Lavandula angustifolia
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- lah-VAN-dew-lah an-gus-tih-FOH-lee-ah
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Lavender is an evergreen perennial shrub in the mint family that is native to Mediterranean areas. It is well-loved but at times difficult to grow in NC. It requires perfectly drained soil (preferably on the dry side) and full sun and will die out in heavy clays (lavender does not like wet feet!). It is easily transplanted and prefers neutral to alkaline soils. Lavender is a dwarf shrub that is broadly mounded and grows up to 3'. This plant blooms in the summer and has aromatic leaves, flowers, and dry seed heads.
This plant can be used as a border, a low hedge, in massing, in containers and in herb gardens. This plant is the source of the true oil of lavender. The flowers can be dried and used in potpourris. Cut back yearly and remove the spent flower spikes after the flowers fade. This plant has no serious pest problems.
Quick ID Hints:
- Thin, linear leaves are blue-green, concolorous, and aromatic
- Inflorescence is a terminal spike, sweetly aromatic
VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Crevice Garden, Guilford County Border Landscape Pinewild County Club, Moore County Lake Wall Garden Floricyle Lake Wall Garden Vegetable Garden- Reynolda Gardens
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Hidcote'
Compact mounded form to 20" tall - 'Munstead'
- 'Hidcote'
- 'Hidcote', 'Munstead'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Hidcote'
Compact mounded form to 20" tall - 'Munstead'
- 'Hidcote'
- 'Hidcote', 'Munstead'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lavandula
- Species:
- angustifolia
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Potpourris; herb pillows; crafts, vinegars, jellies.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mediterranean region France, Italy, Spain
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Fragrance
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Drought tolerant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Herb
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Broad
- Mounding
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are non-ornamental nutlets.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Trumpet
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Plant produces many flowers in the summer that are usually lavender-purple, but can also be pink or white. Flowers are aromatic. Calyx is cylindrical to urceolate. Flowers are less than half an inch in size, and are 13-veined. Flowers are also 5-toothed, and the teeth are often purple and tomentose. Corolla is 2-lipped. The upper lip is 2-lobed while the lower lip is 3-lobed and nearly half an inch in size. Lobes are large and purple or blue. Flowers grow on a long-stalked, terminal spike that is .7-3" long. Peduncles are 2-6".
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Velvety
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Obtuse
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are opposite, simple, linear to lanceolate, obtuse, revolute, white tementose, entire, gray-green to bluish green, and are .4-1" long and less than an inch wide. They are aromatic when bruised. They provide an interesting color in summer gardens.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are tomentose.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Edible Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Problems:
- Frequent Disease Problems
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
