Lavandula stoechas

Lavandula stoechas, often called French or Spanish lavender, is distinguished by its compact purple flower spikes topped with prominent, tufted 'rabbit ear' bracts. English lavender, on the other hand, features longer, unbranched flower spikes and is generally more cold-hardy than the Mediterranean Lavandula stoechas.

Because Lavandula stoechas is a Mediterranean native, it requires full sun and exceptionally well-draining soil to prevent root rot. You should also prune the shrub heavily after its first bloom to encourage a second flush of those distinctive purple flowers.

Lavandula stoechas contains compounds like linalool that can be mildly toxic to cats and dogs if ingested in large quantities. While the aromatic shrub is generally safe to keep in the garden, you should prevent pets from chewing on the leaves or flower spikes.

Lavandula stoechas is most commonly referred to as French lavender or Spanish lavender in gardening circles. It is also sometimes called Italian lavender or butterfly lavender due to the distinctive wing-like appearance of its tufted bracts.