Lavender Simplified

LAVENDER SIMPLIFIED 

I always wonder why no matter how many beautiful lavender varieties we grow, most customers choose Grosso, Provence, or Hidcote Blue. Yesterday, I wandered through our lavender section, and I found myself completely confused as far as which variety had what color flower and what was the height and when did it bloom, and why did I have so many??  Well, no wonder everyone looks so lost in that part of the nursery!  That is when I thought ‘I need a table!’

Currently, there are 38 different lavenders that we carry at Morningsun. It is one of those plants that everyone should have in their gardens, there are so many choices! I hope this table helps you add some beautiful new additions to your fall garden. For lavenders especially, September and October are the best time to plant, with plenty of time for root systems to be established so the plants are ready to put on a flush of growth as soon as the longer days of spring approach.

The lavender table includes the name of the lavender, flower color, calyx color, height, foliage color, flowering time and a few notes. Name is given by botanical name, since just calling something lavender will not get you very far at Morningsun. All lavenders that are Lavandula angustifolia are true English lavenders. Note that these tend to bloom earlier, be shorter, and have darker flowers. The flowers remain on the stem so they are better choices for crafting. And the flavor and fragrance is sweet, best for desserts and sweets like ice cream, jelly, cookies, tea, scones and other sweets. Lavandula x intermedia are hybrids, or lavandins, that tend to be larger and bloom later. Some are good for crafting, but some ‘shatter’, where the flowers easily come off the stem, making them better for potpourri. They aren’t as deeply colored as the English lavenders, and their flavor and fragrance are stronger and can be a little ‘soapy’. The lavandins are used in ‘Herbes de Provence’ blends, useful for savory foods. Lavandula stoechas is commonly called Spanish lavender, not used for culinary purposes, but great for early bloom. And Lavandula dentata is French lavender, also used for landscaping.

For anyone interested in crafting with lavender, one of the most important attributes of the flower is the calyx color. While the corolla, or flower petals, are noticed first, the important part is the color of the calyx, which is the small, ‘nubby’ end of the flower that is attached onto the stem, and hold the flower petals. This is the most fragrant part of the flower, and the very dark violet and purple calyces are very desirable for crafting. A few of the lavender varieties, such as ‘Silver Frost’ and ‘Ana Luisa’ have silvery white calyces, which can be great fun to craft with.

We will add to this table as more lavenders are available at the nursery. We hope this helps your shopping experience!

