Lavandins

Lavandin

A shrub growing to about 90cm tall having narrow, linear, grey-green leaves and beautiful blue-violet flowers borne on long spikes.

A genus of about 25 aromatic, evergreen perennials and shrubs that are found throughout Mediterranean regions, the Middle East, nd India. Lavenders are among the most popular plants for herb gardens for their subtle coloring and delightful fragrance. The hardier lavenders make attractive hedges, while tender kinds may be grown under cover. Lavenders are rich in volatile oils, and the resulting essential oils vary greatly in aroma, constituents, and quality. Due to their popularity and long history of cultivation, garden lavenders are mostly hybrids and cultivars, and accurate identification is often extremely difficult. The two most important lavenders with medicinal uses are Lavandula angustifolia and L. latifolia. The former grows at higher elevations (600-1200m/2000-4000ft) in S. Europe and therefore thrives and yields well in cooler areas. Both are rich in essential oils but differ in constituents; L. angustifolia yields an exquisitely scented oil, known in France as fine, which is used in aromatherapy and high quality perfumes; L. latifolia, a lowland species, yields much larger quantities of a rather harsh camphoraceous oil, which is used mainly in cleaning products, and as an insect repellent. Lavandula latifolia is rarely seen as a garden plant but is grown in Spain for its oil. The hybrid lavender or lavandin, L. x intermedia (a cross between L. angustifolia and L.latifolia that appeared c. 1900), is often preferred by the perfume industry, but it is not recommended for medicinal use. It is grown on a large scale for its oil, and for its flowers, which are used in sachets, potpourri, and craft work. Lavandin combines the best properties of its parents, having a more pleasant perfume then L. latifolia, and yielding over four times as much oil as L. angustifolia. For many years lavender production centered on Provence in S France, but other countries, such as Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, increased production during the late 20th century. Lavandula stoechas was widely used as an antiseptic and toiletry herb in ancient times by the Greeks, Romans, and Arabs, but is little used today. It has a pungently scented volatile oil, containing 24-72 percent camphor.

Robust, variable hybrids between L. angustifolia and L. latifolia, with rounded habit, branching stems, and oblong to lanceolate, gray-green leaves, 4-6cm (1½-2½in) long. Light blue-violet to violet, strongly fragrant flowers in spikes 10-20cm (4-8in) long are borne on long, strong stems.

