Lavandula

Lavandula (common name lavender) is a genus of 47 known species of perennialflowering plants in the sage family, Lamiaceae. It is native to regions of the Iberian Peninsula and (including the Adriatic coast and coastal North Africa), the Middle East, extending to the Indian subcontinent.

Many members of the genus are cultivated extensively in temperate climates as ornamental plants for garden and landscape use, for use as culinary herbs, and commercially for the extraction of essential oils. Lavender is used in traditional medicine and as an ingredient in cosmetics.