Is Lavender Drought-Tolerant (Different Varieties of Lavenders)

by Becky Decker · July 16, 2024

Most gardeners or farmers are familiar with lavender, right? They’re a common vegetable enjoyed by many. But did you know is lavender drought-tolerant and comes in different varieties? And if you love peas like me, you’ll love the idea of growing different colorful pea varieties.

It’s definitely an interesting idea, isn’t it? And you don’t need to worry about which varieties to choose, because I’ve already shortlisted some of the types of lavender you can grow in your garden.

If you encounter any problems while growing lavender and need assistance, remember that I’m here to help. Just drop a comment below, and I’ll be happy to help you.

Quick takeaway:

Lavender is a herb known to be grown in full sun and Mediterranean climates.
It is one of the versatile shrubs that are easy to maintain because of their ability to grow in a very drought environment.
The Lavender comes in different types, varieties, and cultivars in most of the varieties are highly drought tolerant.
Lavender is considered the most drought-tolerant shrub whereas the Spanish lavender is considered the most tolerant of all of the lavenders. Talking about English and French lavender. They are also assured to be very tolerant to dry conditions.

Is lavender drought-tolerant:

Yes, lavender is highly tolerant of drought conditions and is considered an ideal aromatic herb if you are living in a dry environment. They are native to the Mediterranean and Middle East areas where the soil is free draining, consisting of rocky, and chalky, and has little bit of rainfall during summer.

Here the important thing is that even drought-tolerant plants need water during the initial routing stages, so make sure, never to neglect watering when you plant a fresh lavender or transplant in your garden. After the root establishment, only then the plant can thrive with less watering.

In the case of watering lavender, it depends upon where you are growing the plant like growing lavender in pots as an herb plant, then the requirement of water is more than growing the plant in the ground.

Varieties of Lavenders:

The lavender plant is negative to the Mediterranean basin where they get full sun and poor well-drained soil to grow, which makes them best to be grown in a Mediterranean garden

It is drought tolerant, hardy, and can be grown in different types of soil from acid to mild alkaline.
The foliage of the plant varies from silver to dark green.
The flower of the lavender plant blooms with shades of pink, violet, purple, and white-green.
Different types of the plant vary from mounding to upright.
The maximum size of the lavender plant ranges from small (40 cm / 1.3 ft) to quite tall (100 cm / 3.2 ft).

Here are some different varieties of lavender drought-tolerant plants.

Spanish Lavenders:

It’s heat tolerant and drought resistant which made them popular to be grown in hot climates. They are considered the most drought-tolerant varieties of lavender, which can tolerate the hot climate of most South and US states, but particularly enjoy the environment of the West dry over the humid east.

They do come with distinctive pine cone-shaped flowers having little bracts which look like rabbit ears. The fragrance is reminiscent of rosemary, pine, or eucalyptus having a growing habit of densely edging borders.

Below are some different varieties of Spanish lavender:

Silver Anouk:

The flower used to bloom on the top of silver-green foliage, which is purple in color
The hardiness zone they do fit is from 6 to 10.
The water requirement of silver anouk is moderate level.
With silver foliage and dark purple flowers, they do have paler petal bracts blooming heavily in the spring with a disease-resistant package.
The fragrance of the plant is evergreen, making them perfect for rock Gardens, patio containers, and desert landscape accents.
They love to grow in full sun and bloom in dry conditions but when grown in extreme heat or in a container then you need to provide them with a little extra water than you usually do.
These are successfully used to grow and reach up to 3 feet in height.

Strawberry Ruffles:

The strawberry ruffle is also called butterfly lavender with its dazzling, pink, and fuschia lavender making them a show stopper in any landscape garden.
It used to grow in bushy, evergreen mounds blooming chubby, rose, colored spikes.
They are brought tolerant and to encourage more blooms, give the plant a heavy spring pruning of about ⅓ of the plant growth.
They are perfectly grown in hardiness zones from 8 to 9.
The water requirement of this variety is very low.

Primavera:

It used to bloom in dark purple flowers in the desert area.
It is a new cultivar that is bred specifically for the ultra-high heat tolerance.
However, there will be some time when there will be no flowers that are during the peak South and summer and will start producing copious blooms during these spring, spring, and fall.
Insects like bees and butterflies get attracted to primavera lavender due to its contrasting deep purple spike against the aromatic green foliage.
In order to encourage the blooming of flowers throughout the season, you need to trim down to half the height.
They are mostly grown in hardiness zones from 7 to 9
The water requirement of this lavender variety is very low.

Kew Red:

It’s a unique variety having a burgundy hue with light bracts.
There is no interesting lavender in this group, than kew red lavender having a uniquely burgundy tone contrasted with light pink bracts that mature to white color when the plant grows.
It is a type of drought-tolerant lavender that is evergreen in hot climates and tolerates long periods of drought.
Make sure to provide them with extra well-drained, alkaline soil, and with good air circulation.
In case of like them to grow in shorter sturdier flower stems then trim them back for about 50% after peak summer bloom.
They are found in hardiness zones from 7 to 9.
The water requirement from this lavender is low.

