to its furry bipinnate foliage. It spreads an intense fragrance—the plant flowers in late spring.
8. Portuguese Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula latifola
USDA Zones: 5-9
The blooms are more elegant and fragrant than other varieties. They form small, pale lilac bulbs along the stem. It is popular in culinary and drinks.
9. Fringed Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula dentata
USDA Zones: 8-9
Its flowers last long throughout summer and fall. The plant grows up to 2-3 feet tall and cannot withstand extreme temperatures.
10. Alba Nana Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia ‘Alba Nana’
USDA Zones: 5-9
This cultivar has contrasting green leaves that look gorgeous with white blooms. It has won the award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
11. Folgate Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia ‘Folgate’
USDA Zones: 5-9
Folgate is a classic variety that offers dark purple blooms in spring. It won the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit in 2012.
12. Pink Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia ‘Rosea’
USDA Zones: 5-9
Rosea lavender offers plenty of pale pink blooms with a soothing fragrance. It grows up to 2-3 feet tall and wide.
13. Royal Velvet Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia ‘Royal Velvet’
USDA Zones: 5-9
Royal Velvet displays long-lasting, deep blue to dark violet blooms with a velvety texture.
14. Thumbelina Leigh Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia ‘Thumbelina Leigh’
USDA Zones: 5-9
This English lavender variety produces short and thick blooms. The long stems carry flowers with violet-purple plumes above the foliage.
15. Little Lottie Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia ‘Little Lottie’
USDA Zones: 5-9
‘Little Lottie’ won the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society in 2002. The blooms emerge in two shades; some are white, and a few are magenta.
16. Munstead Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’
USDA Zones: 5-9
It was introduced in 1916 by Gertrude Jekyll. The flowers bloom in a light, rosy purple hue. This variety grows up to 1-2 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide.
17. Regal Splendour Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula stoechas ‘Regal Splendour’
USDA Zones: 8-10
This elegant variety brings a touch of royalty to hedges and borders with its rich violet-blue flower spikes and upright deep magenta bracts.
18. With Love Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula stoechas ‘With Love’
USDA Zones: 6-10
This classy and elegant lavender variety offers green foliage and short spikes of cerise-purple bracts with white veins.
19. Pretty Polly Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula stoechas ‘Pretty Polly’
USDA Zones: 8-9
This award-winning variety exhibits long white ears on top of spikes, deep purple blooms, and bright yellow centers.
20. Papillon Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula pedunculata ‘Papillon’
USDA Zones: 9-11
This evergreen perennial shows off small purple spikes with magenta ears on top. It grows well in full sun.
21. Provence 
Botanical Name: Lavandula × intermedia ‘Provence’
USDA Zones: 5-8
This classy variety offers big flower heads in deep violet color. It blooms from mid to late summer.
22. Phenomenal
Botanical Name: Lavandula×Intermedia ‘Phenomenal’
USDA Zones: 5-9
This variety produces deep purple blooms that have an intense fragrance. It grows up to 2-3 feet tall and is perfect for containers.
23. Fathead
Botanical Name: Lavandula stoechas ‘Fathead’
USDA Zones: 8-9
This evergreen compact Spanish variety boasts plump round flower heads with dark purple-black blooms and fuschia bracts.
24. Vera English
Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia ‘Vera English’
USDA Zones: 5-10
This narrow-leaved variety offers fragrant purple blooms. It grows 2-3 feet tall and flowers during spring & summer.
25. Blue Cushion
Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia ‘Blue Cushion’
USDA Zones: 5-9
This distinct Fuschia and blue variety are also popular as ‘cushions.’ It offers gray-green leaves and pastel purple blooms.
26. Pastor’s Pride
Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia ‘Pastor’s Pride’
USDA Zones: 5-10
It displays medium lilac and cylindrical flowers that have an intense fragrance. This cultivar is cold-hardy and is also deer resistant.
27. SuperBlue
Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia ‘SuperBlue’
USDA Zones: 5-8
The plant can withstand drought very well and produces blooms that release a tarty fragrance.
28. Sensational
Botanical Name: Lavandula x intermedia ‘Sensational’
USDA Zones: 5-8
This hybrid perennial shows off huge dark blue blooms with silver leaves. The leaves of the plant are pointy and narrow, complementing the amazing blooms.
29. Celestial Star
Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia ‘Celestial Star’
USDA Zones: 5-9
This New Zealand native features vivid white blooms. It grows up to 2-4 feet tall and can withstand moderate frosts.
30. Van Gogh
Botanical Name: Lavandula stoechas ‘Van Gogh’
USDA Zones: 8-9
This hybrid variety of Spanish lavender showcases dark green leaves with blue and pale violet blooms that look classy.
31. Lacy Frills
Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia ‘Lacy Frills’
USDA Zones: 5-8
This compact white lavender offers pale white to lilac flowers. It prefers full sun.
32. Goodwin Creek Grey
Botanical Name: Lavandula ginginsii ‘Goodwin Creek Grey’
USDA Zones: 7-9
It offers silver foliage beneath cone-shaped deep purple blooms. This low-maintenance shrub suits well in small gardens or pots.
Find How to grow Lavender from cuttings
33. Anouk Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk’
USDA Zones: 5-9
This petite lavender features narrow, silvery foliage and vibrant purple flowers, making it an excellent choice for borders, containers, or rock gardens.
34. Royal Crown French Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula dentata ‘Royal Crown’
USDA Zones: 8-11
Known for its distinctive long, narrow purple blooms and fragrant foliage, Royal Crown French Lavender is a showstopper in garden beds or as a focal point in containers.
35. Kew Red Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula stoechas ‘Kew Red’
USDA Zones: 5-9
The Kew Red Lavender is a unique variety featuring dark burgundy-purple blooms that add a dramatic pop of color to any garden. Its compact size also makes it ideal for small gardens or patio planters.
36. Hidcote Pink Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote Pink’
USDA Zones: 5-9
A soft and romantic addition to any garden, Hidcote Pink Lavender features delicate pink flowers and silver-grey foliage. It’s also a great choice for attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies.
37. Loddon Blue Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia ‘Loddon Blue’
USDA Zones: 5-9
Loddon Blue Lavender adds a striking vertical element to garden beds or borders with violet-blue blooms and tall, upright habit.
38. Otto Quast Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula stoechas ‘Otto Quast’
USDA Zones: 5-9
This hardy variety features silver-grey foliage and vibrant purple flowers that are highly fragrant. It’s also known for its excellent resistance to disease and pests.
39. Spanish Eyes Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula multifida ‘Spanish Eyes’
USDA Zones: 8-10
A unique and eye-catching variety, Spanish Eyes Lavender features deep purple flowers with white “eyelashes” on each petal. It’s perfect for adding a touch of whimsy to any garden.
40. Luisieri Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula viridis ‘Luisieri’
USDA Zones: 8-10
This aromatic variety features soft, silvery-green foliage and delicate, pale lavender flowers that bloom in late spring. Its compact size makes it an ideal choice for small gardens or container planting.
41. Anouk Deep Rose Lavandula
Botanical Name: Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk Deep Rose’
USDA Zones: 7-10
Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk Deep Rose’ is a compact, evergreen perennial shrub with deep, rose-pink flowers that bloom in summer. This variety is ideal for container gardening and for growing in rock gardens.
