Can You Plant Different Types Of Lavender Together

Yes, you can plant different types of lavender together, and doing so is actually a fantastic way to create a vibrant, multi-textured, and fragrant garden display.
 
When you plant different lavender varieties side by side, they will happily coexist as long as you respect their shared love for full sun, excellent drainage, and alkaline soil.
 
You can plant different types of lavender together without worrying about them fighting for resources, because most lavender species have remarkably similar cultural needs.
 
The real question isn’t whether you can plant different types of lavender together, but rather how to choose varieties that bloom in harmony and thrive in your specific climate.
 
In this post, we’ll explore why you can plant different lavender types together, the best combinations to try, and the few simple rules to follow for success.
 
Let’s dig into the wonderful world of mixed lavender beds.
 

Why You Can Plant Different Lavender Types Together

You can plant different types of lavender together because they share the same botanical family and generally require identical growing conditions.
 
The main reason gardeners hesitate is the fear of cross-pollination or one variety overpowering another, but neither of these concerns will ruin your garden.
 
Let’s break down the benefits and the science behind planting different lavenders in one space.
 

1. Shared Growing Requirements Make Mixing Easy

When you plant different lavender types together, you’re working with plants that all crave the same things: at least six hours of direct sunlight, gritty or sandy soil, and infrequent watering.
 
English lavender, French lavender, and Spanish lavender all originate from the Mediterranean region, so their roots are wired to handle dry, rocky terrain.
 
This means you can plant different lavender species together in the same bed without creating microclimates that favor one over the other.
 
The only real consideration is hardiness, as English lavender tolerates colder winters while French lavender prefers milder zones, but you can still plant them together if your climate suits both.
 

2. Extended Bloom Time with Mixed Varieties

If you plant different types of lavender together, you can dramatically extend your flowering season from early spring all the way into late summer.
 
English lavender typically blooms in early to midsummer, while French lavender starts earlier and repeats blooms into fall.
 
By combining early, mid, and late bloomers, you ensure that your lavender bed always has color and pollinators buzzing around.
 
This staggered blooming is one of the biggest aesthetic rewards when you plant different lavender types together in clusters.
 

3. Cross-Pollination Isn’t a Problem for Gardeners

Many gardeners worry that if you plant different lavender types together, they’ll cross-pollinate and produce hybrid seeds that lose their parent characteristics.
 
While bees can indeed transfer pollen between varieties, the resulting seeds won’t affect the plants you’re currently growing.
 
Your existing lavender bushes will keep their exact color and fragrance, since cross-pollination only impacts the next generation grown from seed.
 
If you plan to collect seeds, you might get surprises, but for ornamental and culinary use, you can plant different lavender types together without any worries.
 

Best Combinations When You Plant Different Lavender Types Together

Now that we’ve established you can plant different types of lavender together, let’s talk about which pairings look stunning and perform well.
 
The key is to mix heights, flower colors, and foliage tones to create depth and visual interest throughout the growing season.
 
Here are some proven combinations that thrive when planted side by side.
 

1. English Lavender with French Lavender

If you live in a zone where both can survive winter, pairing English lavender (like ‘Hidcote’ or ‘Munstead’) with French lavender (like ‘Provence’) is a classic choice.
 
English lavender offers deep purple, tight spikes, while French lavender provides lighter, airier blooms with distinctive “rabbit ear” bracts at the top.
 
This contrast in flower shape adds incredible texture, and you can plant different types of lavender together in this combo to enjoy two different scents as well.
 
Just ensure your soil is extra gritty, as French lavender hates wet feet even more than its English cousin.
 

2. Spanish Lavender with English Lavender

Spanish lavender stands out with its chunky, pineapple-shaped flower heads and tufted top petals that look like little rabbit ears.
 
When you plant different types of lavender together like Spanish and English, you create a playful contrast between the round, dense Spanish blooms and the slim, elegant English spikes.
 
Spanish lavender is more heat-tolerant, so place it in the sunniest, driest corner of your bed, and it will reward you with early spring color.
 
This pairing works beautifully in containers too, so you can plant different lavender types together in pots for a movable display.
 

3. White and Pink Lavender for a Soft Palette

Most people think lavender only comes in shades of purple, but you can plant different types of lavender together that include white, pink, or even blue-purple cultivars.
 
Varieties like ‘Melissa’ (white) or ‘Rosea’ (pink) mix wonderfully with classic purple ‘Royal Velvet’ to soften the overall look of your garden.
 
If you plant different lavender types together in this way, you’ll create a pastel dream that attracts a wide range of pollinators.
 
The aromatic oils remain just as potent in these colored varieties, so you don’t sacrifice scent for aesthetics.
 

Simple Rules to Follow When You Plant Different Types of Lavender Together

To get the best results, a few practical guidelines will help your mixed lavender bed flourish without issues.
 
Following these rules ensures that no variety gets shaded, overwatered, or crowded by its neighbors.
 

1. Give Each Plant Its Own Space

Even though you plant different lavender types together, they still need proper spacing based on their mature width.
 
Most lavenders spread two to three feet, so place them at least two feet apart to allow airflow and prevent fungal diseases.
 
Dwarf varieties like ‘Thumbelina Leigh’ can be planted closer, around 12 to 18 inches apart.
 
Crowded lavender leads to poor circulation, which is the fastest way to invite root rot and powdery mildew.
 

2. Match Hardiness Zones to Avoid Winter Loss

Before you plant different lavender types together, check each variety’s zone rating to ensure they can all survive your winters.
 
English lavender is hardy to zone 5, French lavender only survives zone 8 or warmer, and Spanish lavender sits in between around zone 7.
 
If you live in a colder region, focus on mixing different English lavender cultivars rather than trying to overwinter French types outdoors.
 
Alternatively, you can plant different lavender types together in pots and move the tender ones indoors during freezing months.
 

3. Prepare a Raised Bed or Slope for Drainage

The number one killer of lavender is overly moist soil, so design your bed with drainage in mind.
 
You can plant different lavender types together in a raised bed or on a gentle slope where excess water runs off quickly.
 
Amend your native soil with coarse sand or gravel before planting, and avoid rich compost that holds too much moisture.
 
Once established, lavender prefers dry, lean conditions, so resist the urge to fertilize or water frequently.
 

So, Can You Plant Different Types of Lavender Together?

Yes, you can plant different types of lavender together, and the results can be truly spectacular when you follow a few basic principles.
 
You can plant different lavender types together to extend your bloom season, create visual contrast, and even boost pollination in your garden.
 
The shared Mediterranean heritage of all lavender species means they naturally get along, as long as you give them full sun, sharp drainage, and room to breathe.
 
So go ahead and mix English with French, or blend white and purple cultivars, because you can plant different types of lavender together without fear.
 
Just remember to check your hardiness zone, space each plant generously, and keep the soil on the dry side, and your mixed lavender bed will thrive for years.
 
Happy planting, and enjoy the stunning tapestry of colors and scents that only a diverse lavender border can bring to your garden.