Provence is a lavandin-type lavender grown in France for its scent, and it is among the better lavenders for the humid South. Long stems carry violet flower spikes above silvery, aromatic evergreen foliage in summer, and both dry beautifully for sachets and bundles.

In Birmingham, drainage decides everything with lavender. Plant it in full sun in gritty, amended soil, a raised bed, or a container, and skip heavy bark mulch; gravel around the crown works better. Water sparingly once established. Shear lightly after bloom to keep the plant dense, and never cut into bare wood.