We grow many different types of lavender, to show their different growth habits, leaves, flowers, colours and fragrances.
The main lavenders that we grow are:
Lavandula angustifolia
Lavandula angustifolia or true lavender is known both as English and French lavender. It has culinary, perfumery, aromatherapy and therapeutic uses. True lavender produces the highest quality oil, but in lower quantities than hybrid lavandin plants. Flower colours include purple, lavender, blue, white, pink and bicoloured. Varieties include Hidcote Blue, Hidcote Pink and Munstead. Angustifolias are more cold tolerant than the other lavenders and need excellent drainage.
Lavandula x intermedia
Lavandula x intermedia is a hybrid between Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula latifolia. It’s a larger bush than Lavandula angustifolia and produces much more oil, named lavandin, the world’s most widely used lavender oil. Its floral fragrance has some camphorous notes which vary depending on the variety. Lavandin oil is used in products such as soaps, deodorants and cleaners or blended with Augustifolia oil. Lavendula x intermedia varieties include Grosso and Asia Blue.
Lavandula latifolia or spike lavender produces a medium-range oil with a slight camphor content. It is used in cosmetics and toiletries.
Lavandula dentata
Lavandula dentata or French Lavender has toothed leaves. It is used in traditional medicine to relieve headaches, rheumatism, create vapour for treating colds and flu, and the oil is used in aromatherapy. Monet and Ploughman’s Blue are famous varieties.
Lavandula stoechas
Lavandula stoechas also called French, Spanish or Butterfly Lavender, is recognised by its bunny ears on top of the flowers. It’s used for essential oils or potpourri. It is a superb landscape plant for the home garden, because it flowers for many months. Varieties include Avonview, Major and Bee Brilliant. Flower colours include green, purple, blue, white, pink and bi-coloured. Lavandula stoechas is more drought tolerant than other lavender types, tolerates higher temperatures than the Angustifolias and grows in a wider range of soils.