Chris Mulder, Barn Owl Nursery
Winter is a perfect time to start planning a lavender garden. Lavenders can be planted alone, or different varieties of lavender can be grown together. Lavender plants can also be combined with other annual and perennial plants that like the same growing conditions to create a colorful and fragrant landscape that will attract bees and pollinating insects.
Most English lavenders, Lavandula angustifolia varieties, are hardy and will survive winters in the Pacific Northwest. There are over 100 different named cultivars available! Within this large group of lavenders there is a wide range of plant sizes and flower colors. There are lavenders that bloom with light violet to dark violet-blue flowers, and several pink and white flowering varieties that will add beauty, contrast and fragrance to the garden. With so many varieties, it is possible to grow and enjoy a selection of lavenders with different bloom times that range from late spring into the summer and early fall.
All lavenders need to be planted in full sun and in soil that drains very well. They should be planted at least three feet apart to allow them to dry out between rains. English lavenders can be enjoyed for many years if they are planted in these ideal conditions and pruned well at least once each year.
In this newsletter, some of the most popular English lavender plants are listed in categories, by their cultivar name, flower color and bloom time. This will serve as a guide to help you select different cultivars to grow in your landscape. Different lavender plants will be featured, along with additional information, in the OLA monthly newsletters throughout the year.
Contact local lavender farms and nurseries in your area to find out which lavender plants are the hardiest to grow in your climate. Plan now and include some of these lovely lavender plants in your landscape this year!
English lavenders – Darkest Flowering Varieties
The buds and flowers from all of these lavenders can be used fresh or dried to flavor foods and beverages and for bouquets, floral arrangements and crafts, or they can be distilled into lavender essential oil to use in many lavender products.
English Lavender – Lavandula angustifolia
Cultivar Flower Color Height Stem Length
Avice Hill dark violet 20-24” 10-12”
Betty’s Blue dark violet 18-20” 10-12”
Buena Vista bright violet 18-24” 10-12”
Elizabeth dark violet 20-24” 12-14”
Folgate bright violet 20-24” 10-12”
French Fields bright violet 20-24” 12-14”
Hidcote dark violet 18-20” 8 -10”
Imperial Gem dark violet 18-20” 10-12”
Maillette bright violet 20-24” 12-14”
Mitcham Gray dark violet 18-20” 10-12”
Munstead bright violet 18-20” 8-10”
Pacific Blue bright violet 20-24” 10-12”
Pastor’s Pride bright violet 15-18” 8-10”
Peter Pan dark violet 15-18” 8-10”
Rebecca Kay dark violet 20-24” 12-14”
Royal Purple dark violet 20-24” 12-15”
Royal Velvet dark violet 20-24” 10-14”
Sharon Roberts dark violet 20-24” 10-12”
Tucker’s Early Purple dark violet 20-24” 10-12”
Twickel Purple bright violet 20-24” 12-15”
