• On Mar, 07, 2010
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Lavender herb is famous for its scent and I love it especially when it’s coming from my own home herb garden. It is often used for perfumes, lotions, essential and massage oils, potpourri and other fragrant products. It’s also known to have a calming and sleep-inducing effect, whether drank as a tea or as an aromatherapy product used during bedtime.

It is difficult to grow lavender from seed, if you want to grow one in your garden. It is usually easier if you grow this from plant cuttings or root divisions, and plant in a moist and well-drained soil. Although they love sun as a matured plant, young lavender needs protection from the sun before the time that it’s ok to transfer it to the garden. Don’t overwater, lavender doesn’t like too much water. During the first year and when the first blooms are shooting off, cut the flower shoots to encourage it to become more bushy. Once it reached is mature stage, regular pruning and deadheading will keep it growing nicely. Harvest lavender during its peak season, usually at the end of summer.

Three most popular varieties of Lavender herb are the English, Spanish and French Lavender:

English Lavender, botanically known as Lavendula angustifolia, is the most popular lavender variety. This is what you’ll normally see in photos. The herb plant grows up to three feet tall and produces purplish blooms. Although, there are other sub-varieties that are smaller and comes in different colors such as white, pink, and blue-lavender. English lavender has a very strong fragrance and is most commonly used in many aromatherapy products.

Spanish Lavender, botanically known as Lavendula stoechus, is a smaller variety that grows to one and a half to two feet. This variety grows best in humid and warm regions and produces pine-cone –shaped flowers in deep purple. Bees love Spanish Lavender and it is said that ancient Greeks and Romans used Spanish Lavenders for their baths.

French Lavender, botanically known as Lavendula dententa, is a cousin of English Lavender, although its flowers have a milder scent and the colors are not as vivid. This herb also grows to three feet in height and you can distinguish it from the other Lavenders by its serrated leaves. It’s popularly used as a decorative plant in landscaping.

Other tips:

Commercial lavender are labeled as true lavender, spike lavender and lavandin:

• True lavender has crooked stems, short and narrow leaves, and barrel-shaped flowers. This is the most fragrant type and is commonly used for aromatherapy.
• Spike lavender is the bushy type and grows spike. This yields the highest amounts of essential oils.
• Lavandin is a cross of true and spike lavenders. It has vibrantly colored flowers and is often used as part of decorative accents or potpourris.

If you want more information on lavender and how to grow each types, click here.