sign in sign up
<<
Home , Lavandula

Your Landscaping Questions Answered By Manjula Juluri, ASLA Landscape Consultant & Designer www.foliagenflowers.com Ph-847-909-9979

Question: I like to grow in my backyard garden. Which one do you recommend? Answer: Borrowing its common name from the Latin Lavare, which means ‘to wash’ Lavender has been used since ancient times. Lavendula Officinalis is the one that herbalists consider to be true lavender.

Lavender in butterfly garden Lavender in Perennial borders

Vast Fields of fragrant Lavender Farms Lavendula Officinalis

A of 39 species of flowering in the mint family, , is the most popular of aromatic herbs. An genus, distributed from Macaronesia across , the Mediterranean, South-West Asia, Arabia, Western Iran and South-East and grown all over the world. In the flower garden or garden, Lavender is attractive with its grayish foliage. When in bloom, the Lavender scent drifts pleasantly across the yard.

‘Betty Blue’ ‘Melissa’ -English Curly top-Spanish ‘’-English

ENGLISH LAVENDER PLANTS ( angustifolia) is the traditional, culinary type. One of the most uplifting fragrances in all of nature is English lavender, a so much admired that vast fields of lavender plants are grown in England, Provence, Tasmania and Morocco to satisfy a worldwide demand for scented soaps, candles, skin lotions and many other luxury products.

A few sprigs clustered in a vase can fill an entire room with its romantic fragrance. Swirled in a bathtub, they will even scent the water. Create a low-growing lavender hedge so the outstretched stems mingle to create a solid stroke of color.

Lavender fills the early summer garden with sensory delights: beautiful purple-toned blooms atop foliage that oozes fragrance on a sunny afternoon. Every part of the is infused with aromatic oil, making this a choice herb to place along pathways or near outdoor seating areas so you can savor the fragrance. Lavender varieties abound; the darker the flower, the more intense the aroma -- and the flavor in cooking.

Provence-English Spanish BeJean Davis-English ‘Bellerina’-Spanish Hidcote giant

Hidcote lavender ('Hidcote') is a dwarf English lavender, presenting dark blue blooms on a tidy 1-1/2-foot-tall plant. Zones 5-10 Jean Davis lavender (Lavandula angustifolia 'Jean Davis') sports pale pink blossoms with a fruity flavor that adds wonderful taste and aroma to cake, tea, or vinegar. Zones 5-10. Munstead lavender (Lavandula angustifolia'Munstead') offers lovely lavender-blue flowers that bring a luscious flavor to butter, cookies, or tea. Shorter plants (1 1/2 feet tall) and flower stalks make Munstead a perfect choice for a lavender hedge or knot garden. Zones 5-10 Spanish lavender () unfurls deep purple blooms topped with lavender- hued , creating a two-toned flower. Plants grow 2-3 feet tall. Zones 9-10 Culinary uses for Lavender - It has become increasingly popular to use lavender as an herb for cooking. 'Provence' is an excellent variety for this use. A common herb mix that includes lavender is "Herbs de Provence".

 Lavender is a member of the mint family and is close to , sage, and thyme. It is best used with fennel, oregano, rosemary, thyme, sage, and savory.  English Lavender (l. angustifolia and munstead) has the sweetest fragrance of all the lavenders and is the one most commonly used in cooking. Lavender has a sweet, floral flavor, with lemon and citrus notes.  Lavender can also be used to flavor jellies, honeys, cookies, breads, cakes, fruit desserts, drinks, grilled meats, chicken, or fish.  To make lavender sugar for tea or baking, blend in a food processor 2 tablespoons dried lavender flowers (always making sure they have not been sprayed with insecticides) with 1 cup sugar. Store in airtight container.  Lavender lemonade can be made by steeping for 5 minutes 1/4 cup dried lavender flowers in water that has been brought to the boil. Strain and use as part of the water in making frozen lemonade.  Mexican lavender, Lavandula stoechas is not used medicinally, but mainly for landscaping.

Medicinal use – of lavender has antiseptic and anti- inflammatory properties.

1. Effective treatment for symptoms of palsy.

2. For relief of ‘Grief & pains of head’ & Lavender distillate for patients struggling with voice problems.

3. Naturopathy recommended Lavender for digestive problems.

4. Lavender was found to increase the brain waves associated with relaxation and , as a sleep aid. An infusion of three flower- heads added to a cup of boiling water soothes and relaxes at bedtime.

5. Patients received massages from lavender essential oils for mood relief, anxiety, depression & restlessness.

6. Lavender were also used on European battlefields as a wound disinfectant.

7. Lavender is used in herbalism and aromatherapy.

8. Infusions of lavender repel, soothe and heal insect bites.

9. heals acne, treats skin burns and inflammatory conditions. All the above herbal treatments should be discussed with your physician before practicing.

 Dried and sealed in pouches, lavender flowers are placed among stored items of to give a fresh fragrance and to deter .

 Dried lavender flowers have become popular for wedding confetti. Lavender is also popular in scented waters.

 Lavender was one of the holy herbs used in the biblical Temple to prepare the holy essence and nard is mentioned in the Song of Solomon.

 Attracts Birds, Hummingbirds, Butterflies and are Deer Resistant.