''Lavandula angustifolia'', formerly ''L. officinalis'', is a flowering plant in the family

Lamiaceae The Lamiaceae ( ) or Labiatae are a family of flowering plants commonly known as the mint, deadnettle or sage family. Many of the plants are aromatic in all parts and include widely used culinary herbs like basil, mint, rosemary, sage, savory ...

, native to the Mediterranean (Spain, France, Italy, Croatia etc.). Its common names include lavender, true lavender and English lavender (though not native to England); also garden lavender, common lavender and narrow-leaved lavender.

Description

It is a strongly aromatic

shrub A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...

growing as high as tall. The

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

are evergreen, long, and broad. The flowers are pinkish-purple (lavender-coloured), produced on spikes long at the top of slender, leafless stems long.

Etymology

The species name ''angustifolia'' is Latin for "narrow leaf". Previously, it was known as ''Lavandula officinalis'', referring to its medicinal properties.

Cultivation

English lavender is commonly grown as an ornamental plant. It is popular for its colourful flowers, its fragrance, and its ability to survive with low water consumption. It does not grow well in continuously damp soil and may benefit from increased drainage provided by inorganic mulches such as gravel. It does best in Mediterranean climates similar to its native habitat, characterised by wet winters and dry summers. It is fairly tolerant of low temperatures and is generally considered hardy to USDA zone 5.''USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map''
. Retrieved on 2008-05-22. It tolerates acid soils but favours neutral to alkaline soils, and in some conditions it may be short-lived.

Cultivars

AGM cultivars

The following

cultivars A cultivar is a type of Horticulture, cultivated plant that people have selected for desired phenotypic trait, traits and when Plant propagation, propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and st ...

of ''L. angustifolia'' and its hybrids have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's

Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established annual award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. History The Award of Garden Merit ...

:- *''L.'' × ''intermedia'' 'Alba' (large white) *''L. angustifolia'' 'Beechwood Blue' *''L. angustifolia'' 'Hidcote' *''L.'' × ''intermedia'' 'Hidcote Giant' *''L. angustifolia'' 'Imperial Gem' *''L. angustifolia'' ='Clarmo' *''L. angustifolia'' 'Miss Katherine' *''L. angustifolia'' ='Scholmis' *''L. angustifolia'' 'Nana Alba' (dwarf white) *''L.'' × ''intermedia'' ='Downoly' *''L'' × ''chaytoriae'' 'Richard Gray' *''L.'' × ''chaytoriae'' 'Sawyers' *''L.'' × ''intermedia'' 'Sussex'

Dwarf cultivars

Compacta, Folgate, Dwarf Blue, Dwarf White, Hidcote Pink, Hidcote Superior, Munstead, Nana Atropurpurea, Nana Rosea, Sarah, Summerland Supreme, Lady Lavender *'Hidcote Superior', a compact evergreen shrub 40 cm × 45 cm (16 in × 18 in) with fragrant gray-green foliage and deep violet-blue flowers in summer, prefers full sun, well drained soil, low water, hardy to −30 °C (−20 °F), western Mediterranean species *'Munstead' (syn. Dwarf Munstead, Munstead Blue and Munstead Variety)'' L. angustifolia'' variety, 30 cm (12 in) tall, having pink-purple to lavender-blue inflorescences that are slightly fragrant, named after Munstead Wood in Surrey, which was the home of

Gertrude Jekyll Gertrude Jekyll ( ; 29 November 1843 – 8 December 1932) was a British horticulturist, garden designer, craftswoman, photographer, writer and artist. She created over 400 gardens in the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States, and wrote ...

*'Sarah', grows to 15–60 cm (6–24 in), the flowers are petite, as is the plant, used as a short edging, or as a very fragrant addition to the window box, dark violet flowers *'Lady Lavender', grows to 45 cm (18 in), fragrant, gray-green foliage and lavender-blue flowers in summer, prefers full sun, well-drained soil, low water, hardy to −30 °C (–20 °F)

Semi-dwarf cultivars

Bowles Early, Hidcote Variety, Loddon Blue, Martha Roderick, Jean Davis, Twickle Purple, Pink Perfume *'Hidcote' (syn. Hidcote Variety, Hidcote Blue, Hidcote Purple)'' L. angustifolia'' variety. 40 to 50 cm (15 in to 20 in) tall, with silver-gray foliage and deep violet-blue inflorescences, named after Hidcote Manor in England as it was cultivated there by Lawrence Johnston *'Jean Davis' 50–60 cm (20–24 in) tall, up to 1 m (3 ft). A pale pink flowered lavender with exceptionally fruity taste *'Pink Perfume' 60 cm × 45 cm (24 in × 18 in)

Giant cultivars

Alba, Backhouse Purple, Biostos, Bridestowe, Graves, Gray Lady, Gwendolyn Anley, Hidcote Giant, Irene Doyle, Mailette, Middachten *'Hidcote Giant'. A Lavandula × intermedia lavandin. Very vigorous grower (90 to 100 cm; 36–40 in) with a lovely strong fragrance. This has large deep lavender-purple flowers on very long 60 cm (24 in) stems. *'Vera' 75 to 90 cm (30–36 in). Thought to be the original species lavender, harvested for its oil.

Uses

The flowers and leaves are used as a

herbal medicine Herbal medicine (also herbalism) is the study of pharmacognosy and the use of medicinal plants, which are a basis of traditional medicine. With worldwide research into pharmacology, some herbal medicines have been translated into modern remed ...

, either in the form of lavender oil or as a herbal tea, to alleviate symptoms such as anxiety, and difficulty falling asleep. The flowers are also used as a culinary herb, most often as part of the North American version of the French herb blend called '' herbes de Provence''. Lavender essential oil, when diluted with a carrier oil, is commonly used as a relaxant with massage therapy. Products for home use, such as lotions, eye pillows (including lavender flowers or the essential oil itself) and bath oils, etc., are also used. Both the petals and the oil are the most popular ingredients in handmade soap. Dried lavender flowers and lavender essential oil are also used as a prevention against clothing moths, which do not like their scent. ''Lavandula angustifolia'' is included in the Tasmanian Fire Service's list of low flammability plants, indicating that it is suitable for growing within a building protection zone.

Subspecies

*''Lavandula angustifolia'' subsp. ''angustifolia'' *''Lavandula angustifolia'' subsp. ''pyrenaica''

Hybrids

''Lavandula'' hybrids are referred to as lavandins. Hybrids between ''L. angustifolia'' and '' L. latifolia'' (spike lavender) are called ''Lavandula × intermedia''. They bloom later than the ordinary English lavenders.

References

External links

''Lavandula angustifolia'' List of Chemicals (Dr. Duke's Databases)
{{Authority control angustifolia Drought-tolerant plants Flora of Spain Flora of the Pyrenees Garden plants of Europe Herbs Medicinal plants Flora of the Mediterranean Basin Plants used in traditional Chinese medicine Taxa named by Philip Miller Flora of Malta