Common Name: Lavender

General Information

Lavandula angustifolia is an evergreen shrub usually growing up to 60cm tall, occasionally to 120cm[]. The plant forms a distinct woody base that persists and producing annual flowering stems up to 45cm tall[].
Lavandula angustifolia is a commercially important and highly aromatic shrub that is cultivated for its flowers, which are used for the production of an essential oil for aromatherapy, perfumery, food flavouring, medicinal use etc. It is also grown widely in the garden as a medicinal herb, as a low hedge, and for its horticultural value. There are many named forms, mainly developed for horticulture but also others for their oil production.
Lavandula angustifolia has a wide distribution, a presumed large overall population, and a lack of any significant threats The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].
The plant is often grown as an ornamental and medicinal herb. It has escaped from cultivation and become naturalized in many parts of Europe, N. Africa, Venezuela and eastern N. America[]

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Southern Europe - Spain, France, Ialy.

Habitat

Dry grassy slopes amongst rocks[], in exposed, usually parched, hot rocky situations often on calcareous soils; at elevations up to 1,800 metres[, ].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.50 m
Pollinators	Bees, Lepidoptera
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Lavandula angustifolia is a moderately cold-hardy plant, being able to tolerate temperatures down to between -10 and -15°c[].
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[]. Plants are 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[].
Lavender is a very ornamental plant that is often grown in the herb garden and is also grown commercially for its essential oil[, ], though many of the commercial varieties are results of hybridisation with Lavendula 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[].

Edible Uses

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

Lavender is a commonly used household herb, though it is better known for its sweet-scented aroma than for its medicinal qualities[]. However, it is an important relaxing herb, having a soothing and relaxing affect upon the nervous system[]. The flowering spikes can be dried and used internally in a tincture, though the extracted essential oil is more commonly used. The essential oil is much more gentle in its action than most other essential oils and can be safely applied direct to the skin as an antiseptic to help heal wounds, burns etc[].

An essential oil obtained from the flowers is antihalitosis, powerfully antiseptic, antiinflammatory, 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[]
The oil's antiseptic and antiinflammatory properties make it an excellent choice when treating all types of external injuries and infections. It is very useful in the treatment of burns, sunburn, scalds, bites, acne, eczema, spots, sores, ulcers, vaginal discharge, anal fissure etc, where it also soothes the affected part of the body and can prevent the formation of permanent scar tissue[, , ]. The oil is also 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 powerful antiseptic properties are able to kill many of the common bacteria such as typhoid, diphtheria, streptococcus and Pneumococcus, as well as being a powerful antidote to some snake venoms[].

The essential oil is used in aromatherapy. Its keyword is 'Immune system'[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Lavender can be grown as a low hedge, responding well to trimming[]. There are several varieties, such as 'Hidcote Variety', 'Loddon Pink' and 'Folgate Blue' that are suitable for using as dwarf hedges 30 - 50cm tall[].
A good bee plant, also attracting butterflies and moths[, , ].
Lavender makes a good companion for most plants[], growing especially well with cabbages[].

Other Uses

The essential oil that is obtained from the flowers is of very high quality, it is colourless, sweet and free from camphor. Considered to be the finest quality lavender essential oil, it is exquisitely scented and has a very wide range of applications, both in the home and commercially. It is more expensive to produce than lavandin oil from Lavandula x intermedia, so its use is often reserved for making higher quality products including perfumes, colognes and cosmetic products such as lotions[]. It is also used as a detergent and cleaning agent, a food flavouring etc[, , , , ] and as an insect repellent[]. The essential oil is an effective inhibitor of hydrochloric acid corrosion when coated over steel[]. When growing the plant for its essential oil content, it is best to harvest the flowering stems as soon as the flowers have faded[]. Yields of 0.8 - 1% of the oil are obtained[].

The aromatic leaves and flowers are used in pot-pourri[] and as an insect repellent in the linen cupboard etc[, , ]. They have been used in the past as a strewing herb in order to impart a sweet smell to rooms and to deter insects[]. The leaves are also added to bath water for their fragrance and therapeutic properties[]. 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 - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed[]. 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.