Lavandula

NATURE´S
AROMATIC JEWELS
SEVEN LOVELY
LAVENDERS
Susana Cerca
mymediterraneangarden.com
CONTENTS
03
Introduction
04 15
Types of Lavenders Lavenders compared
06 14
Lavandula stoechas
Characteristics
(Spanish Lavender)
07 16
Lavandula angustifolia Height and Width
(English Lavender)
17
08 Bloom times
Lavandula viridis
(Green Lavender) 18
09 Cold Hardiness
Lavandula dentata
20
(French Lavender)
Drought Tolerance
10
Lavandula lanata
(Woolly Lavender)
11
Lavandula latifolia
(Portuguese Lavender)
12
Lavandula multifida
(Fern Leaf Lavender)
22
Which Lavender is best for you ?
© My Mediterranean Garden All Rights Reserved

Introduction
Lavenders belong to the mint family and are

renowned for their exquisite beauty, enticing
fragrance, and versatile uses. These hardy perennials
are native to the Mediterranean region but have
gained popularity worldwide.
Beyond their ornamental value, lavenders have long

been treasured for their therapeutic properties. The
essential oil extracted from their flowers is known for
its calming effects, promoting relaxation and aiding in
sleep. It is also used in aromatherapy, bath and
beauty products.
Lavender is also used for culinary purposes, adding a

delightful floral note to various dishes and drinks.
Lavenders are a favourite among gardeners for their

resilience and ability to thrive in various climates.
Their drought tolerance and ability to attract
pollinators make them an excellent choice for
sustainable gardens.
Whether adorning gardens, bouquets, or fragrant

sachets, lavenders continue to captivate with their
timeless charm, making them a beloved addition to
any setting.
© My Mediterranean Garden All Rights Reserved 03

TYPES
OF
LAVENDERS

The Lavender plants in this book come from different
areas within the Mediterranean basin but they all
share some incredible qualities.
Lavenders are characterized by their slender,

aromatic leaves and clusters of delicate flowers that
range in colour from pale lavender to deep purple,
with some varieties showcasing pink, white, or even
yellow blooms.
The blossoms are made up of small, tubular petals

that form dense spikes, creating a striking visual
display.
There are so many different Lavenders to choose

from, that I'm sure you'll find one that matches your
preference. Whether you want a Lavender plant that
looks pretty or one that you can use in cooking,
plenty of options are available.
Take your time exploring and pick the Lavender plant

that suits you best, both in how it looks and how you
can use it in the kitchen.

ORGANIC MAGAZINE
Lavandula Stoechas
"Spanish Lavender"
Lavandula stoechas, commonly called French

Lavender in the UK and Spanish Lavender in
the US, is a small evergreen shrub with an
upright to mounded shape.
It has grey-green leaves and long stalks bearing

oval heads of tiny purple flowers topped with pink
bracts.
It can be used as a solitary plant or planted in groups.

In containers, beds and borders. In rock or gravel
gardens, aromatic or seaside gardens.
HEIGHT: 40 TO 60 CM (1.3 TO 2 FT)
WIDTH: 60 CM (2 FT)
SUNLIGHT: FULL SUN
HARDINESS: -12º C (10 ºF) MORE DETAILS

DROUGHT-TOLERANCE: 5 MO
ORIGIN: MEDITERRANEAN BASIN

BLOOM:
SPRING X
SUMMER
AUTUMN
WINTER

ORGANIC MAGAZINE
Lavandula angustifolia
"English Lavender"
Lavandula angustifolia, commonly called

English lavender is a compact evergreen
bushy shrub with narrow grey-green leaves
and long stalks bearing spikes of tiny purple
flowers.
This is the most popular species of Lavender. It is

easy to grow, and its dense foliage and clusters of
purple flowers look beautiful in any garden.
It can be used as a solitary plant or planted in

groups. In containers or beds. In rock or gravel
gardens, aromatic or seaside gardens.
HEIGHT: 30 TO 60 CM (1 TO 2 FT)
WIDTH: 30 TO 60 CM (1 TO 2 FT)
SUNLIGHT: FULL SUN
ORIGIN: MEDITERRANEAN BASIN (SPAIN, FRANCE, ITALY)

BLOOM:
SPRING
SUMMER X
AUTUMN
WINTER

ORGANIC MAGAZINE
Lavandula viridis
"Green Lavender"
Lavandula viridis also known as Green Lavender

is a small aromatic evergreen shrub. It is upright
to rounded with narrow green leaves and oval
inflorescences of tiny white flowers topped with
greenish-white bracts.
This Lavender is used as an ornamental plant and

makes a very interesting combination with
L.stoechas due to its similar leaves and flowers
but with a different colour.
It can be used as a solitary plant or planted in mass.

