Salvia vs lavender
Garden salvia and lavender both make spikes of violet in early summer, and they are easily confused in pictures. Lavender is a small evergreen shrub with scented grey leaves; it needs lean, sharply drained soil and dies in wet winters. Salvia 'May Night' dies to the ground each winter, grows in ordinary soil, flowers a few weeks earlier, and flowers again if the spent spikes are cut off. Where lavender keeps dying, salvia is the plant to try.
 Salvia 'May Night'Salvia nemorosa 'Mainacht' |  English lavender 'Hidcote'Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote' | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 24 in tall, 18 in wide | 18 in tall, 18 in wide |
| Plant | 18 in apart | 18 in apart |
| Zones | 4 to 8 | 5 to 8 |
| Light | Full sun | Full sun |
| Soil | Well-drained, average fertility | Dry and sharply drained, lean fertility |
| Flowers | Late May to mid July; purple | Late June to late July; purple |
| Leaves | Medium, herbaceous | Fine, evergreen |
| Job in a bed | Drift | Edging |
| Pets | No toxicity recorded | Toxic (mild) |
| Deer | Resistant | Not listed as resistant |
| Native | No | No |
| Spread | Low risk | Low risk |
Rows where they differ are marked. Flowering times are for zone 5.
Which to choose
- Choose salvia 'May Night' for colder gardens (to zone 4), a garden with pets, deer country and more wildlife.
- Choose English lavender 'Hidcote' for leaves in winter.
Can they grow together?
Yes: they grow in the same conditions. What English lavender 'Hidcote' brings beside salvia 'May Night': in flower together for four weeks, from late June; a low mound at the foot of its spires. They share full sun and zones 5 to 8.
Read more: all about salvia 'May Night', and all about English lavender 'Hidcote', each with a bed the planner designed around it.