Mankind has had a love affair with lavender for centuries.
As well as its popularity as a fragrance, the plant is also embraced for its calmative qualities, and is sometimes used in cooking, too, as it is actually a member of the mint family.
The word lavender actually comes from the Latin word ‘lavare’, which means ‘to wash’, as it was often used to scent baths, clothes and more.
For those who like the smell, it is associated with calm and relaxation.
Though research into lavender’s medicinal properties is still small, some studies have shown lavender can be used as a complementary medicine to aid in the treatment of insomnia, anxiety, depression and PMS.
Though its medicinal use is often in the form of an oil, fresh lavender sprigs can be dried for use around the home and kitchen.
The plant itself is hardy, and tolerates our Mediterranean climate and alkaline soil well.
It should be planted in a sunny position with well-draining soil, either in the ground or a pot, and fed at the beginning of spring with an all-purpose fertilizer.
A light application of potash at this time can improve the abundance and longevity of blooms.
Pruning should be done soon after the first flush of flowers for a season.
Cut back up to about 20 centimetres (though avoid hacking into the woody stems).
There are a range of lavender varieties available commercially, but the three most popular are Lavendula dentata (French lavender), Lavendula aromatico (English lavender) and Lavender Avonview.
French lavender is probably the most common of the three, as its sprigs are easily dried for home use.
It is a compact shrub that can get to one metre in height, and its flowers, the classic tight, fragrant purple spears, bloom for a much longer period than others.
It is often used for hedges, and can be pruned into the desired shape.
English lavender has much more spindly, less-compact flower spikes, which can look lovely when they blow in the breeze.
The flowers are blue to purple in colour, and bloom through spring and summer.
The shrub grows to 30 centimeters in height.
Avonview lavender (pictured above) is also quite popular, for its frilly ‘butterfly wings’.
It grows to one metre in height and is appropriate for hedging, with a similar growth habit to the French lavender.
Do you have a gardening question for Jess? Send your queries to jess.cocker ill@fairfaxmedia.com.au
