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English Lavender Lavandula angustifolia

Phonetic Spelling
lah-VAN-dew-lah an-gus-tih-FOH-lee-ah
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

English lavender is an evergreen perennial shrub in the Lamiaceae (mint) family that is native to Mediterranean areas. It is well loved but at times difficult to grow in North Carolina. 

This plant requires perfectly drained soil, preferably on the dry side, and full sun. English lavender does not like wet feet and will die out in heavy clays. It is easily transplanted and prefers neutral to alkaline soils. Propagate by seed, division or stem cutting. 

A dwarf shrub that is broadly mounded, English lavender grows up to 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide.. It blooms in the summer and has aromatic leaves, flowers, and dry seed heads. This plant is the source of the true oil of lavender. The flowers can be dried and used in potpourri. Cut it back yearly and remove the spent flower spikes after the flowers fade.

This plant can be used as a border or low hedge and in mass plantings, or containers. A versatile companion, it is well suited for a wide variety of gardens, including butterfly, pollinator, children's, cutting, edible, herb, and rock gardens. It is also appreciated in a garden for the blind.

Quick ID Hints:

  • Thin, linear leaves are blue-green, concolorous, and aromatic
  • Inflorescence is a terminal spike and sweetly aromatic

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. However, it is susceptible to leaf spot and root rot. Root rot is caused by overwatering. Providing good air circulation helps prevent leaf spot.

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:
Floricyle Crevice Garden at the Guilford County Extension Center Vegetable Garden- Reynolda Gardens Lake Wall Garden Border Landscape Pinewild County Club, Moore County
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Hidcote'
    Compact mounded form to 20" tall
  • 'Munstead'
  • 'Phenomenal'
    Hybrid with early blooms and bushy compact habit
'Hidcote', 'Munstead', 'Phenomenal'
Tags:
#purple#fragrant#evergreen#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#drought tolerant#lavender#white flowers#shrub#silver leaves#pink flowers#fragrant leaves#summer flowers#lavender flowers#potpourri#summer interest#pollinator plant#edible garden#fantz#dried arrangements#butterfly friendly#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#Guilford Crevice Garden#vhfn#vhfn-h#perennial#herb garden#buncombe county sun and shade garden#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Hidcote'
    Compact mounded form to 20" tall
  • 'Munstead'
  • 'Phenomenal'
    Hybrid with early blooms and bushy compact habit
'Hidcote', 'Munstead', 'Phenomenal'
Tags:
#purple#fragrant#evergreen#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#drought tolerant#lavender#white flowers#shrub#silver leaves#pink flowers#fragrant leaves#summer flowers#lavender flowers#potpourri#summer interest#pollinator plant#edible garden#fantz#dried arrangements#butterfly friendly#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#Guilford Crevice Garden#vhfn#vhfn-h#perennial#herb garden#buncombe county sun and shade garden#cpp
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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:
    Loam (Silt)
    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, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    Fruits are non-ornamental nutlets.
  • 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".
  • 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.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Square
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Stems are tomentose.
  • 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
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Nausea, vomiting (not in horses), inappetence
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Linlool, linalyl acetate
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No