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Yes, you can plant English and French lavender together, and it’s actually a fantastic pairing for any garden.
Planting English and French lavender together works beautifully because they share similar sunlight, soil, and watering needs, even though their appearances differ slightly.
When you plant English and French lavender together, you get a stunning mix of fragrances, bloom times, and colors that can extend your garden’s visual appeal for months.
In this post, we’ll explore why you can plant English and French lavender together, how to set them up for success, and the few differences you’ll want to manage along the way.
Let’s dig into this fragrant adventure so your garden thrives with both lavender types side by side.
Why You Can Plant English And French Lavender Together
You can plant English and French lavender together because their core cultural requirements are nearly identical, which makes co-planting straightforward.
Both species are Mediterranean natives that crave full sun, excellent drainage, and alkaline to neutral soil conditions.
When you plant English and French lavender together, you’re not forcing incompatible plants into one bed, you’re actually mimicking their natural shared habitat.
The key is understanding that “English” and “French” are just common names, and both belong to the same lavender family, so their needs align more than they differ.
Let’s break down the specific reasons why planting English and French lavender together is a smart, rewarding choice for your landscape.
1. Similar Sunlight Requirements
Both English lavender and French lavender demand at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight every single day.
If you plant English and French lavender together in a sunny spot, they’ll both receive the same intense light levels without one overshadowing the other.
This shared sunlight need means you can plant English and French lavender together in a single row or cluster without worrying about one species shading its neighbor.
The more sun they both get, the more aromatic oils they produce, which makes your whole garden smell incredible.
So when you’re choosing a location to plant English and French lavender together, look for the brightest, most open area you have available.
2. Identical Soil Drainage Preferences
The single most important factor when you plant English and French lavender together is providing sharp, fast-draining soil.
Both types despise wet feet, and soggy roots are the number one killer of lavender in home gardens.
You can plant English and French lavender together in raised beds, sandy loam, or even gravel-rich soil, and they’ll both flourish happily.
If your native soil is heavy clay, amend it with coarse sand or grit before you plant English and French lavender together to prevent waterlogging.
Remember, both species prefer a soil pH between 6.5 and 7.5, so a simple test can help you adjust conditions before planting.
3. Matching Watering Needs
When you plant English and French lavender together, you’ll be relieved to know that both require the same infrequent, deep watering routine.
After establishment, both English and French lavender are drought-tolerant and only need water during extended dry spells.
This means you can plant English and French lavender together and water them on the same schedule without worrying about overdoing it for one type.
Let the soil dry out completely between waterings, and you’ll keep both plants happy and healthy.
Overwatering is the only real risk, so err on the side of too little moisture rather than too much for both species.
What To Know Before You Plant English And French Lavender Together
While you can plant English and French lavender together easily, there are a few subtle differences to keep in mind so both thrive long-term.
Neither plant will suffer from being neighbors, but understanding their quirks helps you manage expectations for growth and appearance.
Let’s look at the key differences that matter when you plant English and French lavender together in your garden beds.
1. Hardiness Zone Variations
English lavender is the hardier of the two, surviving winters down to USDA zone 5, which means it can handle frost and freezing temperatures.
French lavender, on the other hand, is only reliably perennial in zones 8 through 11, so it won’t survive harsh northern winters outdoors.
If you live in a colder zone and want to plant English and French lavender together, you’ll need to grow French lavender in a container that you can move indoors.
This doesn’t mean you can’t plant English and French lavender together; it just means you’ll have to plan for winter protection for the French variety.
Alternatively, in mild climates, you can plant English and French lavender together directly in the ground and enjoy both year after year.
2. Bloom Time Differences
Another bonus when you plant English and French lavender together is that their flowering periods overlap and extend the season nicely.
English lavender blooms in late spring to early summer, producing those iconic, tightly packed flower spikes on tall stems.
French lavender flowers later, from midsummer into fall, with looser, fatter blooms topped by distinctive “rabbit ear” bracts.
So when you plant English and French lavender together, you’ll get a continuous wave of color from late spring all the way through autumn.
This staggered blooming means your garden never looks empty, and pollinators will visit all season long.
3. Fragrance and Foliage Contrasts
English lavender is prized for its sweet, classic perfume that’s often used in oils, soaps, and sachets.
French lavender has a sharper, more camphor-like aroma that’s stronger and less sweet, but still highly pleasant in the garden.
When you plant English and French lavender together, you create a sensory experience where both scents mingle beautifully in the air.
The foliage also differs: English lavender has narrow, gray-green leaves, while French lavender features broader, slightly toothed leaves that are greener.
This visual contrast is part of the charm when you plant English and French lavender together, as the varied textures add depth to your borders.
Best Practices For Planting English And French Lavender Together
To get the most out of your lavender companion planting, follow a few simple spacing and care tips from day one.
You can plant English and French lavender together successfully whether you’re using nursery starts, cuttings, or seeds.
Here’s how to set both types up for long-term health and beauty in the same planting area.
1. Space Them Properly
Give each plant at least 24 to 36 inches of space so air circulates freely around the foliage and roots.
When you plant English and French lavender together, remember that lavender hates humidity trapped between crowded plants.
Proper spacing reduces the chance of fungal diseases like root rot or leaf spot affecting your lavender.
If you’re planting a border, alternate English and French lavender varieties to create a lovely mixed pattern.
The mature heights are similar, so you won’t have one towering over the other as they grow.
2. Prune Both Equally
Pruning keeps lavender bushy, vigorous, and prevents woody, leggy growth over time.
When you plant English and French lavender together, plan to prune both in early spring as new growth appears.
Cut back about one-third of the green growth, but never cut into old, bare wood because lavender won’t regrow from there.
After the first flush of blooms fades, give both plants a light shearing to encourage a second round of flowers.
This uniform pruning routine keeps your mixed lavender bed looking tidy and full season after season.
3. Mulch With Grit, Not Organic Matter
Skip wood chips or bark mulch, which can retain too much moisture around the crown of your lavender plants.
Instead, surround your lavender with a layer of small gravel, pebbles, or crushed stone to keep the soil dry and warm.
This practice is especially helpful when you plant English and French lavender together in regions with wet summers.
Grit mulch also reflects sunlight up onto the lower leaves, which helps with airflow and reduces humidity.
Your lavender will thank you by staying green and productive for many years.
Can You Plant English And French Lavender Together For Long-Term Success?
Yes, you can plant English and French lavender together for long-term success if you account for their hardiness differences upfront.
Both species are low-maintenance, deer-resistant, and attract beneficial pollinators like bees and butterflies.
You can plant English and French lavender together as a fragrant hedge, a rock garden centerpiece, or a border along paths and patios.
The visual combination of English’s compact spikes and French’s playful bracts creates a dynamic, ever-changing display.
Just remember that French lavender may need extra winter care in colder zones, while English lavender can stay put outside.
With a sunny site, sandy soil, and minimal water, you can plant English and French lavender together and enjoy a thriving, aromatic garden.
So go ahead and plant both varieties side by side, your garden will be richer for it, and you’ll love the results.