Types of Lavender

Posted by Jane | Added on : October 21, 2008 06:59am | Last edited: October 27, 2009 6:59pm | Viewed 2899 times | 0 Comments

Lavender is very popular among gardeners because of its beauty and fragrance. This plant adds not only a grace to your garden but it will also leave you refreshed with its subtle scent. This article lists the types of lavenders available.

English Lavender, also known as True Lavender, is the most widely found lavender. The plant has narrow leaves and short stems. The flowers are compact and have long stems. The flowers are valued for their strong fragrance. This plant flowers in late spring. The fragrance of English Lavender is considered top quality and is valued high than any other lavender type.

Spike Lavender has broader leaves than English lavender. The flowers are long and spiked. Their fragrance is not as strong as that of English lavender. Though the fragrance of Spike lavender is not considered high quality, they are still used in making oils, deodorants and soaps. A unique quality of Spike lavender is that along with the lavender fragrance, it also has a touch of eucalyptus aroma. This makes the flowers a good candidate for oil extraction used in aromatherapy.

French Lavender, or Lavandin, has long stems and long flower spikes. This is a result of cross pollination between English and Spike lavender. The plant can grow up to 2 feet in height. Though these are not as strongly scented as English lavender, they are still used for oil extraction. These are easier to grow and look good in any garden owing to their large blooms. This requires pruning in late fall.

It is a good idea to mix and match two different lavender types so that you can get the best of both. The delicate flowers will enhance the beauty of your garden and the flowers can be used in the kitchen or used for their fragrance.