Spanish Lavender
(L. stoechas)
General Description
In zones lower than 8, this variety should be grown as container plants and brought indoors for the winter. All have at least some cold hardiness but they thrive best in lower latitude Mediterranean climate gardens. They are tough plants and perform well under a wide variety of conditions around the world, but are far less hardy than English lavenders. They are only reliable down to about 20 degrees F.
Bloom Period
Profuse in most climates in early summer, somewhat overlapping blooming period of English lavenders. In many areas, especially those with mild summers and winters, an early rush of bloom occurs in midspring, plants bloom in early summer with another flush of color in fall. Be sure to prune after peak summer bloom to encourage shorter and sturdier flower stems.
Uses
Landscaping
- many have pleasant and refreshing herbal fragrances which are pleasant
in the garden.
Typical landscape uses is in mass planting for a middle ground of a border
or landscape planting with taller shrubs behind and low-growing plants in
the foreground. They can also be used as ground cover. This tightly knit shrub
can be planted as an informal, somewhat spherical hedge or clipped tightly
into formal topiary or hedge shape. Also good plant for indoors and thrives
in large pots.
Aroma
- An active component of Spanish lavender is the compound fenchone which contributes
a fresh piney tang, camphoric elements and sweet lime scents. Fenchone is
used to provide a lift in low-priced soaps, bath preparations and room sprays
and to mask odors. Spanish lavender yields more oil per acre harvested than
English lavender.
Culinary: Although scent of Spanish lavender is
a bit more medicinal than that of English lavender, the cooked or grilled
foliage has little medicinal taste and stands up well to game, red meat and
other hardy dishes. This is not the foliage to be used for sweet desserts,
ice cream or sorbet. Not a good variety to use for culinary purposes.
Medicinal. Used in southern Europe to alleviate
nausea and externally as insect repellant, antiseptic, and relaxant.
Cultivars
Atlas |
Pippa
White |