Common Name: Lavandin

General Information

Lavandula x intermedia is a spreading, evergreen shrub that usually grows around 80 - 140cm tall, occasionally to 170cm. It is usually around 90 - 120cm wide, though it can be up to 250cm[].
This natural hybrid is extensively cultivated and, in its various forms, is probably the most commonly grown lavender species, both commercially for its essential oil and also as a garden ornamental and medicinal plant. It is the source of lavendin essential oil, which is extensively used in perfumery, as a fragrance in many products and for many other purposes. The oil contains camphor and is considered inferior to the lavender oil obtained from Lavandula angustifolia, but the plants are much more productive and the essential oil is cheaper to produce. Lavandula angustifolia oil is preferred for higher grade perfumery and for medicinal purposes[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Southwest Europe - northeast Spain, southeast France. A natural hybrid, Lavandula angustifolia x Lavandula latifolia.

Habitat

Harsh and arid habitats on calcareous substrates that do not support dense vegetation; at elevations from 250 - 1,000 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	1.20 m
Pollinators	Bees, Lepidoptera
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Lavandula x intermedia is a fairly cold-hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to between -10 and -15°c so long as it has enjoyed a sunny summer[].
Succeeds in almost any soil so long as it is well-drained and not too acid[, ]. Prefers a sunny position in a neutral to alkaline soil[, , ]. Prefers a light warm dry soil[]. When grown in rich soils the plants tend to produce more leaves but less essential oils[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[]. Very tolerant of salt wind exposure[]. When growing for maximum essential oil content, the plant must be given a very warm sunny position and will do best in a light sandy soil, the fragrance being especially pronounced in a chalky soil[].
Lavendin is a very ornamental plant that is often grown in the herb garden and is also grown commercially for its essential oil[, ]. This species is a very variable hybrid between the two main species of lavender, Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula latifolia[], There are several named varieties[, ].
Not a very long-lived plant, it can be trimmed to keep it tidy but is probably best replaced every 10 years[]. Any trimming is best done in spring and should not be done in the autumn since this can encourage new growth that will not be very cold-hardy[].
A good bee plant, also attracting butterflies and moths[, , ].
Lavendin makes a good companion for most plants[], growing especially well with cabbages[].

Edible Uses

The following uses are for Lavandula angustifolia, they should also apply to this hybrid:-

Leaves, petals and flowering tips - raw. Used as a condiment in salads, soups, stews etc[, , ]. They provide a very aromatic flavour[] and are too strong to be used in any quantity[].

The fresh or dried flowers are used as a tea[]. The fresh flowers are also crystallized or added to jams, ice-creams, vinegars etc as a flavouring[].

An essential oil from the flowers is used as a food flavouring[].

Medicinal

Lavandula x intermedia produces an essential oil that can be used medicinally, having many of the same properties as Lavandula angustifolia. However, the essental oil contains camphor and is considered to be inferior to Lavandula angustifolia[].
The following uses are for Lavandula angustifolia:-

Lavender is a commonly used household herbal remedy. An essential oil obtained from the flowers is antihalitosis, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aromatic, carminative, cholagogue, diuretic, nervine, sedative, stimulant, stomachic and tonic[, , , , , ]. It is not often used internally, though it is a useful carminative and nervine[]. It is mainly used externally where it is an excellent restorative and tonic - when rubbed into the temples, for example, it can cure a nervous headache, and it is a delightful addition to the bath-water[]. Its antiseptic properties also make it useful in the treatment of burns, sunburn, scalds, bites, vaginal discharge, anal fissure etc, where it also soothes the affected part of the body and can prevent the formation of permanent scar tissue[, ].

Agroforestry Uses:

Plants can be grown as a low hedge, responding well to trimming[, ].

Other Uses

An essential oil, 'lavendin', is obtained from the flowering stems. The oil is pale yellow to almost colourless, with a strong herbaceous odou due to its content of camphorr[]. The oil is very wide list of applications including:- it is used to perfume soaps, hair shampoos, lotions etc and to make lower-grade perfumes; it is also used as a fragrance in many household products including polishes, candles and cleaning products; it is used in pot-pourri and, because it has insecticidal properties, it is used in linen cupboards to add its scent whilst deterring moths[].

The following uses are for the closely related Lavandula angustifolia, they should also apply to this hybrid:-

The essential oil that is obtained from the flowers is exquisitely scented and has a very wide range of applications, both in the home and commercially. It is commonly used in soap making, in making high quality perfumes (it is also used in 'Eau de Cologne'), it is also used as a detergent and cleaning agent, a food flavouring etc[, , , , ] and as an insect repellent[]. Yields of 0.8 - 1% of the oil are obtained[]. When growing the plant for its essential oil content, it is best to harvest the flowering stems as soon as the flowers have faded[].

The aromatic leaves and flowers are used in pot-pourri[] and as an insect repellent in the linen cupboard etc[, , ]. They are also said to repel mice[].

The flowering stems, once the flowers have been removed for use in pot-pourri etc, can be tied in small bundles and burnt as incense sticks[].

Propagation

Seed. This species is usually a sterile hybrid and does not produce seed. Very rarely, fertile forms arise and breeding efforts are underway to build on this[]. If seed is obtained, sow it in spring in a greenhouse and only just cover[]. It usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15°c. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for their first winter, planting them out in late spring after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood 7 - 10cm with a heel, mid summer in a frame. Usually very easy, a high percentage will root within a few weeks[]. Grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter and plant them out in late spring after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings 7cm with a heel succeed at almost any time of the year[].
Layering.