Lavender is a gorgeous flowering plant. There are more than 450 kinds of lavender, which means it can be a little tricky to find the right lavender for you. While each type of lavender is different, we can confidently say that each variation is incredible, and will look beautiful in your garden.
When choosing a lavender plant, you really need to analyze and research the different variations. Some lavender plants are highly scented, while others produce little fragrance. Some lavender plants are more aesthetically pleasing, while others might not be as beautiful, but produce a far richer fragrance.
What Is Lavender Used For?
Lavender has been used for centuries. While it is a commonly grown plant, for its wonderful beauty and breathtaking fragrance, it has great herbal properties. Lavender was used in the Roman era, to scent their baths. In fact, the word ‘lavender’ itself is derived from Latin, and means ‘to be washed’. Egyptians also used lavender and would cover their body in it to get the sweet scent.
The scent of lavender is very relaxing, and it is often used as an aid to encourage sleepiness, ideal for those with sleep issues. Furthermore, lavender is also extracted and used as an essential oil, which is used for relaxation. You can also use lavender in cooking, and it has a very floral taste.
There are some cultivars of English Lavender that are highly prized for their properties. Many of them are wonderfully scented and very fragrant. Below, we will show you some of our favorite types of English Lavender.
Later, we will also show you some other types of lavender, that we think are just as delightful.
Types Of English Lavender Plants
English Lavender is very beautiful and is also referred to as ‘Common Lavender’, or ‘True Lavender’. This is because it is linked to the lavender fields in Provence, and is a highly treasured variety. It can produce different colors but generally are lavender, violet-blue, blue-purple, and pink. There are over 40 different cultivars, but we will only discuss a few.
Below, we will specifically look at certain varieties of English lavender plants.
Folgate Lavender
The first variation of English Lavender will we will at is Folgate Lavender. Folgate Lavender is an excellent variation and looks wonderful all year round, not just during the summer. It produces iridescent violet-blue flowers and has a good level of fragrance. So much so, that it is often dried and used for potpourri.
It can withstand cold temperatures and will bloom yearly. Blooming will occur from mid to late spring. Growers of the Folgate Lavender will typically use for low hedges, rock gardens, or herb gardens. This variety will thrive in full sun. It’s a splendid magnet for butterflies and bees, which makes it a very attractive garden flower.
Munstead Lavender
The next variation of English Lavender we will discuss is Munstead Lavender.
It’s not the most common variation, but it is prized by those who use it. Gardeners tend to adore this variation because it is long-lasting. Not only that, but the scent is lovely, and the flower itself is very pretty. It has rosy-purple flowers, which are rather quaint. It also looks great all throughout the year.
The Munstead Lavender blooms twice, during late spring or the early summer. The second bloom should be full, providing the first bloom was harvested correctly. Like the Folgate Lavender, it thrives in full sun. Gardens tend to use this variety in herb gardens, perennial borders, as well as rock gardens. It’s highly beautiful when a mass is planted. This variation works very well in potpourri and dried goods.
Hidcote Lavender
The Hidcote Lavender is one of the most popular varieties of English Lavender.
The flower is a dark purple color, and it has gorgeous blue-green foliage. Like the two varieties above, this lavender will last a long time, and it produces a very lovely scent. It only blooms once during late spring or early summer but can produce two smaller blooms, if the first bloom is harvested correctly.
Typically, gardens use this variation of herb gardens, containers, borders, and rock gardens. It is also a very popular type used for potpourri, but it is also ideal for those who craft. When dried, the flower keeps its stunning color, unlike other varieties whose color fades.
The Hidcote Lavender should be grown in full sun, and also attracts many butterflies and bees.
Royal Velvet Lavender
The Royal Velvet Lavender, as you can probably guess from its name, is very enhancing. It has velvet-like, dark navy blue flowers. It is without a doubt a showstopper. The color is both intense and rich and is the ideal variation for cut flowers. More than that, this variation also keeps its color very well when dried, so is an ideal choice for dried flowers.
It has a very rapid growth rate, and the blooms are fairly long-lasting. It does well to survive during wet winters if cared for correctly, but it should be grown in full sun.
‘Melissa’ English Lavender
The next variation of English Lavender is a little different. This is the Melissa English Lavender, and it looks vastly different from other varieties of English Lavender and lavender in general.
You won’t find a purple tone here, but what you will find, is an emerging flower that is pure white. As the Melissa English Lavender grows, it will take on a quaint blush pink color. The foliage is gray, with green leaves. It’s a unique flower, and while its beauty is not as loud as other varieties, it is effortlessly soft and delightful. If you are looking for a very relaxed and pretty flower, this is an excellent option.
Most gardens will use this variety for containers, rock gardens, or borders. If you like pink lavender, then you will be happy to know this variety tends to bloom for longer than most pink varieties. You can expect blooming to occur during early to late summer.
‘Buena Vista’ English Lavender
While this variety is frequently used, it’s not often used by gardeners, per se. The Buena Vista English Lavender is a cultivated used for commercial oil production. It is perfectly safe to use in gardens, however and looks very delightful in gardens.
It has a beautiful bi-colored deep blue flower, and its fragrance is very sweet. Not only that, but it’s ideal for mass planting, and it has an extended bloom time of more than four weeks. Furthermore, it will attract bees, and it will also attract butterflies.
Other Types Of Lavender
In the above section, we discussed cultivars of English Lavender. Below, we are going to discuss some of our other favorite types of lavender, that you may enjoy just as much.
French Lavender
First up, we have French Lavender. You may also have heard of its other name, Fringed Lavender. The flower has a very rich, lavender-rosemary scent, which makes it ideal for cut flowers and dried flowers.
It is slow-growing, but it does bloom twice in the year. The first bloom is in late spring, and the second bloom is in autumn. You can also expect to see a few flower spikes during the summer period.
Spanish Lavender
The next variety of lavender is Spanish Lavender. It is also known as French Lavender (not to be confused with the lavender above!), or Butterfly Lavender. This variety has very pretty flowers. They are a very deep purple, and their petals are upright in a pine cone shape. The leaves are a wonderful sliver color, which pairs well with the petals.
Interestingly, this is a very popular variety for producing essential oils. The fragrance it produces is very beautiful, but rather than the flower, it is the stems that produce the aroma. The flower will bloom from mid to late summer and produces a constant and consistent bloom.
Portuguese Lavender
Next, we have Portuguese Lavender. The flower is typically purple and has regular spikes. The plant itself looks very elegant and would be an incredible addition to any garden. The leaves are silver-green, which pairs well with the flower.
It’s ideal for flower beds or informal hedges. If you are looking for a very classic lavender, then the Portuguese Lavender could be for you, It’s also one of the best types of lavender for blooming, as it generally will bloom from June to September.
Summary
There are dozens of types of lavender, and so many cultivars from the wonderful varieties. We’ve discussed many of the English Lavender varieties, but there are many more to explore. Each type and each cultivar is different, so you should not choose any lavender at random.
While it will certainly look gorgeous, you should get to know each individual plant. You need to know what requirements they have to thrive, and what their properties are the best for.
Some make excellent cut flowers but do not do so well as dried flowers. Other varieties are insanely potent, whereas some flowers may have minimal fragrance, or the aroma may be found within the foliage. Understand your flowers, and you will appreciate their beauty much more.
- 6 Types Of English Lavender Plants - January 13, 2022