Lavender for Zone 5

Does Lavender need a lot of sun? How does it do in sandy soil? I'm in zone 5 - any type you would recommend over others?

Lavender originates from the Mediterranean and therefore loves lots of sun. It also needs a sandy soil which is not too rich and contains a bit of lime.
In zone 5 you can grow all of the English lavenders, but lady lavender might winterkill in severe winters. Of the other species, grosso and provence lavenders should overwinter satisfactorily too. Winter mulch the plants to increase survival.