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Common Name: Lavender

General Information

Lavandula x intermedia is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 1.20 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

A hybrid species of garden origin, L. angustifolia x L. latifolia.

Habitat

Not known in the wild,

Properties

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

Cultivation Details

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[].
Plants are hardy to between -10 and -15°c[].
Lavender 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, L. angustifolia and L. 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[, , ].
Lavender makes a good companion for most plants[], growing especially well with cabbages[].

Edible Uses

The following uses are for L. 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

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

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

Other Uses

The following uses are for the closely related L. 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[].
Can be grown as a low hedge, responding well to trimming[].

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. This species is a hybrid and will not come true from seed.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood 7 - 10cm with a heel, mid summer in a frame. Usually very east, 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.