How do these main types differ in their growth habits?

The four main types of lavender species have distinct growth habits that influence their appearance, how they are used in landscaping, and their cultivation requirements:

1. English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

   • Growth Habit: Typically forms a compact, rounded, bushy shrub. It's relatively short, usually growing to 1 to 3 feet (30-90 cm) tall and wide. The foliage is generally fine and grayish-green.

   • Branching: Tends to have a dense, mounding habit with many stems originating from the base.

   • Flower Stalks: Produces slender, upright flower spikes that rise gracefully above the foliage. These spikes are usually unbranched.

   • Density: Maintains a neat, compact appearance and often holds its shape well, especially with annual pruning.

   • Longevity: Can be long-lived with proper care and good drainage.

   • Winter Hardiness: Known for being the most cold-hardy, retaining its evergreen foliage in milder winters.

2. Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia)

   • Growth Habit: Significantly larger and more vigorous than English lavender. It forms a larger, more open, and rounded mound, typically growing 2 to 3 feet (60-90 cm) tall and often spreading 3 to 4 feet (90-120 cm) or more in diameter.

   • Branching: Has a coarser, more robust structure with longer, often branched stems.

   • Flower Stalks: Produces very long, strong, and sturdy flower stalks, making it ideal for cutting and bundling. These stalks often appear in abundance.

   • Density: Can become somewhat sprawling or woody at the base if not regularly pruned.

   • Longevity: Also quite long-lived, especially in suitable climates.

   • Winter Hardiness: Slightly less cold-hardy than English lavender but generally more tolerant of heat and humidity. Foliage is semi-evergreen.

3. Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas)

   • Growth Habit: Generally forms a compact, bushy, and rounded shrub, similar in size or slightly smaller than English lavender, typically around 1 to 2.5 feet (30-75 cm) tall and wide.

   • Branching: Densely branched, creating a full appearance.

   • Flower Stalks: Produces relatively short flower stalks topped with its distinctive "bunny ear" bracts. These flower heads emerge from the foliage and are often produced in continuous flushes.

   • Density: Very dense and full, often appearing almost evergreen, though it's less cold-hardy and can be damaged by hard frosts.

   • Longevity: Tends to have a shorter lifespan than English lavender or Lavandin, often performing best for 3-5 years before needing replacement or rejuvenation.

   • Winter Hardiness: Less cold-hardy, best suited for warmer climates or as an annual in colder regions.

4. French Lavender (Lavandula dentata)

   • Growth Habit: Grows into a dense, rounded to sprawling shrub, often reaching 2 to 3 feet (60-90 cm) tall and wide, but some cultivars can spread even wider (3-4 feet). It has a slightly more open and often irregular habit compared to the compact English or Spanish types.

   • Branching: Features distinctively toothed, gray-green leaves that are highly aromatic and contribute significantly to its overall appearance.

   • Flower Stalks: Produces compact spikes of flowers, topped with pale violet bracts, on relatively long stalks.

   • Density: Can become leggy and woody over time if not pruned regularly. Its continuous blooming habit (in warmer climates) means it can maintain a floral display for extended periods.

   • Longevity: Can be moderately long-lived in ideal, warm, frost-free conditions.

   • Winter Hardiness: The least cold-hardy of the four, making it highly susceptible to frost damage and often grown as an annual or container plant in regions with cold winters. It tolerates humidity better than other types.

In summary, English lavender offers a compact, classic look with high cold tolerance, Lavandin is a larger, more robust plant with abundant long-stemmed flowers, Spanish lavender is recognized by its unique "eared" blooms and compact, dense habit (though less hardy), and French lavender stands out with its fringed leaves and often continuous blooming in warmer climates, though it's the least cold-tolerant. The Lavender Farm in Door County Wisconsin likely selects specific cultivars based on these growth habits to thrive in their particular climate and for their desired products, and you can buy lavender products online at islandlavender.com that highlight the unique characteristics of these diverse lavender types.