Introducing...
French, Spanish and hybrid lavender
Short-lived and tender (French, Spanish and hybrid) lavenders are compact, shrubby little plants with strongly aromatic leaves. Popular for use as container plants and added to Mediterranean-style bedding schemes where they will flower between late spring to late summer.
Looks
They have soft, felty, grey-green leaves and long-lasting chunky flowers, many distinctively topped with ‘ear-like’ tufts of upright petals. Flower colours range from deep mauve-purple to pale violet, white and crimson-red. Plants grow in a range of heights from 40-90cm (16in-3ft).
Likes
A sheltered position in full sun is essential and the soil must drain freely. It will thrive in any hot spot in the garden or in containers.
Dislikes
More susceptible to cold than English lavenders so should be given protection from harsh weather, and ideally be brought under cover in winter. It can’t tolerate wet or frosty soil in winter.
Did you know?
Flowers have a distinctive sweet honey scent that is easily masked by the highly scented foliage and have long been grown for the fragrant oils used in perfumes.
Growing guide
How to grow lavender
All the information you’ll need to grow & care for lavender in your garden.
French, Spanish and Hybrid lavender we recommend
Lavandula pedunculata subsp. pedunculata
French lavender
- 0.5–1 metres
- 0.5–1 metres
Lavandula stoechas 'Victory'
French lavender 'Victory'
- 0.5–1 metres
- 0.5–1 metres
Lavandula Tiara ('Fair 10')
lavender [Tiara]
- 0.5–1 metres
- 0.5–1 metres
Lavandula pedunculata subsp. pedunculata
French lavender
- 0.5–1 metres
- 0.5–1 metres
Lavandula stoechas 'Victory'
French lavender 'Victory'
- 0.5–1 metres
- 0.5–1 metres
Lavandula Tiara ('Fair 10')
lavender [Tiara]
- 0.5–1 metres
- 0.5–1 metres
Useful advice
Growing plants in containers
Hardening off tender plants
Overwintering plants in conservatories
Plants for coastal areas
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.