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Lavender plants are often used as a symbol of a well-designed French or English countryside garden.
And lavender is a gorgeous flowering perennial that has earned this spot in professional landscape design and photography.
However, in addition to its beauty, it’s an amazing plant that can be a problem-solver for many homeowners.
Its ability to tolerate drought, heat and full sun make it a low-maintenance addition to landscapes in many climates.
Furthermore, deer and rabbits are not fond of the taste.
The oils in the leaves and flowers that give the lavender plant its iconic fragrance make it critter resistant!
Another positive attribute is that most lavender varieties are evergreen or semi-evergreen meaning the foliage stays green year-round.
This provides landscape interest even in the winter months.
If you want to add beautiful, low maintenance plants to your sunny landscape, consider lavender.
Below are general care notes as well as popular varieties available at your local garden center or online.
Lavender Plant Location Considerations:
- Requires good draining soil
- Needs full sun (6+ hours per day)
- Once established, lavender plants grow well in locations that are sunny and dry
Lavender Plant Maintenance:
- Deadheading after first bloom may encourage plants to rebloom
- Trim foliage after flowering to maintain plant size or shape
Landscape Uses for Lavender Plants:
- Hedges
- Borders
- Edging
- Specimen plant
- Mass planting
- Cut flowers
Lavender Plant Top Qualities:
- Deer and Rabbit Resistant
- Flowers attract beneficial insects and butterflies
- Fragrant flowers and foliage
- Flowers and foliage can be used in fresh and dried floral arrangements
- Easy-to-grow and tolerate dry conditions
Lavender ‘Phenomenal’ (Lavandula x intermedia PHENOMENAL® (‘Niko’ PP24193))
- Purple flowers and silvery evergreen foliage
- More tolerant of humidity than most lavender varieties
- Resistant to leaf and root diseases
- Height: 2-4’, Spread: 2-4’
- Great for a hedge or border
- Extremely winter hardy; grows in U.S. zones 5-9
- A newer variety that has become the new standard for lavender
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens, Inc.
Lavender ‘Hidcote’ (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’)
- Compact and short; ideal as an edging plant
- Height: 12-18”, Spread: 12-15”
- Deep violet, purple flowers and silvery gray evergreen leaves
- Grows in zones 5-9
- Hidcote has been grown for over 50 years and continues to be a popular variety
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens, Inc.
Lavender ‘Munstead’ (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’)
- Compact and short ideal as an edging plant
- Height: 12-16”, Spread: 10-12”
- Lavender flowers and green leaves that remain evergreen through winter
- Very winter hardy, grows in zones 5-9
- Munstead has been grown for over 100 years and continues to be a popular variety
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens, Inc.
Lavender ‘Grosso’ (Lavandula x intermedia ‘Grosso’)
- Has long flower stems which make it ideal for fresh or dried flower bouquets
- Height: 24-30”, Spread: 18-24”
- Violet-blue flowers and green leaves
- Grows in zones 5-9
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens, Inc.
Lavender ‘Silver Mist’ Lavandula angustifolia ‘Silver Mist’
- Noted for its silver foliage that can appear almost white from a distance
- Flowers are lavender purple color
- A unique lavender variety
- Height: 16-20”, Spread: 12-16”
- Grows in zones 5-9
