Lavender care: English vs French vs Spanish and the soggy-soil killer

English lavender (zones 5-9) is the hardiest. All lavender kills from wet roots first. Gravel mulch, sharp drainage, and lean soil -- not compost -- are the keys.

I have killed lavender twice and kept it alive once. The two dead plants were Lavandula angustifolia 'Munstead' planted in amended beds with compost and mulched like the rest of the perennial border. The one alive is also 'Munstead', in the same zone 7a Long Island yard, but planted in the worst-draining spot in the garden — which happens to also be the most gravelly, in a raised area along the driveway. That plant is in its fifth year. This is how lavender works: it punishes kindness and tolerates neglect.

This article contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases - at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we have personally tested or that are the universal first recommendation from university Extension publications. See our full disclosure.

English, French, or Spanish: the species question

Three lavender species dominate the garden market. Each has different cold hardiness, different pruning timing, and different fragrance character. The differences are large enough to determine whether the plant survives your winter.

Lavandula angustifolia — English lavender

The hardiest of the three and the one I grow. Per NC State Extension Plant Toolbox, English lavender is hardy in zones 5 through 9. Per Missouri Botanical Garden, it "typically grows to 1.5-3' tall" and blooms in late spring to early summer with purple flowers in terminal spikes.

This is the species used for culinary lavender, dried flowers, and essential oil production. The scent is the classic lavender scent most people associate with the name. MBG notes it is "broadly mounded" and is the best choice for zones 5 through 7.

Named cultivars worth knowing:

• 'Munstead' — one of the hardiest and most compact at about 12 to 18 inches tall. This is what I grow on Long Island.
• 'Hidcote' — compact, dark purple flowers, similar hardiness to 'Munstead.'
• 'Phenomenal' — a hybrid (L. x intermedia) that MBG notes has "slightly better" performance than straight angustifolia in humid climates.

Lavandula dentata — French lavender

French lavender is a different plant than most gardeners expect when they hear "lavender." Per NC State Extension Plant Toolbox, it is hardy in zones 8 through 11, making it suitable only for the mildest parts of North America. The leaves are toothed (dentata refers to this), the flowers are topped with decorative bracts, and it blooms for a long season including in winter in mild climates.

French lavender will not survive a zone 7 winter outdoors. It is a container plant or annual north of zone 8. The name "French lavender" is sometimes applied in garden centers to L. stoechas (Spanish lavender), which causes confusion — always verify the botanical name.

Lavandula stoechas — Spanish lavender

Per Missouri Botanical Garden, Spanish lavender is "hardy in Zones 7-10." The distinctive feature is the tuft of large purple bracts (the "bunny ears") perched on top of compact flower heads. The fragrance is more camphorous and medicinal than English lavender.

In zones 7 to 9, L. stoechas is a reliable garden plant. North of zone 7, it is unreliable to tender. Per Missouri Botanical Garden, it is "tolerant of shallow, rocky soils and drought" and should be pruned "as needed after flowering to maintain a dense, well-branched structure."

Lavandins (Lavandula x intermedia)

Lavandins are hybrids of L. angustifolia and L. latifolia. They are larger-growing than English lavender (to 3 feet and wider), have a stronger fragrance with more camphor notes, and are used heavily in the commercial fragrance industry. Cultivars include 'Grosso', 'Provence', and 'Phenomenal.' Per Missouri Botanical Garden, lavandins are "not reliably winter hardy throughout USDA Zone 5 where it appreciates a sheltered location and winter protection." Better suited to zones 6 to 9.