Lavandula angustifolia
Lavandula angustifolia, formerly L. officinalis, is a flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, native to the Mediterranean basin. Its common names include lavender, true lavender and English lavender ; also garden lavender, common lavender and narrow-leaved lavender.
Description
It is a strongly aromatic shrub growing as high as tall. The leaves are evergreen, long, and broad. The flowers are typically purple, 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. 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 Royal Horticultural Society zone H6, or USDA zone 5. 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 of L. angustifolia and its hybrids have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:-- L. × intermedia 'Alba'
- L. angustifolia 'Beechwood Blue'
- L. angustifolia 'Hidcote'
- L. × intermedia 'Hidcote Giant'
- L. angustifolia 'Imperial Gem'
- L. angustifolia 'Little Lottie'
- L. angustifolia 'Miss Katherine'
- L. angustifolia 'Miss Muffet'
- L. angustifolia 'Nana Alba'
- L. × intermedia 'Olympia'
- 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 with fragrant gray-green foliage and deep violet-blue flowers in summer, prefers full sun, well drained soil, low water, hardy to, western Mediterranean species
- 'Munstead' L. angustifolia variety, 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
- 'Sarah', grows to, 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, fragrant, gray-green foliage and lavender-blue flowers in summer, prefers full sun, well-drained soil, low water, hardy to
Semi-dwarf cultivars
Bowles Early, Hidcote Variety, Loddon Blue, Martha Roderick, Jean Davis, Twickle Purple, Pink Perfume- 'Hidcote' L. angustifolia variety. tall, with silver-gray foliage and deep violet-blue inflorescences, named after Hidcote [Manor Garden|Hidcote Manor] in England as it was cultivated there by Lawrence Johnston
- 'Jean Davis' tall, up to. A pale pink flowered lavender with exceptionally fruity taste
- 'Pink Perfume'
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 with a lovely strong fragrance. This has large deep lavender-purple flowers on very long stems.
- 'Vera'. Thought to be the original species lavender, harvested for its oil.
Uses
The flowers and leaves are applied in herbal medicine. Commercially, the plant is used to produce lavender essential oil used in balms, salves, perfumes, cosmetics, and topical applications. Lavender essential oil, when diluted with a carrier oil, is commonly used for massage therapy or aromatherapy.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.
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''