Planted in pots, beds or borders. In rock or gravel
gardens.
WIDTH: 60 CM (2 FT)
SUNLIGHT: FULL SUN
HARDINESS: -5ºC (23ºF) MORE DETAILS

ORIGIN: MEDITERRANEAN BASIN (PORTUGAL AND SPAIN)

BLOOM:
SPRING X
SUMMER
AUTUMN
WINTER

ORGANIC MAGAZINE
Lavandula dentata
"Fringed Lavender"
Lavandula dentata, commonly called Fringed

Lavender or French Lavender, is an aromatic,
evergreen shrub with a rounded shape.
It has narrow, green, finely-toothed leaves and

long flower stalks bearing spikes of tiny light blue
flowers topped with violet bracts.
It can be used as a solitary plant or in groups.

Planted in pots, beds or borders. In rock or
gravel, aromatic or seaside gardens.
HEIGHT: 60 TO 80 CM (1.9 TO 2.6 FT)
WIDTH: 80 CM (2.6 FT)

SUNLIGHT: FULL SUN

ORIGIN: MEDITERRANEAN BASIN (SPAIN AND MOROCCO)
BLOOM:
SPRING X
SUMMER
AUTUMN X
WINTER

ORGANIC MAGAZINE
Lavandula lanata
"Woolly Lavender"
Lavandula lanata, commonly called Woolly

lavender, is an evergreen bushy shrub with soft
silver-white woolly leaves and long stalks
bearing dark purple flowers.
Woolly lavender is a very interesting ornamental

plant. Its bushy base of silver-white velvety leaves
with long stems bearing clusters of dark purple
fragrant flowers is a pretty sight in any garden.
It can be planted in containers, beds or borders. The

planting looks nice either solitary or in mass. Its silver-
white leaves make a lovely contrast with the greener
tones of other Lavenders.
WIDTH: 60 CM (2 FT)
SUNLIGHT: FULL SUN
HARDINESS: -5ºC (23ºF) MORE DETAILS

ORIGIN: MEDITERRANEAN BASIN ( SOUTHERN SPAIN)
BLOOM:
SPRING
SUMMER X
AUTUMN
WINTER

ORGANIC MAGAZINE
Lavandula latifolia
"Portuguese Lavender"
Lavandula latifolia, commonly called

Portuguese Lavender or Spike Lavender, is an
intensely aromatic evergreen shrub with an
upright to a rounded shape.
It has broad grey-green leaves and long

flower stalks bearing spikes of tiny pale violet
flowers.
It can be used as a solitary plant or planted in

groups. In containers or beds and borders. In rock or
gravel gardens, aromatic or seaside gardens.
HEIGHT: 30 TO 90 CM (1 TO 2.9 FT)

SUNLIGHT: FULL SUN

ORIGIN: MEDITERRANEAN BASIN

BLOOM:
SPRING
SUMMER X
AUTUMN
WINTER

ORGANIC MAGAZINE
Lavandula multifida
"Fern Leaf Lavender"
Lavandula multifida, commonly called Egyptian

lavender or Fern leaf lavender, is a bushy,
lightly aromatic evergreen shrub.
It has fern-like green leaves and long flower

stalks bearing single or 3-pronged spikes of tiny
blue-violet flowers.
A very pretty ornamental plant, adding textural interest

with its feathery leaves and trident flower spikes.
It can be used as a solitary plant or planted in mass

which is especially effective due to its foliage.
HEIGHT: 30 - 80 CM (1 - 2.6 FT)

SUNLIGHT: FULL SUN

ORIGIN: MEDITERRANEAN BASIN (S. EUROPE AND NW. AFRICA)

BLOOM:
SPRING X
SUMMER X
AUTUMN
WINTER

SEVEN
LAVENDERS
COMPARED

Lavender Characteristics compared
The Lavender inflorescence forms a spike with

whorls, loose or crowded, of tiny flowers and bracts.
The bracts are usually coloured and small, but in

some species like L. stoechas and L. viridis they are
rather large at the top of the spike. The flower colour
can be blue, purple, violet, pink, or white.
The leaves are pretty varied. They can have different

shapes, from narrowly lanceolate to broadly elliptic,
entire, toothed or several times divided. Their colour
can range from whitish to grey-green to green.
The scientific name sometimes describes the leaf, for

example L. angustifolia means narrow leaf, L. latifolia
is broad leaf, L. dentata is toothed leaf, L. lanata is
woolly leaf.
Stems are squared and generally very leafy at the

bottom.
The size and habit are also quite diverse, from small
to quite tall and rounded to upright.
In the chart, you may see how the different parts of

the selected Lavenders compare.

Lavender Height and Width compared
The height and width of Lavender plants can be

varied from smaller types, such as Lavandula viridis,
to quite tall ones, like L. latifolia.
However, the plant size will vary based on the

weather, sun exposure, soil and fertilization. So you
may end up with different sizes than those shown in
the chart.
The habit can also vary from rounded to upright.

Lavender Bloom times compared
Lavender plants will bloom around spring and

summer. Some types start a little earlier than others,
and the duration of the bloom time also varies a little.
Many factors affect flowering, such as temperature,

sunlight availability, and soil fertility, so slight
variations may depend on your garden´s environment.
But generally, the bloom times for the 7 selected

species in this book are shown on the chart.