Common Name:	Lavandin
Botanical Name:	Lavendula x intermedia
Genus:	Lavandula
Family:	Lamiaceae
Cultivation:	Well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil in an open, sunny position. Lavandula stoechas thrives in acid soil; L. latifolia tolerates slight acidity. Trim hedges and cut specimen plants back in spring to encourage bushiness. Dead-head and trim lightly after flowering. Lavendula lanata is very sensitive to overwatering and damp conditions. Lavenders are affected by gray mold, scab, leaf spot, and honey fungus. Plants become woody with age and are best replaced every 3-4 years. Lavandula stoechas is subject to statutory control as a weed in parts of Australia.
Propagation:	By seed sown on surface of soil mix in spring; by semi-ripe cuttings in summer. Seeds of L. angustifolia germinate more quickly if placed in the freezer for two hours before sowing. Cultivars do not come true from seed.
Harvest:	Flowers of L. angustifolia and L. x intermedia are picked as they begin to open and used fresh, distilled for oil, or (L. angustifolia only) dried for use in infusions, spirits, and tinctures. Flower heads and flowers of other lavenders are gathered as they open, for drying.
Height:	Very Variable
Width:	Very Variable
Hardiness:	Z5-7
Variations:	Alba Is large, open, and bushy, with green to gray-green foliage, and white flowers in spikes 4-5cm (1½-2in) long, borne on upright stems 25-32cm (10-13in) long. Known before 1880, this traditional cultivar is the largest white-flowered lavender. Height: 80cm (32in). Abrialii Syn. Abrial, Abrialis Has dense gray-green foliage and elegant spikes of violet-blue flowers. Grown in France since before 1935; oil is excellent for massage. Height: 70-80cm (28-32in) Dutch Group Syn. L. vera, (hort), Vera Is rounded and bushy, with large gray leaves, and blue-violet flowers in narrowly conical spikes, 6-9cm (2½-3½in) long, borne on stout stems, 19-35cm (7-14in) long. Height: 80cm (32in) Width: 40cm (16in) French Boutin Has outstanding silver foliage, even in winter, and deep violet-blue flowers in spikes to 8cm (3in) long, borne on stems 16-32cm (6-13in) long. Height: 80cm (32in) Grappenhall Is robust, bushy, with narrowly conical, interrupted spikes, 5-9cm (2-3½in) long, borne on stout more or less upright stems, 30-38cm (12-15in) long Height: 1m (3ft) Width: 1.5m (5ft) Grosso syn. Dilly Dilly, Wilson's Giant Is spherical, with mid-green to gray, very dense foliage, and violet-blue flowers in compact, broadly conical spikes, 5-9cm (2-3½in) long, borne on stout, dark-edged stems, 30-36cm (12-14in) long. One of the finest and most widely grown commercial lavandin cultivars, discovered in Vaucluse, France in 1972; floriferous, high yielding, and disease resistant. Hidcote Giant Is well-branched and bushy, with gray-green foliage, and violet-blue flowers in compact, very broad spikes, to 7cm (3in) long, borne on very stout, semi-upright to horizontal stems, 28-47 (11-19in) long; excellent as a specimen plant. Lullingstone Castle Is large and bushy, with branched, dense, gray foliage, and deep lavender-blue flowers in spike 8-11cm (3-4¼in) long, borne on gray-green, semi-upright stems, 28-34cm (11-13in) long. Height: 90cm (36in) Good for hedging. Old English Group Is large and bushy to spherical, with lavender-violet flowers in narrowly conical spikes, 6-11cm (2½-4¼in) long, borne on upright, green stems, 30-50cm (12-20in) long; excellent for hedging if well pruned. Seal is robust, wtih green to gray-green foliage, and pale violet, highly fragrant flowers in spikes 5-8cm (2-3in) long, borne on branched, semi-upright, dark edged stems, 40-50cm (16-20in) long; excellent for hedging and craft work, wiht a long-lasting fragrance. Introduced by the Herb Farm, Seal, Kent, England, before 1935. Height: 1.2-1.5m (4-5ft) Width: 1.2m (4ft) Sumian Is large, with gray-green leaves, very long, dark-edged stems, to 38cm (15in), and violet flowers in spikes 5-8cm (2-3in) long. A French cultivar with good fragrance. Height: 80cm (32in) Super Is a French cultivar, introduced c.1956, with gray-green foliage, strong lateral branching, stems to 45cm (18in) long, and violet-blue flowers. Several different strains are known, all suitable for oil, ornamental, and fragrant purposes. Walberton's Silver Edge Is bushy and rather open in habit, with gray-green, cream-edged leaves, and deep lavender-violet flowers in compact, broad spikes, 2.5-4cm (1-1½in) long, borne on upright, unbranched stems, 13-23cm (5-9in) long. Yuulong Is spherical, with dense, well-branched, green to gray-green foliage, and deep lavender-violet flowers in short spikes, 3.5-5cm (1 3/8-2in) long, borne on upright, green stems, 34-40cm (13-16in) long; ideal for hedging and craft work. An Australian cultivar, named by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, in 1986.
Parts Used:	Flowers
Properties:	An aromatic herb with a slightly camphoraceous lavender scent.
Culinary Uses:	Fresh flowers are crystallized, or added to jams and vinegars.
Economic Uses:	Essential oil is used in massage oils, perfumery, toiletries, and cleaning products. Dried flowers are added to herb pillows and potpourris.
Bibliography:	Aromatherapy Blends and Remedies by Franzesca Watson Copyright ©: 1995 Thorsons, Harper Collins Publishers, Inc. pp.118-121 Magical Aromatherapy by Scott Cunningham Copyright © 1989 Llewellyn Publications Inc. pp. 101-103 Wicca, Guide to the Solitary Practioner by Scott Cunningham Copyright © 1988 Llewellyn Publications, Inc. pp. 159-168 The Encyclopedia of Herbs by Deni Bown Copyright © 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited pp.252-256