Lavender is loved worldwide for its calming fragrance and ability to thrive even in dry, sunbaked gardens. With so many types, picking the right variety can make all the difference if you're after long-lasting blooms, a rich scent, and drought-smart gardening. This guide highlights 25 standout lavenders that offer beautiful flowers and dependable performance in low-water landscapes.
1. Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’
This compact English lavender features deep purple flowers and a sweet aroma. It stays tidy in shape, which makes it perfect for borders or small gardens. ‘Hidcote’ is one of the most popular types for drying and crafting. Once established, it performs beautifully in hot, dry areas. Its strong oil content is also ideal for homemade sachets or soaps.
2. Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’
‘Munstead’ is an early-flowering English variety known for soft lavender-blue blooms and a gentle, classic scent. It’s smaller than some types, making it a favorite for edging or pots. It adapts well to tough soils and periods without rain. This one is also cold-hardy, so it works well in zones with chilly winters. Expect a steady flush of blooms in summer.
3. Lavandula x intermedia ‘Grosso’
‘Grosso’ is a top choice for strong fragrance and tall, dramatic flower spikes. It’s widely used in oil production because of its high yield and bold scent. The flowers appear in mid to late summer and are great for fresh bouquets or drying. This hybrid handles heat and dry spells with ease. It’s also a standout in mass plantings or hedges.
4. Lavandula x intermedia ‘Phenomenal’
Known for its strong bloom power and refined scent, ‘Phenomenal’ lives up to its name. It tolerates heat, humidity, and cold better than many other hybrids. Its soft purple flowers are striking in the landscape, especially against its silver foliage. This one grows in a neat, symmetrical mound and is highly resistant to disease and dieback.
5. Lavandula x intermedia ‘Fred Boutin’
With pale purple flowers and striking silver foliage, ‘Fred Boutin’ adds texture and brightness to sunny gardens. Its scent is herbal and fresh, often used in oils and potpourri. The plant forms a well-shaped, upright mound that holds up in dry, rocky soils. It’s a reliable choice for areas with little rain. This variety also naturally resists deer and pests.
6. Lavandula x intermedia ‘Edelweiss’
Noted for its white blooms and clean, refreshing scent, ‘Edelweiss’ is a unique twist on classic lavender. The soft flowers look especially pretty when paired with silver-leaved plants. It’s great for hot, dry slopes and does well in containers. Though it has a gentler fragrance, it’s still noticeable and pleasant. This is a lovely pick for moon gardens or soft color schemes.
7. Lavandula angustifolia ‘Royal Velvet’
‘Royal Velvet’ brings elegant, deep blue flowers and a refined scent to the garden. It blooms early and often, with tidy growth that works well in formal designs. The petals have a velvety texture that adds extra depth to their appearance. It tolerates heat and poor soil easily. Excellent for drying, the flowers hold their shape and color well.
8. Lavandula angustifolia ‘Ellagance Purple’
‘Ellagance Purple’ is a versatile lavender variety featuring rich purple flowers and a compact growth habit. It blooms profusely from early to mid-summer, providing a long-lasting display of color and fragrance. This cultivar is well-suited for borders, rock gardens, and containers. ‘Ellagance Purple’ thrives in full sun and well-drained soils, showing good drought resistance.
9. Lavandula angustifolia ‘Pink Perfume’
‘Pink Perfume’ is an English lavender variety that produces soft pink flowers with a sweet, pleasant fragrance. It grows into a medium-sized shrub with a tidy, upright habit. This variety thrives in full sun and well-drained soils, exhibiting good drought resistance. ‘Pink Perfume’ blooms from late spring to early summer, making it a striking addition to garden borders and hedges.
10. Lavandula angustifolia ‘Imperial Gem’
‘Imperial Gem’ is a compact English lavender variety that produces deep purple flowers with a strong, pleasant aroma. It forms a neat, rounded shrub, making it ideal for borders and low hedges. This variety thrives in full sun and well-drained soils and exhibits excellent drought tolerance. ‘Imperial Gem’ blooms from late spring to early summer, adding vibrant color and fragrance to gardens.
