Lavandula Angustifolia: The Ultimate Guide to True Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia, also known as true lavender or English lavender, belongs to the mint family and the lavender genus. It is native to the western Mediterranean, primarily the mountain ranges of northern Spain and the Pyrenees.

The plant of Lavandula angustifolia is about one to two meters high, shorter and not prone to lodging. Its leaves are evergreen, and its inflorescences are streamlined, mainly purple-blue, borne on the top of the branches.

The inflorescences are 2-8 cm long, under which there is a long and leafless stem that is 10-30 cm long. The scent is strong, and it flowers in July and August.

Its vibrant colors, fragrance, and low water requirements make it a popular plant, and it is also one of the most cultivated lavender species in the world.

I. Basic Information

Lavandula angustifolia, a small shrub of the mint family, is a full-sun plant with a strong aroma. It is more cold-resistant than heat-resistant, and flowers from July to August. The plant is shorter and not prone to lodging, with longer inflorescences.

Although Lavandula angustifolia is also known as English lavender, it is not a native plant of England. It was previously thought that lavender (Lavandula officinalis) and Lavandula angustifolia were two different plants.

However, new research suggests that they are the same plant, and the scientific name Lavandula officinalis is treated as a synonym for Lavandula angustifolia.

II. Growth and Distribution

Also known as lavender, true lavender, and English lavender, Lavandula angustifolia is a shrub of the mint family and the lavender genus. It originates from the western Mediterranean region, primarily the mountain ranges of northern Spain and the Pyrenees.

III. Features and Characteristics

Narrow-leaved lavender is known for its strong aroma, with the plant growing to a height of approximately one to two meters. It has evergreen leaves that measure 2-6 cm in length and 0.4-0.6 cm in width.

The flowers, in the hue of lavender, are arranged in a spike-like cluster at the top of the branches, each cluster about 2-8 cm long. These clusters are supported by a slender, leafless stem that measures between 10-30 cm in length.

IV. Cultivation Methods

Commonly used as an ornamental plant, its vibrant colors, intense aroma, and low water requirement make it a popular choice. It prefers less humid conditions and is quite hardy, typically classified as hardy to USDA zone 5.

V. Value and Other Practical Uses

Aside from its ornamental value, the flowers and leaves of the plant can be used in traditional herbal medicine, either as lavender essential oil or in herbal teas. The flowers can also be used as a culinary herb, often mixed with French herbs and referred to as herbes de Provence.

Diluted with a carrier oil, lavender essential oil is commonly used as a relaxant in massage therapy. Household uses include cosmetics, lavender-filled aromatherapy eye pillows, and bath oils, all of which are designed to promote relaxation.