Full Guide to Lavender

What is "Lavender Haze"?

You may know that the term “Lavender haze” from the 1950s often referred to being head over heels in love or being in the early, blissful stages of a relationship.
The phrase originated in the Mad Men series, which inspired Taylor Swift to use it in her song “Lavender Haze” to describe the feeling of being in an all-encompassing love glow. She explained that if you were in the lavender haze, you would do anything to stay there and not let people get you off that cloud when you’re in love.
So, lavender has a very positive connotation for most people.

The Lavender color

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Lavender is a medium purple or a light pinkish-purple. It is a lighter, cooler shade of purple, giving it a sense of lightheartedness and elegance. Often associated with femininity, gentleness, and tranquility, lavender evokes delicacy, nostalgia, and a romantic atmosphere.
The color is also associated with royalty and speaks of elegance and refinement.
Lavender works well with various colors, including neutrals like white, gray, and beige, and pastels like yellow, green, and pink. Art and design often use lavender to create a soothing and peaceful ambiance.
It reminds me of a softer purple, the color of Roman emperors and royalty. Lavender and other purple shades often evoke feelings of calmness and tranquility. People also associate them with creativity and imagination.

The lavender plant

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Lavender is one of the Mediterranean aromatic herbs par excellence—a synonym for the fragrance of the Mediterranean garden. Lavender blossoms symbolize innocence, quietness, commitment, tranquility, elegance, and peace.
Lavender is a genus of plants in the mint family (Lamiaceae) native to countries bordering the Mediterranean. People cultivated it for centuries primarily for its aromatic leaves and beautiful flowers.
Lavenders are petite evergreen bushes with gray-green, fuzzy, slender leaves and purple flowers. It smells good because of shining oil glands embedded among tiny star-shaped trichomes (plant hairs) that cover the flowers, leaves, and stems.
Cultivated plants typically do not yield seeds, and they are propagated either through cuttings or by splitting the roots.

How to Grow and Care for Lavender

I wrote a detailed article on growing and caring for lavender plants; click here to read it.

Lavender in gardening and landscaping

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Lavender is famous for gardens and landscapes due to its attractive flowers and calming scent. It also draws valuable pollinators like bees and butterflies.

Ornamental landscaping: Lavender plants are perennial, compact shrubs with slender gray-green leaves and tall flower spikes standing upright. The blossoms can vary in hues from rich purple and blue to pink, white, and several intermediate shades. The drought-tolerant plants thrive in well-draining, slightly alkaline soil with total sun exposure.
Hedge: Lavender works well as a short hedge. Many choose English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) for this role. If you have the space, I suggest you plant it in a line that will provide perfumed and colorful decoration.
Container gardening: Choose a container at least 12 inches or 30 cm in diameter with drainage holes. Fill the container with well-draining soil and place it in a sunny location. Water the plant when the soil is dry.
Companion planting: Lavender is an excellent companion plant, driving away pests while drawing in helpful insects. It is particularly effective at repelling moths, fleas, and mosquitoes. Place lavender near vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants to deter pests.
Cut flowers: Lavender flowers are perfect additions to floral arrangements.
Potpourri: Suspend lavender flowers upside down in a cool, dry location until they dry out. Then, mix them with other dried flowers and herbs to create a fragrant potpourri.

A brief history of lavender

Ancient Egypt
Lavender was used in ancient Egypt for various purposes, including embalming and cosmetics. Archaeologists discovered jars with unguents that seemed Lavender in Tutankhamun’s tomb. Royal families and high priests used these salves in cosmetics, massage oils, and medicinal preparations. Lavender was also used to repel insects and treat lice as a perfume and potpourri. It had a significant role in religious rituals and was associated with love and romance.

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The Roman Empire
The actual word “lavender” comes from the Latin verb “lavare,” which means “to wash”.
The ancient Romans valued lavender for its healing and antiseptic qualities and used it in washing. As we have seen, Dioscorides, a military physician, collected medicinal plants from around the Mediterranean.
In those times, a pound of flowers cost 100 denarii, equivalent to a farm worker’s monthly wage or fifty haircuts at a local barber. People used lavender in Roman baths for its pleasant aroma, believing it could rejuvenate the skin.
Pliny the Elder, a Greek author and scholar, highlighted its advantages in aiding individuals with menstrual issues, digestive disturbances, kidney ailments, jaundice, and edema and addressing insect stings. Romans, who perfumed themselves lavishly, used aromatic oils to perfume their hair, bodies, clothes, beds, baths, military standards, and houses.
Nardium was one of their most famous scented oils and included lavender. The Romans prized lavender and used it to scent the waters in both private and public bathhouses. They believed the use of lavender would not only impart its wonderful fragrance but partly cleanse and disinfect the water due to its antibacterial and antiviral properties. Lavender was also employed on Roman battlefields and in their medical facilities. They used lavender-infused water to cleanse and heal wounds. They believed that lavender’s antibacterial and antiviral qualities could prevent infections from establishing and possibly spreading in the bloodstream.

