• English Lavender (Lavender angustifolia) preferred by many for their aroma and for culinary purposes. English lavender tends to be shorter, more compact and earlier blooming than the Lavandins. Most common angustifolias are: Hidcote, Melissa, Royal Velvet, Buena Vista, Martha Roderick, Lady, Irene Doyle, Blue Cushion, Jean Davis, and Sachet.
• Lavandin (Lavender intermedia), a hybrid formed by combining L. angustifolia with L. latifolia, are the most common, predictable and hardy of all the lavenders. Lavandins produce long-stemmed flower with thick flower spikes and often two secondary flower clusters below the primary one. They are used for u-cut, are used in crafts and for oil production, although the oil tends to be more camphoraceous than L. angustifolia oil. Some common L. intermedias are: Grosso, Provence, Seal, Dutch, Super, Fred Boutin, and White Spike.
• Spanish Lavender (Lavender stoechas) although showy with “rabbits’ ears” on top, is more tender than English or Lavandins and tends to sprawl. It is grown as a landscape plant and not for crafting or oil use.

Tips on Growing Lavender.
Lavenders will thrive in most soils keeping these factors in mind:

• They need good drainage. Banks or slopes are great places for lavenders or if in flat places, create mounds.
• They have full sun
• Gritty or sandy loam is best, but lavenders will do well in clay if the site is amended with sand & lime or bone meal to increase pH level
• Pruning is critical! Plants must be pruned ½ to 2/3’s of the growth preferably in the fall.
  
  Source: Growing Lavender and Community on the Sequim Prairie:A How-to and History, by Betty Oppenheimer