Which lavender is best for essential oil production outdoors?

When choosing lavender for essential oil production outdoors, the "best" variety largely depends on two factors:

1. Your Climate and Growing Conditions: Lavender needs specific conditions to thrive.

2. The Desired Essential Oil Profile: Are you aiming for a sweet, relaxing oil for aromatherapy/culinary use, or a more camphoraceous, stimulating oil for other applications?

Here's a breakdown of the best lavender types for outdoor essential oil production, considering various factors:

1. For High-Quality, Sweet, Aromatherapy/Culinary Grade Oil: True Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

This is the species most prized for its essential oil for the vast majority of "essential oil uses." It produces a sweeter, less camphoraceous oil.

• Ideal Climate: Prefers temperate climates with cold winters (for dormancy), hot and dry summers, and well-drained, lean soil. It's hardy in USDA Zones 5-8. High altitude can even enhance its ester content.

• Yield: Generally lower essential oil yield per acre compared to Lavandins, but the oil commands a higher price due to its superior quality. Typical yields range from 12-15 lbs of essential oil per acre (from 1,000-1,500 lbs of dried flowers).

• Best Cultivars for Oil Production:

  • 'Maillette': Highly regarded for its consistently high linalyl acetate content, making for a very sweet and balanced oil. Often considered the benchmark for aromatherapy grade.

  • 'Vera': A traditional, open-pollinated variety known for excellent, classic lavender oil.

  • 'Folgate': A good producer among angustifolia varieties, yielding calming oil with subtle notes.

  • 'Hidcote Superior' / 'Hidcote Blue': Produces an intensely fragrant, high-quality oil.

  • 'Munstead': A very hardy and reliable choice, producing a sweet oil.

  • 'Melissa' / 'Melissa Lilac': Valued for their unique sweet scents, with hints of vanilla/spice or a soft lilac floral note, respectively. Good oil producers for an angustifolia.

2. For High Yield & Robustness (Commercial/Industrial Use): Lavandin Hybrids (Lavandula x intermedia)

These are crosses between L. angustifolia and L. latifolia (Spike Lavender). They are larger, more vigorous, and offer significantly higher oil yields, making them popular for large-scale commercial production.

• Ideal Climate: More tolerant of varying climates, including some heat and humidity, and often hardy to Zone 5-9/10. They can thrive where L. angustifolia might struggle.

• Yield: Significantly higher essential oil yield, typically 18-67 lbs of essential oil per acre (from 3,500-4,500 lbs of dried flowers). This makes them very economical for bulk oil.

• Oil Quality: The oil has a stronger, more herbaceous, and distinctively camphoraceous aroma due to higher levels of camphor and 1,8-cineole. While still "lavender," it lacks the delicate sweetness of L. angustifolia and is generally not preferred for fine aromatherapy, direct inhalation, or culinary use. It's excellent for soaps, detergents, cleaners, and industrial fragrances.

• Best Cultivars for Oil Production:

  • 'Grosso': The most widely planted lavandin for essential oil production globally. Known for its extremely high yield and strong fragrance.

  • 'Phenomenal': An increasingly popular choice due to its exceptional vigor, cold hardiness (Zone 5), and excellent tolerance to heat and humidity, making it reliable in more challenging climates. High yield.

  • 'Provence': Another high-yielding lavandin that performs well in many regions, including those with some humidity.

  • 'Gros Bleu' / 'Super': These can offer a slightly sweeter, less camphoraceous aroma for a lavandin, but still distinct from L. angustifolia.

3. For Specific Climates & Different Oil Profiles:

• Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas):

  • Ideal Climate: Very heat and drought tolerant (Zones 7-10), thriving in Mediterranean-like climates.

  • Oil Quality: The oil is high in camphor and fenchone, giving it a strong, medicinal, or eucalyptus-like scent. Not typically used in traditional aromatherapy or culinary applications.

• French Lavender (Lavandula dentata):

  • Ideal Climate: Good heat tolerance (Zones 8-11).

  • Oil Quality: Oil contains significant amounts of 1,8-cineole and camphor, with a herbaceous but not sweet aroma.

Overall Recommendation:

For essential oil production primarily for aromatherapy, fine fragrance, or culinary applications, and assuming your climate supports it (temperate, dry summers, cold winters, excellent drainage), True Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) cultivars like 'Maillette', 'Vera', 'Folgate', 'Hidcote', and 'Munstead' are the best choices. These yield the highest quality, most versatile oil.

If your priority is maximum yield and robustness for products where a strong, herbaceous, camphoraceous scent is acceptable (or even desired), and you're in a more challenging climate, then Lavandin hybrids like 'Grosso' and 'Phenomenal' are superior.

Always ensure full sun, excellent drainage, and good air circulation for any lavender grown outdoors for essential oil, as these factors significantly impact plant health and oil quality.