Perennial
English Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia
The classic. 'Munstead' and 'Hidcote' are the cold-hardy picks. Drainage is everything.
- Pollinator
- Fragrant
- Deer-resistant
- Evergreen
Quick facts
- Hardiness
- USDA zones 5–9
- Water
- Low once established
- Sun
- Full sun
- Size
- 18–24 in. tall × 18–24 in. wide
- Bloom & interest
- Fragrant purple spikes in early to midsummer
- Plant type
- Perennial
- Native range
- Not native to the US (non-invasive garden plant)
Why we recommend it
The gold-standard fragrant, deer-proof, bee-covered perennial for dry sunny beds. In humid or very cold spots, the hybrid Lavandula × intermedia 'Phenomenal' is a tougher alternative.
Best regions: Front RangeGreat BasinHigh DesertSouthern California
How to grow it
Watering to establish
Water twice a week for the first month, then weekly through the first summer; afterward only in long dry spells.
Pruning
Trim after flowering and again lightly in spring, never cutting into leafless old wood, which rarely resprouts.
Soil
Sharp-draining, lean, gravelly soil; neutral to alkaline is ideal. Use gravel mulch around the crown.
Pairs well with
Read more
Where to buy
Shop English Lavender from trusted growers. For the best selection of xeric plants, try a mail-order specialist or ask a local independent nursery.
- High Country Gardens (opens in a new tab)Xeric specialist
- Nature Hills Nursery (opens in a new tab)Wide selection
- American Meadows (opens in a new tab)Perennials & seeds
- Etsy (opens in a new tab)Small growers
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