Common lavender

Lavender flowering
  Sten Porse, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Lavender is a fragrant, flowering herb belonging to the mint family, widely cultivated as a commercial crop. It thrives in temperate climates with well-drained soil and full sunlight, making regions like France, Spain, Italy, and parts of the United States ideal for its growth.

Lavender is prized for its essential oils, often used in aromatherapy, skincare, and perfumes. Additionally, it serves culinary purposes, lending a floral note to teas and baked goods, and has medicinal uses for relaxation and sleep support.

Names

Scientific
   Lavandula angustifolia
English
   Common lavender
   English lavender
   Narrow-leaved lavender
   True lavender
Dutch
   Echte lavendel
   Spijklavendel
Spanish
   Lavanda officinale
   Lavanda vera
French
   Lavande vraie
German
   Echte Lavendel
Other
   Lavanta

Taxonomy

Order
   Lamiales
Family
   Lamiaceae
Genus
   Lavandula
Species
   Lavandula angustifolia (Common lavender)

Basic information and facts

Origin:

Native to the Mediterranean region, including parts of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.

Distribution:

Widely cultivated in temperate regions, especially in France, Spain, Italy, the United States, and Australia.

Annual, biennial, or perennial:

Perennial shrub, living for multiple years.

Flowers:

Small, fragrant, lilac to blue-violet flowers on long spikes, rich in essential oils.

Leaves:

Narrow, gray-green, simple or pinnate in shape.

Fruits:

Small, dry fruits containing seeds, not commonly harvested.

Climate and weather:

Thrives in warm, sunny climates with well-drained soil, tolerates drought conditions.

Pollination:

Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, beneficial for biodiversity.

Height:

Grows between 30 to 90 cm tall (1 to 3 feet), depending on variety.

Spacing:

Plants should be spaced 60 to 90 cm apart (2 to 3 feet) for proper air circulation and growth.

Propagation:

Through cuttings, layering, or seeds, with cuttings being the most common method.

Insect pests:

Aphids, whiteflies, and spittlebugs can damage the plant.

Diseases:

Susceptible to fungal diseases like root rot and powdery mildew, especially in humid conditions.

Harvesting:

Flowers are harvested in summer when in full bloom for maximum essential oil content.

Uses:

Essential oils, aromatherapy, skincare, culinary purposes, and medicinal benefits.

Crop categories

Arid crops
Essential oils
Medicinal plants
Mediterranean crops
Ornamental plants
Wild-harvested crops

Pictures

Lavender
  Emőke Dénes, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons


Lavender field
  Laslovarga, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons