Three lavender families

English lavender (L. angustifolia): hardy, sweet-scented, classic; e.g. 'Hidcote' (deep purple), 'Munstead'.

French / Spanish (L. stoechas): the 'butterfly' lavender with showy bracts on top; less hardy, earlier flowering.

Lavandin (L. × intermedia): big, late, blousy; 'Grosso' is the perfumery standard. Less hardy than English types.