Otto Quast:

Otto Quast lavender has a distinctively fragrant flower with aromatic leaves.
It’s a fuss-free plant, especially when you plant them as a border plant or in a rock garden.
There is no match in terms of summer, heat, and long brought for their royal purple butterfly lavender.
They do love growing in rock gardens and Sunny borders, but you need to take extra care of water during extreme heat or when grown in a container.
They are found in hardiness zones from 7 to 9.
The water requirement from them is low to moderate.

Lavandin Hybrids:

Lavandin is the hybrid cross between English lavender and Portuguese lavender, which is specifically bred for its high oil content, and fabulous, long-stemmed flowers that bloom later than the other type and tolerate the heat like others.

Goodwin Creek Gray Lavender:

The Goodwin Creek gray lavender shrub has gray serrated foliage which is very heat tolerant.
These are the long shrubs, slender flowers that grow deep with blue-purple and gray-tooth foliage.
They come in extra sunlight, tolerance, heat, and drought.
Once you grow them in your garden, they only need occasional watering, except for extreme heat.
It does smell divine as a fresh or dried bouquet present in mid-summer warmth.
These are the varieties that grow about 2 feet high when the flower is not present and blooming with the flower reaching up to 3 feet.
They are found in the hardiness zone from 7 to 9.
They love to enjoy water from low to moderate levels.

Grosso:

The Grosso love to grow in large feet with thousands of plant stalks blooming at the topmost of the stalks.
It is a classic and extra-large type of lavender which is the most famous French hybrid variety.
It consists of charming deep purple blooms for drying as well as culinary use.
They are grown best in tough extreme weather Which used to withstand the dry, arid climate of the West.
They don’t like the humidity of the Gulf Coast, which makes them prone to rot under moist conditions.
Make sure to provide them at least 3 to 4 feet of space in all directions.
They are mostly found in hardiness zones from 6 to 10.
The water requirement by this lavender drought tolerant is low.

Provence:

It is a classic type of lavender, which is perfect for creating a hedge in the garden.
It is an evergreen, planting and sunny non-irrigated border.
They used to be one of the drought-tolerant lavenders, which don’t need water for a long period.
They can even grow dry thoroughly between the irrigation.
They love the direct hot son of the exposed slope.
It is known for one of the most fragrant lavender varieties.
They are better to be used for coveted long stems cutting and drying in bouquets.
They are also known as fat lavender because of their large flower head, which grows up to 3 inches.
They are best found in hardiness zones from 5 to 9.
The water requirement from them is low.

Phenomenal:

The phenomenal lavender grows with foliage green in color and Bloom is in blue color.
This type is hardy, heat-resistant, humidity-tolerant, and cold-hardy.
There is no cultivar more adaptable than the phenomenal lavender. It does have a breathtaking color which looks gorgeous when grown in a flower bed.
They are famous for their extra long bloom time, low water requirement, and way of growing in extreme heat temperatures in desert climates.
They are mostly found in hardiness zones from 5 to 9.
The water requirement of the plant is low level.

Hidcote Giant:

The Hidcote giant lavender blooms with a flower bright purple in color.
It grows well on sandy, alkaline soil.
They were included in this list because of their drought resistance and tolerance to sandy alkaline soil.
These plants grow in large mounds up to 4 feet wide and 3 feet tall.
The flowers grow with tall spikes of medium to purple flowers, which have gorgeous hedges and mass plantings.
They are mostly found in hardiness zones from 5 to 8.
The water requirement for this plant is low level.

Riverina Thomas French Lavender:

The riverina Thomas French lavender bloom with light purple flowers and foliage growing below it.
This variety is incredibly fragrant because it contains five times more essential oil than other types.
If you love the scent of lavender wafting throughout the summer, then you can consider them to grow.
When compared to other hybrid types, it has five times more aromatic oil.
They are used in commercial lavender farms which are triploid hybrids.
They are often found in zones from 5 to 9.
You need to provide the plant with watering from low to moderate.
This variety is used to repeatedly bloom all over the summer and fall neglecting the high temperature.

Fat Bud French Lavender:

These types of varieties grow in a large field that blooms in light purple and the foliage below is deep green in color.
The fragrance of the flowers attracts many butterflies.
It generally likes to grow in a tidy mound with loads of chubby fragrant flowers.
You can grow them in containers and on the dry edges of the garden.
They grow well in high heat or drought but do require more attention in case of watering a young plant and when it’s extreme heat, water the plant more.
They love to grow in hardiness zones from 5 to 9.
The water requirements of these varieties are from low to moderate.

English Lavenders:

The English lavender is native to the Mediterranean, not England. It’s been grown for hundreds of years in Britain for culinary, herbal, and aromatherapy. It is extra fragrant, drought-resilient, and loves to bloom in full sunshine.

