You know that there are many lavender varieties if you like us love it. As with many things, you’ve discovered that not all lavenders are created equal. This guide will take you through some of the popular lavender types and their various uses. You can make an informed decision about the type of lavender that is best for you by understanding their differences.
When you research lavender, you’ll learn that the plants are not homogenous. There is a lot of variety among different varieties.
Common Lavender Varieties
You’ll most likely find English lavender, French lavender, or Spanish lavender.
The most common type of lavender is English lavender or Lavandula Anggustifolia. The sweet floral scent is used in many products including potpourri, soaps, and perfumes. You can also diffuse the oil to create a soothing aroma as part of your evening routine.
French lavender is less common than other varieties of lavender. The lavender has an aromatic smell that is similar to camphor. It’s also used for soothing, moisturizing, and hydrating the skin.
Spanish lavender is the rarest variety of lavender oil. It has a pungent, strong aroma that’s used for perfumes.
We’ll discuss less-common varieties, like Portuguese lavender or lavender cotton, later in this guide.
English lavender (Lavandula Agustifolia)
The English Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia), is an extremely versatile plant that has many benefits and uses. This lavender is popular for its strong scent, which makes it an excellent choice when making essential oils, potpourri, and sachets. These dried flowers are also a great addition to craft and baking projects.
Many cosmetics, including bath and body products, contain lavender because of its relaxing and calming aroma.
It is easy to grow English lavender in many gardens. The plant prefers full sun, well-drained ground, and nutrient-rich soil. Lavender can be grown from seeds, divisions, or cuttings.
The lavender flower blooms in late spring and early summer. Bees are attracted to the beautiful blue or purple flowers. The lavender is often used as a companion crop to other crops to repel pests.
Harvesting lavender to use for dried arrangements or extracting essential oil is best done as soon as the flower opens. The trick to harvesting lavender is to do it early in the morning before the sun wilts your flowers.
French lavender (Lavandula Stoechas)
French lavender can reach a height of up to 2 feet. The plant has long stems with small purple flowers and dark green, shiny leaves. French lavender, a native to the Mediterranean area, is cultivated all over Europe. You can also see beautiful fields in Spain and Italy.
French lavender is a beautiful plant with a fragrant scent that can be used for many purposes. Easy to maintain, it’s beautiful and adds an aroma to any garden or home.
Spanish lavender (Lavandula Burnatii)
Spanish lavender is an attractive, aromatic, versatile, and beautiful plant. It has many health benefits. Spanish lavender’s strong and pleasing aroma is most commonly used in aromatherapy to create a relaxing, calm environment. Many cosmetics and skin care products include lavender essential oil because it has cleansing and soothing properties for the skin.
But Spanish lavender has more to offer than just its pretty appearance! The tough plant can also be used for landscaping and gardening. The plant is drought-resistant and thrives in dry, poor soils. Spanish lavender can be used in gardens and flowerbeds as an accent or border plant.
Portuguese lavender (Lavandula Latifolia)
The Portuguese lavender (Lavandula Latiflora) is one of the less-known species in the family of lavenders. The plant is also native to the Mediterranean and widely grown as an ornamental. Portuguese lavender grows to be a large, gray-green shrub that has distinct purple flowers. Flowers are produced on spikes up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) in length. The Portuguese lavender is also drought-tolerant, and it thrives in full sun.
Lavender cotton (Santolina Chamaecyparissus)
Santolina Chamaecyparissus is one of the many species of lavender. It comes from the Mediterranean where, as with its other cousins, it gets all the sunlight it requires to thrive. The lavender cotton plant, or Santolina chamaecyparissus, is characterized by its white, small flowers, and the ability to grow in sandy, dry soils. Like Portuguese lavender, Lavender Cotton is a popular ornamental, but it has many practical applications.
lavender cotton oil flower has a different scent than other types of lavender. It is used in cosmetics and soaps. Oil from the plant has a powerful scent which helps to reduce outdoor irritations.
Tea can be made by adding dried lavender flowers to hot water. The floral fragrance makes it a favorite ingredient for potpourris, sachets, and other products.
Lavender cotton, like other lavenders, is low maintenance and easy to care for. It thrives in full sunlight and soil that is well-drained. It is drought-resistant and does not require much fertilizer. Once established, lavender cotton requires very little maintenance.
There are So Many Different Lavenders to Choose from.
Lavender varieties offer a wide range of colors, fragrances, and health benefits. We invite you to discover the many varieties of lavender as you embark on your journey, be it as an accent in your garden or a floral fragrance for your home.