11. Lavandula angustifolia ‘Rosea’
‘Rosea’ offers light pink flowers with a gentle, sweet aroma, providing a subtle alternative to traditional lavender hues. This medium-sized shrub grows well in full sun and well-drained soils, exhibiting good drought tolerance. ‘Rosea’ blooms from late spring to early summer, making it a lovely choice for borders and cottage gardens. Its soft coloration and fragrance attract pollinators and add charm to any setting.
12. Lavandula angustifolia ‘Loddon Blue’
‘Loddon Blue’ is known for its profuse, light blue flowers and compact growth habit. This English lavender variety emits a strong, pleasant fragrance, attracting bees and butterflies. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soils and is excellently drought-resistant. ‘Loddon Blue’ blooms from late spring to early summer, making it a charming addition to borders and rock gardens.
13. Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote Pink’
‘Hidcote Pink’ offers soft pink blooms with a subtle, sweet fragrance, providing a unique twist on the traditional lavender palette. This compact variety is well-suited for edging and container planting. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil and shows good drought tolerance once established. ‘Hidcote Pink’ blooms in early to mid-summer, adding a gentle splash of color to gardens.
14. Lavandula angustifolia ‘Maillette’
‘Maillette’ is a French selection prized for its high oil content and sweet fragrance, commonly used in perfumery. It produces slender spikes of pale purple flowers over gray-green foliage. This variety prefers full sun and well-drained soil and shows excellent drought tolerance. ‘Maillette’ blooms in mid-summer and is ideal for both ornamental and commercial cultivation.
15. Lavandula angustifolia ‘Folgate’
‘Folgate’ is known for its early blooming and vibrant blue-violet flowers. This English lavender variety has a strong, pleasant aroma and is excellent for both fresh and dried arrangements. It forms a medium-sized shrub that thrives in full sun and well-drained soils. ‘Folgate’ is hardy and drought-tolerant, making it a reliable choice for various garden settings.
16. Lavandula dentata (French Lavender)
‘Dentata’ has serrated leaves and soft purple blooms with a light fragrance. It thrives in heat and handles dry, rocky conditions without fuss. While not the most aromatic, it brings a unique texture to garden designs. This type can bloom for longer periods than many others. It also grows well in containers.
17. Lavandula lanata (Woolly Lavender)
With fuzzy silver leaves and pale purple blooms, this type is built for the heat. It prefers dry, sandy soils and rarely needs water once mature. The fragrance is gentle but steady. ‘Lanata’ also stands out for its foliage, which offers year-round texture. It is excellent for desert-inspired or Mediterranean gardens.
18. Lavandula angustifolia ‘Arctic Snow’
‘Arctic Snow’ is a compact lavender with crisp white blooms and a clean, herbal scent. It performs well in containers, borders, or dry slopes with limited water. The soft gray-green foliage provides year-round structure and contrast. This variety stays smaller than others, which helps reduce maintenance and pruning.
19. Lavandula angustifolia ‘Twickle Purple’
‘Twickle Purple’ brings vivid, spiky blooms and a rich floral fragrance. It has a more upright habit than other English lavenders and does well in dry conditions. Its stems are strong and hold up well for cutting. This variety fits perfectly into formal gardens or fragrant borders.
20. Lavandula angustifolia ‘Melissa Lilac’
This variety produces soft lilac-pink flowers with a delicate scent. It stays compact and is suited for containers or garden edges. The flowers attract pollinators and appear over a long season. Like most English types, it loves full sun and dry soil. ‘Melissa Lilac’ is especially charming in romantic or pastel-themed landscapes.
21. Lavandula angustifolia ‘Miss Katherine’
This charming English lavender offers soft pink blooms that stand out against traditional purple varieties. ‘Miss Katherine’ has a rich, sweet scent and works beautifully in garden borders or romantic-themed beds. Its compact habit and neat growth make it easy to manage without trimming often. It thrives in dry, sunny spots and tolerates poor soil conditions easily.
A Fragrant Garden That Can Take the Heat
Lavender is more than just a pretty plant. It brings lasting scent, structure, and resilience to any outdoor space. With so many excellent varieties available, there’s one to suit every garden style and climate challenge. Choosing the right type means you’ll enjoy the beauty of lavender and the ease of growing it with little water and plenty of charm.
Learn the secrets to growing two classic blooms together in How To Grow Lavender With Roses [Guide For Beginners].