Lavender may be one of the most familiar flowers in the garden, but its names can be surprisingly confusing.
English lavender is native to the Mediterranean. The plant commonly called French lavender may also be sold as Spanish or butterfly lavender. And many of the tall, intensely fragrant “French lavender” bundles found at markets are actually lavandin—a naturally occurring hybrid that includes the much-loved variety ‘Grosso’.
All three are beautiful and aromatic, but they differ in flower shape, fragrance, hardiness and best use. Here is how to tell them apart—and how to choose the right lavender for your garden, kitchen or home.
English Lavender: Sweet, Classic, and Culinary
Botanical name: Lavandula angustifolia
English lavender forms a compact mound of narrow grey-green leaves with slender flower spikes in shades of purple, lavender-blue, pink or white. Its fragrance is sweet, floral and softly herbaceous - the scent many people think of as classic lavender.
Its dried buds retain their aroma beautifully and are well-suited to sachets, potpourri, bath projects and petite dried arrangements. English lavender is also the preferred culinary type because its flavour is gentler and less camphorous than many other lavenders. When grown, harvested and packaged for food, it can be used sparingly in tea, syrup, lemonade, shortbread, sugar and fruit desserts.
Only use lavender specifically labelled culinary grade in food or drinks. Even then, a little goes a long way.
English lavender is one of the hardiest lavender groups and is a strong choice for colder-climate gardens. In Ontario, however, drainage is just as important as cold tolerance. Lavender needs full sun and must not sit in wet soil, especially over winter.
French Lavender: Showy and Tender
Common botanical name: Lavandula stoechas
French, Spanish or butterfly lavender is easy to recognize by its dense flower heads topped with colourful, petal-like bracts - often described as bunny ears or butterfly wings. Its distinctive blooms make it a charming ornamental plant for sunny patios, borders and containers.
Its scent is generally sharper and more resinous than English lavender, so it is not usually the first choice for delicate baking or tea. It can flower over a long season in warm climates when spent blooms are removed, but it is tender in Ontario and needs protection from frost.
Choose it for decorative containers, ornamental displays and pollinator-friendly summer planting.
Grosso Lavandin: Long-Stemmed and Intensely Fragrant
Botanical name: Lavandula × intermedia ‘Grosso’
Grosso grows larger than most English lavenders and produces long, strong stems with substantial purple flower spikes. Its architectural shape is particularly beautiful in tall dried arrangements, wreaths and statement bundles.
Its scent is strong, fresh and herbal, with more camphor than English lavender. The fragrance lasts well after drying, making Grosso an excellent choice for sachets, potpourri, crafts and fragrant home décor. Because its flavour is stronger, English lavender is generally the better choice for the kitchen.
Never assume a decorative lavender bundle is edible; choose a product specifically labelled for culinary use.
Lavender at a Glance
| Feature | English lavender | French lavender | Grosso lavandin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Botanical name |
Lavandula angustifolia |
Usually Lavandula stoechas |
Lavandula × intermedia ‘Grosso’ |
| Flower shape | Slender, uniform spikes | Stocky heads with decorative bracts | Long stems with substantial spikes |
| Fragrance | Sweet, floral and classic | Resinous and camphor-like | Strong, herbal and camphorous |
| Ontario hardiness | One of the hardiest types | Tender; requires frost protection | Generally hardy with excellent drainage |
| Best known for | Culinary use, sachets and petite bundles | Ornamental containers and showy flowers | Long dried bundles, wreaths and lasting fragrance |
| Culinary choice | Yes, when sold as culinary grade | Generally not preferred | English lavender is usually preferred |
Lavender Grown at Josephine
Our lavender is grown pesticide-free and hand-harvested at Josephine Flower Farm, then carefully dried to preserve its natural beauty and fragrance.
| Variety | Type and colour | Especially good for |
| Hidcote Blue | English; deep violet-blue | Rich colour, pollinators, petite bundles, sachets and culinary use when food-grade |
| Grosso | Lavandin; rich purple | Long bundles, wreaths, sachets and strong, lasting fragrance |
| Ellagance Pink | English; soft pink | Compact form, unusual colour and small arrangements |
| Ellagance Purple | English; purple-blue | Dense flower spikes, pollinators, drying and arranging |
| Melissa | English; blush pink to creamy white | Romantic colour, fragrant cutting and culinary use when food-grade |
| Munstead | English; lavender-blue to violet | Sweet fragrance, drying, pollinators and culinary use when food-grade |
| White Ice | English; white | White-flowered contrast, fragrant edging and small arrangements |
Explore our Lavender Collection:
Whether you are filling a favourite vase, making something by hand or adding the lightest floral note to a recipe, we hope our lavender brings a little beauty from the flower field into your home.
- Shop English Lavender Bundles
- Shop Grosso Long-Stem Lavender Bundles
- Shop Culinary English Lavender, 10 g
When Does Lavender Bloom in Niagara?
Bloom time varies with the cultivar, the age of the plant and the weather. English lavenders generally flower first, followed by Grosso. A warm spring may move flowering earlier, while a cool spring may delay it.
| Variety | Typical bloom window | What to expect |
| Munstead | Late June into July | Often among the earlier English lavenders; may rebloom lightly after deadheading |
| Hidcote Blue | Late June into mid-July | A concentrated display of dark violet-blue flowers |
| Melissa | Late June into July | Soft pink and creamy-white flowers with one main flush |
| White Ice | Late June into July | Compact white flower spikes |
| Ellagance Pink | June through late summer | A long season; deadheading encourages new flowers |
| Ellagance Purple | June through late summer | May continue producing spikes with regular deadheading |
| Grosso | Mid-July into August | A later, generous crop of long, highly fragrant stems |
Combining early English varieties with later Grosso extends the garden display and gives pollinators a longer succession of flowers.
If you are planning a farm visit or hoping to photograph the lavender, watch our website and social channels for current field updates - weather always has the final say.
Watch: All About Lavender
For a helpful Canadian introduction to identifying lavender varieties, harvesting bundles and removing dried buds, watch All About Lavender: Identifying Different Varieties, Harvesting Bundles and Removing the Buds from Okanagan Lavender & Herb Farm in British Columbia.
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