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Lavender Varieties
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Lavender Family: Lamiaceae (Formerly Labiatae) Common names: Common lavender, garden lavender Likes Alkaline soil, good drainage Favorite Haunts: France, Oregon
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True Lavender Ôøº true lavender Lavandula officinalis This is a dwarf shrub yielding a relatively small yield of oil distinguished from other lavender oils by being entirely free of camphor. Its natural habitat is restricted to a small area above 3,281 feet (1,000 meters) altitude in the southern French Alps. This is the true lavender that grows wild at altitudes of 2,296 - 3,609 feet (700 - 1,100 m), in southern France. It produces the finest essential oil. Spike Lavender Ôøº spike lavender Lavandula latifolia This is a strong growing shrub giving a fairly large yield of oil with a strong aroma of camphor. It occurs naturally at lower altitudes around the northern Mediterranean shore, particularly Spain and Italy. It is also grown in England, United States, Japan, and Tasmania. Spike lavender oil is quite harsh and is used mainly for scenting soaps. Lavandin Hybrid Ôøº Figure 2: Wild lavender Lavandula angustifolia growing with poppies above 1,000 meters in Provence, France. Photograph copyright Erika Yigzaw. Reproduced with permission. lavandin hybrid L. latifolia x l. angustifolia At medium altitudes in the south of France, the two basic species intermingle and give rise to a very wide range of hybrids. As commonly occurs with this type of crop, the hybrid is sterile but stronger growing than either of the parents. It provides very large yields of oil high in camphor. France produces more than a thousand tons of this plant a year and cultivation and harvest is economical due to the entire process being done by machine. Figure 3: Rows of Lavandin Provence growing in Oregon. Photograph copyright Erika Yigzaw. Reproduced with permission. Spanish Lavender Ôøº Spanish Lavender L. stoechas Figure 4: Lavandula stoechas or Spanish lavender has distinctive rabbit like bracts or ’Äúears’Äù at the top of the flower stem. Photograph reproduced under license. Spanish lavender has sterile bracts at the top of the flower stem and is sometimes called Rabbit Ears for this feature. It has a piney antiseptic fragrance and is not usually used in cooking or for medicinal purposes. It flowers earlier than other lavenders, in the late spring. Prune after flowering. It tends to perform better than true lavender in areas that are hot and humid.
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