They are not desert hardy as Spanish lavender nor hybrid cousins but they thrive best in dry heat conditions. The English lavender varieties are many times compared to Spanish lavender varieties in terms of climate.

Munstead:

The munstead variety grows with thousands of deep violet flowers in full bloom.
They are used to produce incredible fragrances for rosy-purple flowers.
The munstead is a drought-tolerant lavender that thrives in arid conditions.
The flowers bloom in pastel purple spikes which are perfect for perfumes, oils, and herbal sachets.
The flowers dry well and maintain the color to be great for dried arrangements.
You need to prune to grow low to the ground as edging or hedgerows which love rocky outcroppings and xeriscape installations.
The plants love to grow in hardiness zones from 5 to 9.
The watering requirement by the munstead variety is low.

Nana Alba:

The small white nana alba blooms with many flowers from one single stalk.
It is a unique variety of drought tolerant that blooms with delicate white flowers.
It is a striking and noticeable flower that blooms in any desert landscape.
They come under a dwarf plant which makes them an excellent option for borders or edges by giving them a little maintenance.
The nana alba only blooms once or twice during the season which looks dazzling with uniquely shaped Spanish lavender varieties.
The plant loves to grow in the hardiness zone from 5 to 9.
Provide the plant with a watering requirement of low level.

Thumbelina Leigh:

The Thumbelina Leigh flower blooms in a lighter purple color in which the bee rests atop the blooms.
They used to bloom, which attracts many pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
It is one of the most aromatic repeat flowering cultivars which is perfect for growing in containers and low borders.
You need to provide the plant with a little extra water if you grow them in a pot.
It used to bloom at the beginning of summer and reaches upto 12 inches tall.
The thumbelina leigh grows best in hardiness zones from 5 to 9.
Provide the plant with low to moderate watering.

Folgate:

The folagate lavender variety does grow best in hot weather and cold temperatures.
They used to spread upto 2 to 3 feet in all directions, blooming fabulous in flowers with blue-violet hues.
They come under a variety that is first to bloom in desert springs.
They are best grown in hardiness zones from 5 to 9.
The water requirement of the plant is low.

Sentivia Blue:

The flower used to bloom in full with each flower having several buds blooming off each stalk having a deep violet color.
The sentivia blue is a semi-evergreen English lavender having extra aromaticity with an upright growth habit and attractive branching at the tips.
The sentivia blue lavender grows with a strong stem with extra large bluish flower spikes blooming early in the season.
They used to grow best in the hardiness zone from 5 to 9.
They will grow best when you provide them with low water levels.
The sentivia blue loves to grow in vibrant sunny garden borders and warm summer weather.

Big Time Blue:

They like to bloom in a large field with a tall and deep violet color.
Big time blue flowers bloom in large, purple, and fragrant flowers about 20 inches high.
Out of the English lavenders, it is one the most rigorous and rugged lavenders.
The name given to them is based on their abundant large flowers and their rapid growth.
This variety loves to grow in perennial borders, hedges, or large patio pots.
They are mostly grown in hardiness zones from 5 to 9.
The water needs of the plant are low.
The blooming flowers are extra fragrant and rich in nectar making them attract happy pollinators during blooming time in spring.

Other Drought-Hardy Varieties

After all, the Spanish, English, and hybrid varieties are popular with the best drought tolerance. there are still other lavender types that don’t fall under them but will grow well in dry, hot climates which give your garden a purple color and sweet aroma i.e

French Lavenders:

The flower used to grow on top of stalks blooming in a light, purple color.
The French lavender is native to North Africa, not France. In short, only it’s the name, not lavender that is native to France.
They used to thrive in the hot desert regions of northern Africa that lie south of the Mediterranean Sea such as Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Egypt.
It grows with a unique silvery-toothed foliage variety.
Queen Cleopatra uses this lavender to win the hearts of lovers.
Egyptians use this hardy desert herb for their mummification practices.
The flowers of this type used to bloom all year and love the heat.
They are best grown in the hardiness zone from 8 to 11.
The water requirement of this plant is low.

Desert Lavender:

Don’t confuse desert lavender with sage which looks like them because like lavender the sage is a member of the Lamiaceae (mint) family and is often called a bushmint.
They used to grow from 6 to 10 feet tall and wide making them not fit to grow in small space gardens.
They are ideal to be grown with little or no maintenance.
They are most grown and founder in the hardiness zone from 8 to 10.
The water requirement for desert lavender is low.
These lavender varieties grow wild upto 3000 feet from the Sierra Nevadas of California to the Sonoran desert of Mexico.

Final Thoughts:

Now the misconception that lavender can’t handle the heat is cleared. Trust me the fragrance of this herb is well-adapted to climates such as southern Mediterranean and northern Africa. Most of the lavender varieties are resistant to both drought and heat. In the case of growing vigorous, aromatic lavender in an arid region remember to water it with plenty of water mainly during the first 6 months which will help un building a strong root system.