English Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia
English Lavender is a shrubby perennial the Latin name meaning "narrow leaf."
Lavandula angustifolia Lavenders are Munstead, Hidcote Pink, Hidcote, Sarah, Jean Davis and Vera. See the picture above top left for an example. Botanically speaking there really is no such thing as "English Lavender" but refers to the geographical region. See where to buy English Lavender.
English Lavender cultivars can be divided into three groups based on their growth height characteristics. These groups of English Lavenders consist of dwarf, semi-dwarf, and tall varieties.
English Lavender is a perennial herb plant for zones 5-8 with mid to late spring bloom time. It is known as a xerophyte which by definition is a plant that has adapted to living in dry climate conditions. This makes Lavender perfect for sun drenched planting locations such as a hot dry bank that can be a real landscape problem area.
This is a spica type Lavender and Lavandula angustifolia was once called by one of it's synonyms Lavandula officinalis. This indicated that this was the one "officially" designated specifically for medicinal use and was the Queen's favorite plant. The English varieties due to their sweet essence are best for culinary use.
Cutting blossoms often results in a second round of flowering. Flowers can range in color from dark lavender to pink and are used for various crafts or recipes
such as one to make your own Lavender Oil.
The height ranges from 2-3 feet for this variety and the spread of the plant can reach up to double that. This is a good plant for along sidewalks and driveways where the fragrance can greet those that walk there and was popular in cottage herb gardens.
This is the plant that yields that sweet true highly coveted pure fragrance that is distilled and used in perfumes, aromatherapy and other products that we all know and love. Not all of the plants from this species smell the same and some have a smell which is more medicinal (the hybrids also called Lavandins) due to the compounds in the oil. The plants that produce these lesser grade oils are used to scent cleaning products or to cut and stretch the more higher grade oils. Learn ways to use pure Lavender Essential Oil.
English Lavender is a sun loving plant which requires a alkaline soil (ph 7.1), sandy soil with good drainage. Lavender hates "wet feet" and humidity so avoid these plant growing conditions and learn more about growing Lavender plants.
This is a good plant for rock gardens and English Lavender attracts butterflies too! This plant is native to the southern parts of Europe and the northern parts of Africa. It grows naturally on dry stony mountain soils and prefers those high in dolomite (lime) and can be grown just about anywhere if you mimic it's preferred growing conditions.
