Lavender is more than just a beautiful and fragrant plant. With over 45 species and more than 450 varieties, this versatile herb has found its way into gardens, kitchens, and medicine cabinets around the world. Each variety of lavender has its own unique characteristics, making some better suited for culinary purposes, while others shine in essential oil production or ornamental gardening. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the most popular lavender varieties and how to use them.
1. English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Characteristics:
- Appearance: English lavender is known for its compact size, narrow leaves, and spikes of deep purple or blue flowers.
- Aroma: It has a sweet, subtle, and classic lavender fragrance that is less camphorous than other types.
Uses:
- Culinary: English lavender is the best variety for culinary use due to its mild, sweet flavor. It's commonly used in baking, teas, and to flavor meats. Recipes like lavender shortbread cookies or lavender-infused honey highlight its delicate taste.
- Aromatherapy: Its calming scent makes it ideal for essential oils used in relaxation and stress relief.
- Skincare: English lavender’s gentle properties make it a popular choice for use in lotions, balms, and other skin care products to soothe and heal the skin.
2. French Lavender (Lavandula dentata)
Characteristics:
- Appearance: French lavender is distinguished by its long, serrated leaves and light purple flowers. The bracts on the top of the flower spikes give it a feathery appearance.
- Aroma: It has a more pungent, rosemary-like scent compared to English lavender, with a hint of camphor.
Uses:
- Ornamental Gardening: French lavender is prized for its ornamental value. It’s less hardy than other varieties but thrives in warmer climates, making it perfect for borders, containers, and garden beds.
- Potpourri and Crafts: The unique scent and appearance of French lavender make it ideal for dried arrangements, potpourri, and crafting projects.
- Household: Its strong fragrance is excellent for use in natural air fresheners and cleaning products, adding a fresh, herbal scent to your home.
3. Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas)
Characteristics:
- Appearance: Spanish lavender is easily recognizable by its distinct “rabbit ear” petals that protrude from the top of the flower spikes. The flowers are deep purple, and the leaves are grayish-green.
- Aroma: This variety has a strong, piney scent with a hint of eucalyptus.
Uses:
- Ornamental: Spanish lavender is a showstopper in gardens, especially when mass planted. It’s often used in landscaping for its striking flowers and ability to attract pollinators.
- Essential Oils: Although not as commonly used for essential oil production due to its strong scent, Spanish lavender oil is sometimes utilized for its antiseptic and antimicrobial properties.
- Potpourri: Its robust scent makes it a popular choice for potpourri and sachets.
4. Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia)
Characteristics:
- Appearance: Lavandin is a hybrid of English and spike lavender, boasting long stems and large, bluish-purple flower spikes. It tends to grow larger than true lavenders.
- Aroma: The scent is stronger and more camphorous than English lavender, making it highly aromatic.
Uses:
- Essential Oil Production: Lavandin is widely grown for commercial essential oil production because of its high oil yield. The oil is often used in perfumes, soaps, and other scented products.
- Aromatherapy: Due to its intense aroma, lavandin is used in aromatherapy products meant to invigorate and energize, as opposed to the calming effect of English lavender.
- Cleaning Products: The strong antiseptic properties of lavandin oil make it a popular choice for natural cleaning products and disinfectants.
5. Woolly Lavender (Lavandula lanata)
Characteristics:
- Appearance: As the name suggests, woolly lavender has soft, silvery, wool-like leaves. Its flowers are typically a pale lilac color.
- Aroma: It has a subtle, sweet fragrance, though less intense than other varieties.
Uses:
- Ornamental: Woolly lavender is primarily grown for its unique foliage. It adds texture and visual interest to gardens, especially in rock gardens and dry landscapes.
- Essential Oils: While not as commonly used for essential oil production, its oil is valued for its mild scent and is occasionally blended with other oils.
6. Goodwin Creek Lavender (Lavandula x ginginsii ‘Goodwin Creek Grey’)
Characteristics:
- Appearance: Goodwin Creek Lavender is recognized by its dense, grey-green foliage and dark purple flower spikes. It is a hybrid that combines the characteristics of English and French lavender.
- Aroma: It has a slightly sweet, robust scent.
Uses:
- Container Gardening: This variety is perfect for growing in containers due to its compact growth habit and decorative foliage.
- Dried Flowers: The vibrant color and strong fragrance make it an excellent choice for drying and using in arrangements, sachets, and wreaths.
- Landscape Design: Goodwin Creek Lavender’s striking appearance makes it a popular choice in landscape design for borders and mass plantings.
Conclusion
Lavender is a versatile and valuable addition to any garden or home, offering a wide range of uses depending on the variety. From culinary delights to calming aromatherapy, from stunning garden displays to practical cleaning solutions, there is a lavender variety to suit every need. By understanding the different characteristics and uses of each type, you can make the most of this wonderful herb, enhancing your life with its beauty, fragrance, and benefits.
Whether you’re a gardener, a DIY enthusiast, or someone who loves natural remedies, exploring the various types of lavender opens up a world of possibilities. Happy planting and enjoying the many wonders of lavender!