Lavender

Lavender growing in a field

Identification

English common name: Lavender

Latin binomial: Lavandula Angustifolia

Other common names: True Lavender, English Lavender, Common Lavender, Garden Lavender, Narrow-leaved Lavender, Lavender Vera, Fine Lavender, Blue Lavender, Officinal Lavender

Dutch common names: Lavendel, Echte Lavendel, Gewone Lavender, Tuinlavendel, Engelse Lavendel, Fijne Lavendel, Smalle Lavendel, Lavendel Vera, Officinale Lavendel

French common names: Lavande, Lavande Vraie, Lavande Officinale, Lavende Fine, Lavande Anglaise, Lavande Douce, Lavande à feuilles étroites, Lavande de population, Lavando, Lauando, Lavanjo, Lavané, Arpathie

German common names: Lavendel, Echter Lavendel, Lavendel Officinalis, Feiner Lavendel, Englisher Lavendel, Schmalblättriger Lavendel, Apothekenlavendel, Lobendel, Lobendle, Lavendli, Lawend'l, Hauslavendel

Spanish common names: Lavanda, Espliego, Lavanda Verdadera, Lavanda Común, Lavanda Fina, Lavanda Inglesa, Alhucema, Lavanda Officinalis, Alhucema, Espigolina, Espliego Común

Italian common names: Lavanda, Lavanda Vera, Lavanda Officinale, Lavanda Comune, Lavanda Fine, Lavanda Inglese, Lavandula Angustifolia, Spigo, Spicchio, Nard, Erba Odorosa

Plant family: Lamiaceae (Mint family)

Botanical description: Small evergreen shrub with narrow, gray-green aromatic leaves and spikes of purple to violet-blue flowers. Grows up to 60-90 cm (2-3 feet). Flowers are bilaterally symmetrical with a tubular base and two lips, typical of the mint family.

Related species:

  • Lavandula latifolia (Spike lavender)
  • Lavandula stoechas (Spanish lavender)
  • Lavandula x intermedia (Lavandin - hybrid)

Lookalikes:

  • Russian Sage (Perovskia Atriplicifolia): resembles Lavender but belongs to a different genus
  • Catmint (Nepeta species)

Cultivars:

  • Hidcote: compact, dark purple flowers
  • Munstead: early blooming, cold-hardy
  • Vera: True Lavender, medicinal
  • Grosso: Lavandin hybrid, high oil yield

Medicinal properties

Recommended cultivars: Vera, Munstead, Hidcote

Parts used: Flowers, essential oil

Taste: Bitter, aromatic

Actions:

  • Nervine
  • Carminative
  • Antidepressant
  • Sedative
  • Antispasmodic
  • Antimicrobial
  • Anti-inflammatory

Energetics: Cooling, drying, slightly bitter

Medicinal uses:

  • Calms nervous system
  • Eases tension headaches
  • Mild pain relief
  • Skin healing and antibacterial

Specific indications:

  • Anxiety, stress, nervous tension
  • Insomnia
  • Digestive upset from nervous origin
  • Mild headaches
  • Minor burns, insect bites, skin irritations

Medicinal preparations:

  • Infusion (tea)
  • Tincture
  • Essential oil (aromatherapy, topical use)
  • Salves and creams
  • Hydrosol (floral water)

Ratio and dosage:

  • Tea: 1 tsp dried flowers per cup, steep 10 min, 1-3x daily
  • Tincture: 1:5 in 40-60% alcohol, 1-4 ml up to 3x/day
  • Essential oil: Dilute 2-5% for topical use; not for internal use

Uses in beauty products: Soaps, bath salts, lotions, massage oils, facial toners, deodorants

Precautions and contradictions:

  • Non-toxic and edible in small culinary amounts
  • Avoid high doses during pregnancy (especially oil)
  • Essential oil may cause irritation in sensitive skin; patch test first
  • Not for internal use in form of essential oil unless professionally supervised

Magical properties

Facility:

  • Calming, Peace
  • Healing
  • Purification, Energetic purification
  • Love, Self-love
  • Sleep
  • Enhances psychic abilities
  • Protection
  • Happiness
  • Knowledge
  • Clarity, Clear thoughts
  • Creativity
  • Inspiration
  • Fantasy, Imagination
  • Eternal youth

Magical uses and folklore

  • Wards off evil spirits and nightmares
  • Burned as an offering for peace and purification
  • Used in love sachets and dream pillows
  • Carried for protection and calm during travel
  • Popular in handfasting rituals and sacred baths
  • Very good for cleansing an object or room, can be used instead of Sage

Gender: Feminine

Planet: Mercury

Element: Air (also associated with Water in some traditions)

Crystals that work well with it:

  • Amethyst: calming, psychic connection
  • Lepidolite: soothing anxiety
  • Moonstone: intuition, sleep
  • Howlite: calming, sleep

Other herbs that work well with it:

  • Chamomile
  • Rose
  • Lemon balm
  • Mugwort (for dreamwork)

Rune Laguz: intuition, healing, dreams

Chakras

  • Third Eye
  • Heart
  • Essential oil: Crown
  • Lavandin essential oil: Solar Plexus

Zodiac signs: Virgo, Pisces, Aquarius

Deity correspondences:

  • Hekate: protection, dreams
  • Aphrodite: love
  • Eir: healing)
  • Brigid: herbal medicine, sacred wells

Cultivation

Native to: Mediterranean region

Zones: USDA 5-9 (some cultivars hardy to Zone 4 with protection)

Soil:

  • Well-drained, sandy or loamy
  • pH: 6.5-8 (alkaline preferred)
  • Avoid heavy clay or wet roots

Propagation

  • Seeds: slow, lower germination
  • Cuttings: preferred for true-to-type propagation
  • Layering or division

Growing information and garden care:

  • Full sun (6-8 hours minimum)
  • Prune yearly to prevent woodiness
  • Mulch with gravel for drainage
  • Avoid overwatering
  • Fertilize lightly with compost

Insects and diseases:

  • Root rot from poor drainage
  • Fungal leaf spot, rare in dry climates
  • Occasional aphids or spittlebugs

Harvesting and preparations:

  • Harvest just as flowers open for highest oil content
  • Dry in bundles upside-down in a dark, dry place
  • Store dried flowers in airtight containers
  • Distill for oil or infuse in oil for salves