Lavandula
angustifolia
Lavender, English Lavender, or True Lavender
(Lamiaceae [also known as Labiatae] - Mint Family)
FEATURES
Form
- small, herbaceous to semi-woody, semi-evergreen perennial or perennial herb
- maturing at 1.5' tall by 1.5' wide
- upright clump growth habit
Culture
- full sun to partial sun
- performs best in full sun in an evenly moist, moderately rich, deep, well-drained soil that promotes deep root growth that will assist in Winter hardiness, but is adaptable to various soils and soil pHs
- propagated by vegetative stem cuttings taken in Summer, clump division, or seeds
- Mint Family, with few disease or pest problems, but Winter dieback and hardiness can be a concern in the colder areas of its range
- moderately available as a landscape perennial, but commonly available as a perennial herb, in container form
- best if sheared back about one-third immediately following the bloom period, with annual thinning of the number of stems on mature, woody plants
Foliage
- gray-green to green-purple in the Summer (depending upon cultivar) and silver-green to gray-bronzed in the Winter
- leaves have a somewhat stippled appearance on their surfaces, and are semi-evergreen
- lanceolate to linear primary leaves are opposite to whorled, and often contain tufts of miniature foliage in the leaf axils
- aromatic when brushed against or crushed
Flowers
- blue-purple, lavender, violet-blue, or white-pink, depending upon cultivar
- wispy inflorescences adorn the tips of each upright stem from late June through early August, creating drifts of "cool" colors that sway in the Summer breezes
- flowers (and subsequent fruits) can be harvested to make very aromatic potpourris and sachets
Fruits
- ornamentally insignificant, but dead-heading the spent flowers and immature fruits will prolong the season of bloom
Twigs
- young stems are four-sided, but become thicker, rounded, rough, and semi-woody with age (Lavender is sometimes classified as a sub-shrub)
Trunk
ID Summary
- silvery-gray semi-evergreen Winter foliage
- opposite linear stippled primary leaves, often with miniature secondary leaves in the leaf axils
- square upright stems densely arranged above the crown and becoming semi-woody with age
- fragrance of all above-ground structures when cut or crushed
USAGE
Function
- formal or informal edging perennial along walkways, raised walls, and borders; also planted in beds, at foundations, and in drifts of mass plantings
- the "queen of herbs" for herb gardens
Texture
- fine texture
- thick density
Assets
- showy and dense Summer flowering in cooler color shades
- silvery to gray Winter semi-evergreen foliage
- fine-textured aromatic foliage and flowers
- alternative usages of this landscape perennial as a perennial herb or for aromatic sachets and potpourris
Liabilities
- shearing and some thinning is needed immediately after the bloom period is finished to promote compactness and vigor for the following season
- hardiness and dieback in its northern range during severe Winters
Habitat
- zones 5 to 9
- native to the Mediterranean
SELECTIONS
Alternates
- annual or perennial herbs, especially those that can be utilized for potpourris, sachets, and dried flowers (Artemisia species, Pelargonium cultivars [annual Scented Geraniums], Rosmarinus officinalis, etc.)
- perennials noted for their semi-evergreen to evergreen foliage (Helleborus orientalis, Iberis sempervirens, Saponaria ocymoides, etc.), especially those with a gray or silvery Winter cast (including the living or dead stems/foliage of Artemisia species, Festuca ovina glauca, Perovskia atriplicifolia, Senecio cineraria, etc.)
Variants
- Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote' - 15" to 20" tall, with
silver-gray foliage and deep violet-blue inflorescences
- Lavandula angustifolia 'Munstead' - 12" tall, having pink-purple to lavender-blue inflorescences that are slightly fragrant
NOTES
Translation
- Lavandula translates as "to wash", referring to an extract of Lavender being used as an oil in the bath (the oil can also be used as a perfume).
- angustifolia translates as "narrow-leaved".
Purpose
- Lavender is a landscape perennial that can also be used as a perennial herb that may be harvested for use in potpourris, sachets, and as a dried flower.
Summary
- Lavandula angustifolia is known as a semi-evergreen perennial with summer-blooming cool-colored flowers that can be used ornamentally in the landscape, or as an herb for dried flowers, in potpourris, or in sachets.
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