Complete Guide to Lavender Plant Identification

Lavender plants are relatively easy to identify, but they can be tricky for beginners. They typically have a woody stem, often with a silvery-gray color.

One of the most distinctive features of lavender plants is their leaves, which are narrow and pointed. They're usually a silvery-gray color on the bottom and a lighter gray on top.

Lavender plants are known for their beautiful purple flowers, which are a key identifying feature. These flowers are usually arranged in a spike shape and are highly fragrant.

The size of lavender plants can vary, but most are compact and shrub-like, growing to be around 1-3 feet tall.

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There are three main types of lavender found in plant nurseries in Canada and the United States. These types are also found in other parts of the world under different names.

One of the most popular types is Lavandula angustifolia, also known as True or Common lavender. It's hardy in zones 5 to 9 and is often used in North American gardens.

Lavandula xintermedia, also known as Lavandin, is another popular type of lavender. It's a hybrid of L. angustifolia and L. latifolia, and is hardy in zones 5 to 9.

Lavandula stoechas, also known as French Lavender, is a tender annual that is distinct from the other two types of lavender.

Here are some popular varieties of Lavandula angustifolia:

And here are some popular varieties of Lavandula xintermedia:

If you're looking for a quick identification guide for lavender, here are some key characteristics to look for:

Lavender is known for its small, tubular flowers that range in color from pale lilac to deep purple, with some varieties having pink or white flowers. The plants typically have long, narrow leaves, which are often gray or greenish-gray in color.

English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is the most widely cultivated type, known for its sweet fragrance. French Lavender (Lavandula stoechas) is identified by its distinctive 'bunny ears' top petals.

To identify lavender, look for its characteristic flower spikes at the end of long stems. Plants commonly confused with lavender include Russian Sage (Perovskia), Catmint (Nepeta), and Salvia (Sage).

Here's a quick reference guide to help you tell them apart:

Lavender is native to the Mediterranean region, including southern Europe and parts of northern Africa and the Middle East. It grows well in dry, well-drained soils and sunny locations.

With over 45 species and 450 named varieties, lavender can be a challenge to identify. But knowing the three main types most readily available at plant nurseries can help you determine whether your plant is a tender annual or hardy perennial.

Topped Lavender is a woody perennial shrub growing up to 1 meter high.

It has greyish or greyish-green leaves that are downy or woolly-hairy, and are very narrowly ovate or oval-shaped.

The leaves are usually 1-3 cm long and 1-5 mm wide, with smooth edges curved under.

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Topped Lavender produces small flowers in dense, compact, cylindrical or squarish spike-like heads, which are 2-5 cm long.

These inflorescences are hidden by deep bluish purple bracts, and the flowers themselves are deep purple, rarely white or pink.

Topped Lavender is native to the Mediterranean region and has been widely cultivated throughout the world as an ornamental plant.

It has become established as a weed in various regions, including the south-western area of Western Australia between Perth and Manjimup.

Topped Lavender is a small shrub that grows up to 1 meter high, with a woody perennial upright growth habit.

Its leaves are greyish or greyish-green, downy or woolly-hairy, and very narrowly ovate to oval-shaped, usually 1-3 cm long and 1-5 mm wide.

The leaves are crowded, paired or clustered at nodes, without a leaf stalk, and have smooth edges curved under.

The plant has numerous small flowers arranged in dense, compact, cylindrical or squarish spike-like heads, or inflorescences, that are 2-5 cm long.

Inflorescences are borne on stalks 1-2.5 cm long and are hidden by rhombic to obovate bracts, 1.2-2.5 cm long, deep bluish purple.

The inflorescences are topped with up to 5 distinctive sterile leafy violet, purple or rarely white bracts, each usually 1-2 cm long.

The flowers along the cylindrical inflorescence are deep purple, 5-10 mm long, tubular, 2-lipped, fragrant, and often hidden by overlapping deep bluish purple or purple bracts.

The dry, brown, downy fruits split on maturity and contain seeds about 2 mm wide that are brown with numerous dark spots.

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Topped Lavenderis can be found in several regions of Australia, including the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia.

It's established in various areas within these states, such as the South Western Slopes and Central Tablelands in New South Wales, and the Southern Lofty region in South Australia.

In Western Australia, it's become a weed in the south-western area between Perth and Manjimup, while in Victoria, it's established in the north-east and Central Highlands.

Interestingly, Topped Lavender is native to the Mediterranean region, which explains its widespread cultivation as an ornamental plant and for oil production.

To identify English lavender, look for its sweeter fragrance with less of a camphor odor. It also begins blooming in early summer.

English lavender has a distinct fragrance, but French lavender is less fragrant and has bright green leaves with toothed margins. The entire French lavender plant appears silvery-grey due to the fine, soft hairs that cover it.

To tell French lavender apart from its hybrids, note its medium-length spikes with compact flowers in light purple and light lavender-blue colors. Allardi lavender, a hybrid of French lavender, can be distinguished by its impressive height of four to five feet.

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Let's start by identifying the different types of lavender. The first step is to notice the fragrance of the plant. English lavender has a sweeter fragrance with less of a camphor odor.

You can also identify English lavender by its bloom period, which begins in early summer. This is a great way to tell it apart from other varieties.

English lavender is a hardy plant that can thrive in various conditions. Its blooms are a beautiful sight to behold, and it's a great choice for gardens and landscaping projects.

To summarize, English lavender is characterized by its sweeter fragrance and early summer bloom period.

Identify French lavender (L. dentata) by its bright green leaves that have "toothed" leaf margins. The French lavender isn't as fragrant as other lavender species.

The entire plant appears silvery-grey because of all the fine, soft hairs that cover the plant. This unique appearance can be a dead giveaway to its identity.

French lavender has medium-length spikes, or inflorescences, with compact flowers in light purple and light lavender-blue colors. These vibrant blooms are a sight to behold and can be a key characteristic in identifying this species.

Allardi (L. x allardii) is a hybrid of French lavender, but it's difficult to distinguish between the two, except for allardi lavender's impressive height of four to five feet. This is a notable difference that can help you identify allardi lavender.