SHOP NOW FOR LAVENDER

NAME
HEIGHT
FLOWER COLOR
CALYX COLOR
FOLIAGE COLOR
BLOOM TIME
USES
NOTES
Lavandula angustifolia
    Bleu de collines
18 inches
dark blue
violet
green
summer
fresh, dried
very elegant long spikes, extremely dark flower
    Betty Blue
18 inches
violet
blue
green/grey
May-June
fresh, dried, culinary
a favorite for drying and crafting
    Blue Cushion
16 inches
deep blue
purple
green/grey
May-Sept
fresh, culinary
great for pots, front of border, reblooms with deadheading,dwarf
    Croxton’s Wild
24 inches
blue/lavender
purple
green/grey
May-July
fresh
closest to the ‘wild’ type of lavender
    Edelweiss
24 inches
white
green
green
May-July
fresh, culinary
very sweet fragrance, unusual in garden
    Elizabeth
24 inches
deep purple
deep purple
green/grey
May-July
fresh, dried, culinary
big spikes, compact grower, lovely for arrangements
    Folgate
18 inches
violet
dark purple
green
May-July
fresh, dried, oil,culinary
short and sturdy, nice green foliage, compact
    Hidcote Blue
18 inches
violet
dk purple
green
April-June;fall
fresh, dried, culinary
super sturdy, long lived, takes to heavy shearing, fave for cooks
    Jean Davis
18 inches
pink
lavender/green
green
May-July
fresh, culinary
short, lovely pink, very dense flower heads
    Maillette
18 inches
light lavender
lavender
green/grey
June-July
fresh, oil
average in looks but superior for essential oil
    Munstead
16 inches
med purple
purple
green
May-July; fall
fresh, dried, culinary
great for long lived hedges, great in containers
    Royal Velvet
24 inches
blue/violet
dark violet
green
June-July
fresh, dried
stunning color, great contrast with foliage, very sweet
    Tuscan Violet
36 inches
deep blue
violet
grey
May-July
fresh, dried
large and very robust English type, very drought tolerant
    Twickel Purple
30 inches
lavender
violet
green/grey
May-July
fresh, dried, culinary
lovely flower bunches for fresh and dry use, very upright
     Victorian Amethyst
24 inches
violet
purple
silver grey
June-July
fresh, dried
sturdy, dense silver foliage
    Violet Intrigue
24 inches
violet
dark violet
green/grey
May-July
fresh, dried
stunning flower bunches, great for crafting
Lavandula x intermedia
    Abrialli
30 inches
purple
dark purple grey
grey
June-Sept
fresh, dried, oil
Classic look, stunning in bloom, great for crafting
    Bogong
30 inches
lavender
purple grey
grey
June-Aug
fresh, dried
Very sturdy, compact foliage, very drought tolerant
    Dutch
40 inches
light lavender
grey
grey/green
June-Sept
fresh, dried
very long, wispy flower spikes, large plants
     Fat Spike Grosso
24 inches
dark violet
purple grey
green/grey
May-July; fall
fresh, dried
Always blooms twice, one of the showiest intermedia selections
    Fragrant Memories
24 inches
light lavender
lavender grey
grey
May-July
fresh, dried
Intensely fragrant, fat flower heads
    Grappenhall
48 inches
light lavender
lavender grey
grey
June-Sept
fresh, dried
Big big plant, makes a tall hedge or barrier
    Grosso
30 inches
violet
violet grey
grey
June-Aug
fresh, dried, oil
classic, oil production, a favorite for drying, wreathmaking
    Marge Clark
24 inches
lavender
lavender grey
grey
June-Aug
fresh, dried
very sturdy, medium size, very compact grower
    Phenomenal
30 inches
dark violet
violet grey
grey
May-Sept
fresh, dried, culinary
lovely in bloom; will take rainier areas and very cold/snow
    Provence
36 inches
light lavender
grey
grey
June-Sept;fall
fresh, dried, culinary
Used for cooking; flowers ‘shatter’, so it is good for potpourri
    Scottish Cottage
18 inches
light purple
lavender grey
grey
June-Sept
fresh, dried
Short and stout, great specimen in containers
    Super
40 inches
dark violet
purple grey
grey
June-Aug
fresh, dried
Really big, plump blooms.  Pretty in arrangements, lav wands
Lavandula stoechas
    Blueberry Ruffles
20 inches
blue violet
green
March-May; fall
landscaping
deep color, early bloom for bees; compact
    Otto Quast
24 inchs
purple violet
green/grey
March-May; fall
landscaping
classic Spanish lavender, with intense fat flowers
    Silver Anouk
24 inches
deep purple.
silver white
March-May; fall
landscaping
deep flowers are stunning against silver white leaves; drought tol
    Sugarberry Ruffles
18 inches
bright pink
green
March-May; fall
landscaping
cheery and unusual pink; very compact
Lavandula dentata
48 inches
lavender
green
year round
landscaping
robust grower; prune heavy to continue bloom;
Lavandula x heterophylla
48 inches
lavender
lavender grey
green/grey
year round
landscaping
very elegant, very large, piney lavender scent
Lavandula pinnata
24 inches
deep purple
green
Mar-Nov
landscaping
not hardy; smells like lemon!  Shade tolerant, hummingbird plant
Lavandula ‘Ana Luisa’
24 inches
dark violet
silver white
silver/white
June-Aug
landscaping, drying
very drought tolerant, extremely showy in bloom
Lavandula ‘Richard Grey’
18 inches
purple
grey
silver/white
June-Aug
landscaping, drying
very drought tolerant, extremely showy in bloom
Lavandula ‘Silver Frost’
30 inches
dark purple
fuzzy white
white
June-Aug
landscaping, drying
drought tolerant, showy, great for drying for crafting