What are the Main Varieties of Lavender?

Lavandula angustifolia in the Copper still for distillation at Sherwood Lavender. Photograph by Erika Yigzaw

There are many varieties of lavender, but some of the most popular and widely grown include:

1. English lavender or True Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): This is the most common variety of lavender and is known for its sweet, floral scent due to its Linalyl acetate ester content, which ideally should be around 40% of the essential oil. It has narrow, gray-green leaves and produces long spikes of purple flowers. It is not a native of England, but grows wild in the Mediteranean of France, Italy, and Spain, above about 750 feet in elevation.

2. Spike lavender or Portuguese lavender (Lavandula latifolia): This variety is known for its pale flowers on long stalks and its broad coarse leaves. It has a strong, pungent aroma due to its camphor content, and is used in perfumes and soaps.

3. French lavender (Lavandula dentata): This variety is known for its serrated, tooth-like leaves and tall, thin spikes of purple flowers. It has a strong, pungent aroma and is often used in perfumes and soaps.

4. Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas): This variety is native to the Mediterranean and has short, narrow leaves and distinctive, elongated purple flowers that resemble bunny ears. It has a strong, camphor-like scent.

5. Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia): This is a hybrid variety of lavender that is a cross between English (L. angustifolia) and Portuguese lavender (L. latifolia). It has a strong, camphor-like aroma and is often used in commercial products such as detergents and cleaning supplies due to it's higher yields of essental oil. It is one of the more common commercial lavender varieties grown in France for this reason. It is more tolerant of the cold (from the L. angustifolia) and of the heat from the L. latifolia) making it easier to grow in a variety of garden settngs.

6. Munstead lavender (Lavandula angustifolia 'Munstead'): This is a cultivar of English lavender that is known for its compact size and deep purple flowers. It is a popular choice for gardens and landscapes.

7. Hidcote lavender (Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote'): This is another cultivar of English lavender that is known for its compact size and deep purple flowers. It is a popular choice for gardens and landscapes.

Here at Sherwood lavender we grow both Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula intermedia varieties!