Feathery silvery foliage and delicate purple blooms make this a lavender for folks who want something different from the sturdy English types. Pinnata has a softer, more refined look—narrow leaves that give it an almost fern-like character—and it'll perform well in our dry season heat if you give it sharp drainage and don't overwater.

Set it out after the last cold snap in a sunny spot with gritty or sandy soil. It's tender, so treat it as an annual here, but you'll have weeks of airy color and foliage that smells as good as it looks.