Common Name: French Lavender

General Information

Lavandula stoechas is a spreading evergreen shrub with ascending stems; it usually grows around 20 - 50cm tall, occasionally reaching 70cm[].
The plant is rich in essential oils and has a long history of human use. It is utilized through much of the Mediterranean as a medicine, as a flavouring in traditional foods and herbal teas, and for use in cosmetics etc. The plant is occasionally cultivated for its essential oil, it is used as a pioneer in reforestation and is often grown as an ornamental.
Lavandula stoechas is a Mediterranean plant that is often a pioneer of disturbed or recently burnt sites. It grows well in other mediterranean climates, too well in some areas, and has been declared a prescribed weed in Victoria, Australia[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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Range

Mediterranean - Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Morocco, Algeria Tunisia, Turkey, Lebanon-Syria, Palestine

Habitat

Dry hills, garigue and open woods on limestone and granite soils; at elevations from sea level to 1,000 metres, occasionally to 1,350 metres[, ].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.75 m
Pollinators	Bees, Lepidoptera
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Lavandula stoechas is native to dry hills in Mediterranean climates and does not enjoy moist maritime climates. It is not very cold-hardy, in drier climates it will generally tolerate short periods with temperatures falling to around -5 or even -10°c[], though is less hardy in moister conditions.
The plant is often found on calcareous soils in the wild, but in cultivation it can succeed in almost any soil so long as it is well-drained[, , ]. Prefers a sunny position in a neutral to alkaline soil[, ], growing well on chalk[]. When grown in rich soils the plants tend to produce more leaves but less essential oils[]. Grows well in a hot dry position[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[]. 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[].
Plants are not very long-lived and soon become straggly unless pruned. Any trimming of the plant 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[].
Polymorphic[].
A good bee plant, proving an excellent source of nectar with the flowers also attracting butterflies and moths[, ]. The flowering spike has showy infertile flowers to attract insects at the top of the stem and small fertile flowers beneath[].
A good companion for most plants[], growing well with cabbages[].

Edible Uses

Leaves and flowering stems - used as a flavouring in couscous and various other traditional dishes in N. Africa[].

Medicinal

French lavender has similar medicinal properties to common lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). It yields more essential oil than that species but is of inferior quality[].

The flowers, and the essential oil derived from them, are analgesic, antiasthmatic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, digestive, expectorant, resolvent, sedative, stimulant and tonic[, , , , ]. It is used internally to treat various conditions including a range of digestive problems such as colic and nausea, to treat various diseases of the central nervous system including epilepsy and migraine[, ].
Externally, the essential oil, or a wash made from an infusion of the plant, is used as an antiseptic to treat skin problems, wounds, ulcers, sores etc; as well as to treat conditions such as rheumatism. The oil is also added to olive oil and used as a relaxing oil for massage[, , ].

In trials, the plant has been shown to have effective activity as an antiinflammatory, antimicrobial, antispasmodic and sedative; and moderate activity as an antioxidant[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is recommended as a pioneer species on hillsides in Cyprus, where it stabilizes the soil and also allows tree species to re-establish through it[].

Other Uses

An essential oil is obtained from the flowers, leaves and flowering stems. The constituents of the oil vary from region to region, but the main constituents are fenchone and camphor, these two often comprisong more than 50% of the total. The oil is used for many purposes including soap making, perfumery, medicinal etc[, , ]. The shoots and leaves have a curious somewhat pine-like odour when crushed[].
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[].

The aromatic leaves and flowers are used in pot-pourri, as an insect repellent in the linen cupboard etc[, , ]. They are also used as a strewing herb in churches etc[].

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[].

The woody stems are a high quality fuel, used to heat ovens[].

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.