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Ancient Greece
In ancient Greece (as part of the Roman Empire), lavender was used for medicinal purposes. Dioscorides, a Greek physician and pharmacologist, wrote about the medicinal properties of lavender in his book “De Materia Medica” in the 1st century (77 AD). The book gained widespread circulation during the Middle Ages and saw translations into multiple languages. Dioscorides recommended lavender for treating various ailments, including digestive issues, headaches, and insomnia. In addition to its medicinal properties, lavender was also helpful for its fragrance. The Greeks infused their bathwater and clothing with the scent of lavender. Lavender was also used in religious ceremonies and was associated with the goddess Hecate. The Greeks believed lavender could protect against evil spirits and promote good health.

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Medieval Europe
In medieval Europe, monks and nuns used lavender in monastery gardens. People used lavender for its soothing fragrance when washing and bathing. Lavender was also used to repel insects and was placed in clothing and bedding to keep moths away. They also stored it in pouches and hung them in rooms to refresh the atmosphere. They also combined lavender with beeswax to shine furniture. This practice was reserved for the wealthy since beeswax was expensive.
People also (wrongly) believed that lavender could protect against the plague and other diseases.

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The Renaissance
During Tudor England, Merton Abbey was the center of lavender production in Mitcham, England. The manor ladies placed lavender among linens, sewed it into sweet bags, and used it to freshen the air. Prominent English herbalists like Gerard, Parkinson, and Culpepper wrote about lavender’s medicinal uses.
As another example, in France and Spain, women used it to wash; in both countries, these women “who washed” took their name from lavender. In France, they were “lavenders,” and in Spain, they were “lavanderas”. In Spanish, the modern word “lavandería” still refers to a place to do the laundry.

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The Industrial Revolution
During the Industrial Revolution, the textile industry used lavender to fragrance linen and apparel while incorporating it into soap and perfume production. Lavender’s appeal expanded into products like candles, potpourri, and air fresheners. Its popularity during the Industrial Revolution helped establish it as a staple herb in many households, and its use continued to be widespread well into the modern era.

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Modern Cultivation
Lavender cultivation expanded in the 20th century, with Provence in France becoming the world’s largest lavender-producing region.
Today, lavender is widely cultivated and appreciated for its fragrance and benefits on human well-being; let us see some of them.

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The Three most Famous Lavender Types

Spanish Lavender

Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas) is native to the Mediterranean region, including Spain, Portugal, and North Africa. Spanish lavender features slender leaves and lavender to pink-violet blossoms culminating in a “pineapple” shaped flower crown (bract). It is a small, fragrant shrub that grows up to 3 feet or 91 cm tall and 2 feet or 61 cm wide.

Credit Todd Ye

French Lavender

French Lavender (Lavandula dentata) is native to the Mediterranean region, including France, Spain, Italy, and Greece. It has toothed leaves and lavender-blue flowers that grow in whorls along the stem. French lavender is a small, fragrant shrub that grows up to 3 feet (roughly 91 cm) tall and 2 feet (61 cm) wide.

Credit Rachel_B

English Lavender

English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is a small, fragrant shrub that grows up to 3 feet (roughly 90 cm) tall and 2 feet (61 cm) wide in the Western Mediterranean region, including France, Spain, and Italy. It has narrow leaves and lavender-blue flowers that grow in whorls along the stem.

Credit Rebecca Elliott

Lavender Comparisons

Spanish Lavender vs. French Lavender

The main difference between Spanish and French Lavender is the appearance of their leaves. Spanish Lavender leaves are straight, whereas French lavender leaves have serrated margins. In the UK, people commonly call Lavandula stoechas “French lavender.” However, outside the UK, it is called Spanish lavender.

Spanish Lavender vs. English Lavender

Despite their similar looks often leading to confusion between Spanish and English Lavender, their names can also contribute to the mix-up. Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas) is called “French lavender” in the UK, but outside of that country, it is called Spanish Lavender. Interestingly, though it’s called “English” lavender, Lavandula angustifolia is not genuinely indigenous to the UK. It originated in the Western Mediterranean, Spain, France, and North Africa.

French Lavender vs. English Lavender

French Lavender (Lavandula dentata) is an evergreen shrub. Its name comes from its uniquely toothed (dentate) leaves emitting a pleasant aroma. English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is a small shrub with narrow leaves and tall, upright flower spikes. It is native to the Mediterranean region, including Spain, France, Italy, and Greece.

