Also called Lavandin, which sounds better than 'Grosso.' This is the most fragrant of all Lavenders and the one most often used for scenting perfumes and sachets. In addition to outstanding fragrance, it is remarkable for its abundance of exceptionally long spikes of deep violet flowers that stand well above the compact foliage. Grows 24in high and makes a magnificent edging along a walk.

Many gardeners grow Lavender for its fragrance, but the genus includes several excellent garden plants that should be more widely used for their midsummer beauty and resistance to heat and drought. The cool, gray-green foliage provides a perfect backdrop for the slender, arching flower stems. Some varieties are small, others tall, but they all prefer well-drained, sweet soil and full sun. Plant them in masses or form them into small hedges, and you'll find that they are attractive and useful long after the spent flowers have been clipped off.

Lavenders thrive in the arid West but are best treated as annuals or grown in fast-draining containers in the South.