Common Name: Woolly Lavender

General Information

Lavandula lanata is an evergreen shrub usually growing around 45 - 100cm tall and about as much wide[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild and also cultivated on a garden scale for ornament and for the essential oil and its healing properties. The plant is said to be 'infinitely more fragrant, very much esteemed by the mountaineers for its medicinal virtues'[],
Lavandula lanata is widespread with a stable and abundant population, The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Europe - southern Spain

Habitat

Dry, calcareous mountain slopes, rocky areas, grasslands and open pine woodland; at elevations up to 1,800 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.50 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Lavandula lanata is a plant of a dry climate in the sub-alpine zone at elevations up to 1,800 metres. It is found on very well-drained calcareous slopes in southern Spain. It does not tolerate wet climates, where it will not be very winter-hardy, probably surviving short periods with temperatures down to around -5°c. It will tolerate rather lower temperatures in a drier climate[].
In moist temperate climates the plant requires a sheltered, sunny position in a very well-drained, preferably calcareous soil[]. Established plants are very drought tolerant.
Plants dislike being transplanted
The whole plant, even the spikes and peduncles, has a soft, velvety texture and a unique fragrance

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The essential oil of the plant is used in popular medicine because of its anti-common cold, anti-rheumatic, and antiseptic properties[].

Other Uses

A chemical study of the essential oil from specimens of this plant, collected in the Serranía de Ronda (Málaga, Spain), showed that lavandulol, together with camphor, is one of the major components of the essential oil[].
Lavandulol is highly valued in perfumery, where it is used as an additive in various formulations. It is usually only found as a small proportion of essential oils (with the noted exception of Tanacetum gracile from the Himalayas, where its reaches 21.5%). For this reason, the industrial production of lavandulol is usually carried out synthetically[]. However, the essential oil harvested from the flowers of Lavandula lanata growing wild show a lavandulol content ranging from 18.2 - 39.8%. A study of the essential oil obtained from cultivated plants also showed a high content of lavandulol (35%) and camphor (38.2%). These results are comparable to those obtained from wild plants, and indicate that this plant can be used as a renewable source of lavandulol[].

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.