Lavender Hardiness Compared
The hardiest lavender is Lavandula angustifolia,

known as English lavender. Lavandula x intermedia, a
hybrid cross between L.angustifolia and L. latifolia,
commonly called lavandin is also very hardy as it
inherits this characteristic from its parent English
Lavender.
However, most Lavenders will be quite hardy if you

give them the right growing conditions, such as well-
drained soil and little or no fertilization. They will only
suffer in very wet and cold winters.
In this book, I have selected the most cold-hardy

types because I always try to choose the plants better
adapted to weather extremes that we face with
climate change.
Nevertheless, some Lavenders are naturally tougher

than others. Depending on your climate, you may
choose the best ones for your garden based on the
hardiness chart in the next page.

Lavender Drought tolerance compared
Lavenders are amazingly tough plants that can

survive hot and dry weather for long periods and
remain evergreen with showy blooms.
Although all Lavenders are drought-tolerant, some

are incredibly resistant to drought, such as Fringed
lavender, Green lavender, Woolly lavender and
Spanish Lavender.
The chart uses the drought-tolerance code defined by

Olivier Filippi, which I find very useful and have found
to be correct based on my own experience.

Which Lavender is Best for you?
The best Lavender varies depending on our
preferences and the environment we´re in.
While we cannot change some conditions, such as

the size and hardiness of the plant, others we can
adjust, like soil and watering.
Steps to choose the best one for you:
Check if the Lavender is hardy enough for your

region or microclimate.
Check if you have poor, well-drained soil. If not,
see if you can adjust it.
Check if the size and shape are appropriate for
the spot you want to plant in your garden.
Check if your climate can support the Lavender´s
water needs. If not, plan to water when needed.
If you follow these steps, I'm sure you will find the
right Lavender for your garden.

Lavandula

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NATURE´S

© My Mediterranean Garden All Rights Reserved

Lavenders belong to the mint family and are

Beyond their ornamental value, lavenders have long

Lavender is also used for culinary purposes, adding a

Lavenders are a favourite among gardeners for their

Whether adorning gardens, bouquets, or fragrant

© My Mediterranean Garden All Rights Reserved 03

© My Mediterranean Garden All Rights Reserved 04

Lavenders are characterized by their slender,

The blossoms are made up of small, tubular petals

There are so many different Lavenders to choose

Take your time exploring and pick the Lavender plant

© My Mediterranean Garden All Rights Reserved 05

Lavandula stoechas, commonly called French

It has grey-green leaves and long stalks bearing

It can be used as a solitary plant or planted in groups.

HEIGHT: 40 TO 60 CM (1.3 TO 2 FT)

HARDINESS: -12º C (10 ºF) MORE DETAILS

ORIGIN: MEDITERRANEAN BASIN

© My Mediterranean Garden All Rights Reserved 06

Lavandula angustifolia, commonly called

This is the most popular species of Lavender. It is

It can be used as a solitary plant or planted in

HARDINESS: -15º C (5 ºF) MORE DETAILS

ORIGIN: MEDITERRANEAN BASIN (SPAIN, FRANCE, ITALY)

© My Mediterranean Garden All Rights Reserved 07

Lavandula viridis also known as Green Lavender

This Lavender is used as an ornamental plant and

It can be used as a solitary plant or planted in mass.

HEIGHT: 40 TO 60 CM (1.3 TO 2 FT)

HARDINESS: -5ºC (23ºF) MORE DETAILS

ORIGIN: MEDITERRANEAN BASIN (PORTUGAL AND SPAIN)

© My Mediterranean Garden All Rights Reserved 08

Lavandula dentata, commonly called Fringed

It has narrow, green, finely-toothed leaves and

It can be used as a solitary plant or in groups.

HEIGHT: 60 TO 80 CM (1.9 TO 2.6 FT)

WIDTH: 80 CM (2.6 FT)

HARDINESS: -5º C (23 ºF) MORE DETAILS

ORIGIN: MEDITERRANEAN BASIN (SPAIN AND MOROCCO)

© My Mediterranean Garden All Rights Reserved 09

Lavandula lanata, commonly called Woolly

Woolly lavender is a very interesting ornamental

It can be planted in containers, beds or borders. The

HEIGHT: 40 TO 60 CM (1.3 TO 2 FT)

HARDINESS: -5ºC (23ºF) MORE DETAILS

ORIGIN: MEDITERRANEAN BASIN ( SOUTHERN SPAIN)

© My Mediterranean Garden All Rights Reserved 10

Lavandula latifolia, commonly called

It has broad grey-green leaves and long

It can be used as a solitary plant or planted in

HEIGHT: 30 TO 90 CM (1 TO 2.9 FT)

WIDTH: 50 CM (1.6 FT)

HARDINESS: -12º C (10 ºF) MORE DETAILS

ORIGIN: MEDITERRANEAN BASIN

© My Mediterranean Garden All Rights Reserved 11

Lavandula multifida, commonly called Egyptian

It has fern-like green leaves and long flower

A very pretty ornamental plant, adding textural interest

It can be used as a solitary plant or planted in mass

HEIGHT: 30 - 80 CM (1 - 2.6 FT)

WIDTH: 50 CM (1.6 FT)

HARDINESS: -5º C (23 ºF) MORE DETAILS