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The Global Insight

What Lavender grows best in Florida

Author

Mia Horton

Updated on April 13, 2026

The best lavender for Florida includes Phenomenal Lavender, exotic-looking Lavandula canariensis, and others. To maximize soil drainage, plant lavender in containers or raised beds.

What is the easiest lavender to grow?

English lavenders are the easiest lavenders to grow, with varieties such as ‘Munstead’ and ‘Hidcote’ regarded as the easiest and most versatile lavender varieties as they require minimal maintenance and can survive in both hot and cold climates.

Which type of lavender is the most fragrant?

The most fragrant Lavender plants are the Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia). Several cultivars of English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) are also prized for their delightful scent.

What is the hardiest lavender to grow?

The English lavender species (Lavandula angustifolia) are the most hardy of all lavender species, able to tolerate winter frosts, snow, wind and deer and rabbit resistance. English lavenders are hardy to zone 5 and can be grown in a temperate climate.

Does lavender like full sun or shade?

When & Where to Plant Lavender Light: Lavender needs full sun and well-drained soil to grow best. In hot summer climates, afternoon shade may help them thrive. Soil: Lavender grows best in low to moderately-fertile soils, so don’t amend the soil with organic matter before planting.

What's the best lavender to grow?

  • ‘Hidcote’ is one of the best known of all lavender varieties, for good reason. …
  • ‘Lady Ann’ is a compact variety of English lavender, growing to around 45cm in height. …
  • ‘Willow Vale’ is a vigorous variety of French lavender with gorgeous spikes of purple flowers.

What is the prettiest lavender?

The highly fragrant French lavender (Lavandula stoechas, 1-3′) has some of the showiest flowers of all the lavenders. The Mediterranean native was grown by the Romans for its exceptional scent, and its ability to thrive in hot and dry conditions. It is a bit hardier, surviving to USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10.

What is the longest flowering lavender?

A: Two of the longest blooming kinds of lavender are Lavandula angustifolia ‘Irene Doyle’ and the hybrid L. ‘Goodwin Creek Grey. ‘ The best way to have lavender blooming all summer is to plant several different kinds that bloom sequentially.

What month should I plant lavender?

Lavender is best planted as a young plant in the spring, after the soil has warmed up to at least 60°F (15°C) and the threat of frost has passed. If planting in the fall, choose larger, more established plants to ensure their survival through the winter.

Does lavender need to be covered in winter?

Lavender is a drought tolerant plant and prefers to be dry, so you want to ensure good drainage. A slope or small raised bed would help ensure the plant has good drainage and stays dry and happy. Third, it is important to cover your Lavender plants (zone 5 and below) with winter protection.

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Which is better English or French lavender?

If you’re looking for the characteristic lavender smell, choose English lavender. It produces the strong scent that permeates the air, while French lavender has a much lighter scent, which while nice, is more reminiscent of rosemary.

Is French lavender the same as lavender?

The key difference between French and English lavenders is that English lavenders are more cold hardy, produce a stronger fragrance and live longer however French lavenders can produce flowers for much longer.

How do you grow lavender in Florida?

Lavender grows best in full sun and dry, sandy soil. However, not all varieties tolerate Florida’s heat or humidity. The best lavender for Florida includes Phenomenal Lavender, exotic-looking Lavandula canariensis, and others. To maximize soil drainage, plant lavender in containers or raised beds.

Does lavender grow back every year?

Lavender is a Low-Maintenance Perennial And this beauty will come back to your garden every year, for about 3-5 years, so it’s a great investment. What is this? Before you make any plant purchases, however, I want to remind you to always choose plants that thrive in your plant hardiness zone.

How long do lavender plants live?

When sited correctly and pruned judiciously, lavenders should live for five to seven years. Although lavender is fairly drought tolerant, adequate moisture is required throughout the growing season. Most critical are the weeks after planting to ensure that soil around the rootball does not dry out.

What are the 4 types of lavender?

English Lavender, Portuguese Lavender, French Lavender, Spanish Lavender, Lavandin.

What can I plant alongside lavender?

A Long-Lasting Summer Duo for your Borders: Lavender and Cosmos. A long-lasting summer mix! Both plants are drought and dry soil tolerant, fairly pest-free and low maintenance, excellent in fresh cut flowers bouquets and will reward you with plentiful blossoms and happy butterflies!

Why does my lavender plant not smell?

The reason lavenders do not smell is usually to do with a lack of sunlight or soil that is too fertile. The less sun a lavender receives, the less flowers and oils will be produced which ultimately limits the lavenders smell. Lavenders need full sun and low to medium fertility soils to produce the best fragrance.

What is the most popular lavender?

English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is probably the most famous and familiar types of lavender. A native of the Mediterranean region, English lavender earned its common name because it grows well in the English climate.

Is lavender an easy plant to grow?

Growing lavender is easy and rewarding. Lavender can be grown in garden beds or in pots. To grow lavender successfully it needs well-drained soil and full sun. In arid climates lavender grows well as a perennial, but in humid climates it is often grown as an annual.

How fast does lavender spread?

Seeds may take two weeks or more to germinate and several months to reach transplantable size, or about 3 inches tall. Once transplanted into the garden, lavender grows several inches per year, flowering in the second or third year after transplant.

Is it too late to plant lavender?

Colorado State University Extension recommends planting lavender in fall or late summer so the young plants have time to establish roots during the cooler months, which will help them bloom better the following summer.

How long does it take to grow lavender?

Lavender is a slow grower and may take one to three months to reach transplanting size. The greatest threat to lavender seeds and seedlings is fungus. Keep soil mix moist, but provide good air circulation to help reduce disease outbreaks.

How many times a year does lavender flower?

Guaranteed to flower through most of the year, they take a well-earned break in summer and come back in autumn, winter and spring.

Is there a lavender that blooms all summer?

Alternatively, you can simply choose a variety of Lavender which blooms almost continuously from spring to summer’s end. Fitting this description are Lavandula stoechas cultivars (Spanish Lavender), which produce several full flushes of flowers during the growing season, provided their flowers are cut after each flush.

What is the darkest purple lavender?

Lavandula x intermedia ‘Impress Purple’ (Lavender) Probably the darkest purple flowered Lavender of all! A favorite for cut flowers and fresh bouquets.

What happens if you don't prune lavender?

An annual pruning is an important step for long-lasting lavender (Lavandula spp. and hybrids) plants. Without it they grow a large, lanky, woody base that can split open — it looks bad and shortens the plant’s lifespan.

When should you cut lavender back?

The best time to prune lavender is in the spring or late summer, but most experts advise two pruning sessions a year – a trim post flowering in the summer and a second, harder pruning in the spring. Monty Don even suggests a third trim in the fall, to help it ‘hold a tight pebble shape’.

Does lavender need to be pruned?

While pruning lavender, if you cut into woody stems, they won’t grow again, but simply die. … In general, you need to plan on pruning lavender at planting time and every year right after it flowers. When planting lavender, prune plants lightly, removing all growing tips. This encourages the plant to branch.

What is the difference between lilac and lavender?

Main Difference – Lavender vs Lilac The main difference between lavender and lilac (colors) is that the lavender is a pale purple with a bluish tinge while the lilac is as a pale purple with a pinkish tinge. … In fact, both these shades have been named after the color of the flowers.

Is English lavender an annual?

English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), with aromatic leaves and flowers, is often considered an herb. But it is actually an herbaceous perennial with a semi-woody growth habit.