Test Garden Tip: English lavender isn’t from England. Its actually from the Mediterranean. The plant’s common name came about because of its ability to grow well in the English climate. Season of Bloom: Summer Light: Full sun Water: Drought-tolerant and needs good drainage Size: Up to 3 feet tall Zones: 5–8 Buy It: English Lavender ($6, Michigan Bulb Co.) Season of Bloom: Late spring/summer Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil Size: Up to 20 inches tall Zones: 5–8 Buy It: ‘Hidcote’ English Lavender ($15, Breck’s) Season of Bloom: Late spring/summer Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil Size: Up to 18 inches tall Zones: 5–8 Season of Bloom: Summer Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil Size: Up to 30 inches tall Zones: 5–9 Buy It: ‘Betty’s Blue’ English Lavender ($6, Goodwin Creek Gardens) Test Garden Tip: If you grow a lavender hedge and live in a moist or humid climate, leave space between the plants, so air flows more freely. If they’re too close, the plants will be more susceptible to disease. Season of Bloom: Early summer Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil Size: Up to 3 feet tall Zones: 5–8 Buy It: ‘Royal Purple’ English Lavender ($8, Mountain Valley Growers) Test Garden Tip: If you grow ‘Buena Vista’ or other lavenders in containers, be sure the containers have several drainage holes for excess water to escape. Use a high-quality potting mix and amend it with sand, perlite, or other materials to increase drainage. Season of Bloom: Summer Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil Size: Up to 2 feet tall Zones: 5–8 Buy It: ‘Buena Vista’ Lavender ($6, Goodwin Creek Gardens) Season of Bloom: Summer Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil Size: Up to 2 feet tall Zones: 5–9 Buy It: ‘Croxton’s Wild’ English Lavender ($6, Goodwin Creek Gardens) Test Garden Tip: Give this lavender plant a moderate pruning after it blooms, which will prevent it from becoming woody. Season of Bloom: Early to late summer Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil Size: Up to 2 feet tall Zones: 5–8 Buy It: ‘Melissa’ English Lavender ($7, Richters) Season of Bloom: Early to late summer Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil Size: Up to 18 inches tall Zones: 5–9 Test Garden Tip: Lavandin needs plenty of sun and dry or well-drained soil. Consider mulching it with gravel to help the soil dry out a little faster. Season of Bloom: Summer Light: Full Sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil Size: Up to 2 feet tall Zones: 5–8 Season of Bloom: Summer Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil Size: Up to 30 inches tall Zones: 5–8 Buy It: ‘Grosso’ Lavender Plant (from $9, Etsy) Season of Bloom: Summer Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil Size: Up to 3 feet tall Zones: 5–8 Buy It: French Provence Lavender (seeds, $10, Etsy) Season of Bloom: Summer Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil Size: Up to 3 feet tall Zones: 5-9 Buy It: ‘Gros Bleu’ Lavandin ($6, Goodwin Creek Gardens) Season of Bloom: Summer Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil Size: Up to 30 inches tall Zones: 5–9 Buy It: ‘Impress Purple’ Lavandin ($6, Goodwin Creek Gardens) Season of Bloom: Midsummer Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil Size: Up to 2 feet tall Zones: 6–8 Buy It: ‘Edelweiss’ Lavandin ($8, Mountain Valley Growers) Season of Bloom: Summer Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil Size: Up to 3 feet tall Zones: 5–8 Buy It: ‘Hidcote Giant’ Lavandin ($8, Mountain Valley Growers) Season of Bloom: Mid spring Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil Size: Up to 2 feet tall Zones: 8–11 Season of Bloom: Mid spring to late summer Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil Size: Up to 2 feet tall Zones: 8–9 Season of Bloom: Summer Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil Size: Up to 2 feet tall Zones: 8–10 Buy It: ‘Van Gogh’ Spanish Lavender ($6, Goodwin Creek Gardens) Season of Bloom: Summer Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil Size: Up to 30 inches tall Zones: 7–10 Buy It: ‘Curly Top’ Spanish Lavender ($6, Goodwin Creek Gardens) Season of Bloom: Summer Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil Size: Up to 2 feet tall Zones: 8–10 Buy It: Madrid Lavish Purple ($14, Burpee) Season of Bloom: Spring to summer Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil Size: Up to 3 feet tall Zones: 8–11 Season of Bloom: Summer Light: Full sun Water: Plant in well-drained soil Size: Up to 2 feet tall Zones: 8–10 Buy It: Pinnata Lavender ($8, Mountain Valley Growers)
