Lavender is a lovely evergreen plant originally from southern Europe, the Mediterranean, North and East Africa, Arabia, India, and the Canary Islands. Nowadays, it’s grown worldwide for both personal and commercial purposes.

Historical Use

Lavender has a rich history across different cultures. The early Egyptians used lavender-soaked shrouds to embalm mummies, keeping insects away and preserving the bodies. The ancient Greeks used it to treat muscle aches, insomnia, and even insanity. Romans used lavender in their baths for purification, and they named it from the Latin word “Lavare,” meaning “to wash.” During the plague in Medieval Europe, people wore lavender sprigs to ward off the Black Death. Lavender was also used to wash clothes, as an antiseptic in World War I, and to treat burns.

Modern Uses of Lavender

Lavender is packed with therapeutic benefits and is used for various health conditions. It can lift your mood, reduce mental stress, and revive a tired nervous system. It also has sedative properties, making it a relaxing tonic for both mind and body. Lavender can help relieve stress, tension headaches, and migraines. Its anti-inflammatory properties can reduce joint and muscle pain. It’s great for soothing chapped skin, wounds, bites, and skin conditions like dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis. Lavender also aids digestion and can ease nausea, vomiting, indigestion, colic, and gas. In aromatherapy, it can help with respiratory issues like coughs, colds, bronchitis, asthma, sore throats, laryngitis, and even pneumonia.

Lavender Species

There are over twenty different species of lavender, with numerous cultivars and hybrids. The three main types for home and commercial use are true lavender, spike lavender, and lavandin.

English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia, officinalis, vera): Known as common or English lavender, this type is famous for its sweet floral aroma. It grows best in full sun and well-drained, alkaline soil in USDA zones 5 through 9. It can reach a height of 1 to 3 feet and is often used in rock gardens, as a border in formal gardens, or in wildflower gardens to attract pollinators. Regular deadheading and occasional heavy pruning keep it looking neat.

Spike Lavender (Lavandula spica, latifolia): This plant has broader leaves and a coarser texture, often called broadleaved lavender. It has a eucalyptus-like aroma and is used in soaps, insect repellents, room sprays, and deodorants. It’s hardy in USDA zones 6-9 and prefers full sun and well-drained soil. While it yields more essential oil than common lavender, it’s not as potent.

Lavandin (L. x intermedia): A hybrid of common and spike lavender, lavandin is a hardy but sterile plant, meaning it can’t reproduce with seeds and requires cuttings. It has long stems and larger, pointed flowers. The oil from lavandin is used in personal care and household products, and the flowers are common in potpourri. It has a spicy aroma and is used in aromatherapy for its clarifying, purifying, and balancing properties.

How to Harvest Lavender

The best time to harvest lavender is when buds have formed but before the flowers open. Gather a handful of long flower stems and snip them at the base. Wrap the bundle with twine and dry it in a warm, dry location out of direct sunlight. Lavender usually dries in 2-4 weeks, after which you can store it in a jar in a cool, dark place.

Tips for Planting & Growing Lavender

Lavender prefers well-drained soil. If your soil doesn’t drain well, add builder’s sand before planting or use a raised bed. The soil should be alkaline with a pH of 6.5 or higher. Plant lavender about 18 inches apart in full sun with good air circulation. Allow the soil to dry completely before watering. To prevent fungus, sprinkle sand or small pebbles around the plant to help humidity evaporate faster. In the fall, sprinkle bone meal around each plant and work it into the soil.

Planting Lavender Seeds

To grow lavender from seeds, start three months before the last spring frost. Place seeds in a plastic bag with peat moss in the refrigerator for five weeks. Then, prepare a planting tray with a mix of sand and seed-starting mix, moisten it, and plant the seeds. Keep the tray in a sunny spot and maintain the temperature with a warming mat. After germination, transplant the seedlings to small pots and then to the garden after two months.

Lavender Uses

Lavender has many uses:
– Make a soothing tea with dried lavender and chamomile.
– Freshen drawers with lavender sachets.
– Create aromatic candles with lavender buds and essential oil.
– Make a room spray with lavender, tea tree, and peppermint oils.
– Dab lavender oil on bug bites to ease itching.
– Add a few drops of lavender oil to your pillow for better sleep.
– Rub lavender oil on temples to relieve headaches.
– Massage lavender oil into sore spots to reduce inflammation.
– Use a diffuser with lavender oil for therapeutic benefits.
– Add lavender flowers to vanilla ice cream for a unique treat.
– Garnish dishes with lavender blooms.
– Make lavender-infused vinegar for cooking.
– Enjoy a relaxing bath with a mix of salts, baking soda, and lavender oil.
– Keep skin fresh with a lavender sugar scrub.
– Reduce menstrual cramps with lavender oil and a carrier oil.
– Use fresh lavender flowers to repel moths and silverfish.
– Revive your face with a lavender facial tonic.
– Ease sunburn with a mix of lavender oil and aloe vera gel.
– Place fresh lavender bouquets around your home for a sweet aroma.