Start with the place
Lavender generally needs full sun and soil that drains freely. A promising planting begins with observing the site through watering and rain, rather than choosing plants by flower color alone. Newly planted lavender needs attention to watering while roots establish; drought tolerance does not mean a new plant can be left without care.
Choose for the purpose
A garden for flowers, a source of dried bundles, and a planting intended for distillation may call for different choices. Write the intended use first. Then compare named cultivars, mature size, local winter conditions, and the space available. A small trial can reveal more than a large purchase made too early.
Keep a planting record
Record the botanical name and cultivar, supplier, planting date, location, spacing, and watering observations. Photographs from the same position make changes easier to notice. Record what struggled as carefully as what flourished.
Bring these questions
How much direct sun reaches the site? Where does water collect? What are the winter lows? Is the goal a personal garden, flowers, or a crop? These details make a conversation with an experienced grower more useful.
Further reading: Iowa State University Extension: plant selection and establishment. Regional advice should be adapted to local conditions.