Credit Peter Greenway

What is lavender good for today?

Lavender has various benefits, including health and wellness benefits. According to medical sources, here are some of its benefits.
Remember, this website does not provide medical advice. If you need medical advice, please seek professional help. I only strive to provide curated, freely available general knowledge with my experience and insights:

Reduces pain and inflammation:

According to Dr.Lin in the Cleveland Clinic, the lavender plant contains different chemical compounds, like flavonoids, with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Helps with mood, anxiety, and depression:

Other compounds like linalool in lavender oil calm the nervous system, reduce anxiety, lift the spirit, and even lower blood pressure. The soothing scent of lavender sometimes helps alleviate stress, depression, and migraine headaches.

Supports sleep:

According to Mount Sinai, some studies suggest lavender can improve your body’s melatonin levels, improving sleep. Lavender smell increases brain activities and promotes relaxation, which can help with sleep disorders.

Culinary use:

1. Pairing lemon and lavender in baking works well in cookies, cakes, and other baked goods.
2. Infusing beverages like cocktails, sodas, or lemonades with lavender syrup will add a floral flavor with a touch of sweetness.
3. Brew lavender tea for 5-10 minutes and sweeten to your preference with sugar or honey. Some people also add lemon. It is important to note that lavender tea can cause some discomfort for people with allergies, just like chamomile or thyme tea.
4. If you are interested in the edible types of lavender and their culinary applications, you can read more about them here.

Lavender Essential Oil:

Lavender oil comes from the distillation of the flower spikes of certain lavender species. However, lavender essential oil is toxic when swallowed.

Medical News Today says it aids in healing minor burns and insect stings.

It might also be beneficial in addressing anxiety, sleeplessness, depression, and agitation. The oil serves cosmetic purposes and can also help combat hair loss.

Aromatherapy:

Lavender essential oil helps with mood issues, insomnia, and stress. Inhale it straight from the bottle or employ a diffuser to spread its calming scent throughout a room.

A study has demonstrated that it possesses antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.

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Important

It is imperative to note that even though lavender has many proven benefits, there isn’t sufficient evidence to endorse lavender as a treatment for conditions such as depression, high blood pressure, nausea, menstrual pain, or eczema.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) still needs to approve lavender; you should not take it instead of prescribed medicine. While the lavender plant has many documented benefits, like the ones described here, remember to consult a health professional if you require professional advice.
For more information, check the main sources I used to write this article below, and if you have any health issues, please always consult a qualified professional.

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The 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Cardamom

What is Lavender?

Lavender is a versatile flowering plant from the mint family, known for its fragrant purple blossoms and aromatic foliage. People use it for many things, including aromatherapy, culinary recipes, and skincare products.

What are the Different Types of Lavender?

There are numerous lavender varieties, each with its unique characteristics and uses. Some popular types include English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), French lavender (Lavandula dentata), Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas), and Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia).

How is Lavender Used in Aromatherapy?

Lavender essential oil is very common in aromatherapy for its calming and soothing properties. It’s often diffused, diluted in carrier oils for massage, or added to bathwater to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and improve sleep quality.

What are the Culinary Uses of Lavender?

Lavender is good for infusing syrups, sugars, honey, baked goods, teas, and savory dishes like roasted meats or vegetables.

How is Lavender Used in Skincare?

Lavender has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. You will find it in soaps, lotions, and creams, which help soothe irritated skin, alleviate minor burns or insect bites, and promote overall skin health.

How Do You Grow Lavender?

Lavender needs well-drained soil and full sunlight. It’s relatively low-maintenance but requires proper watering and pruning to encourage healthy growth and blooming. Lavender can be grown in gardens, containers, or indoors, depending on the available climate and space.

Are There Any Precautions When Using Lavender?

While lavender is generally safe for most people, some may experience allergic reactions or skin irritation. Do a patch test before using lavender products topically, and consult a healthcare professional if you’re pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or having any other concerns. Only ingest lavender essential oil with proper dilution and guidance from a professional.

What are lavender oil's benefits for hair?

Lavender oil can improve hair health by providing hydration, softness, and manageability. It also has aromatherapy capabilities, helping to calm the mind and relieve stress.

How Do You Preserve Lavender?

You can preserve it by drying the flowers or extracting the essential oil. Tie bundles of stems and hang them upside down in a dark, dry place. Once dried, store the flowers in airtight containers away from direct sunlight.

Can Lavender Help with Sleep?

Lavender is a natural remedy for improving sleep quality and promoting relaxation. Research indicates that inhaling the aroma of lavender or using lavender products before bedtime may help reduce insomnia symptoms and improve overall sleep duration and quality.