Family: Lamiaceae
Common name: Spanish lavender, Topped lavender, Butterfly lavender, French lavender
Spanish lavender is an aromatic herb closely related to but slightly inferior to its more famous cousin, the English Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia since the essential oil produced is of slightly inferior quality.
Belonging to the mint family of Lamiaceae, these plants grow well in gardens, parks, or landscaped areas with some care and attention.
Plant characteristics
Spanish Lavender plants can grow to a height of 60-100 cm with a highly branched stem creating small mounds densely packed with leaves. The stem is hard and woody towards the base, soft and tender towards the tip.
Leaves are thin and long, about 2-4 cm, covered with thin, white fuzzy hairs. Spanish lavender leaves are grey-green in color and stays green throughout the year, adding to the plant’s ornamental value.
Flowers are the most distinctive feature of the Spanish lavender. Deep purple flowers are roughly conical in shape with a rectangular cross-section, and rabbit-ear like petals at the top.
The petals on top are actually modified bracts that are mostly purple, but some variants have white bracts.
During late spring and summer, the plants bloom in abundance producing dense clusters of flowers at the tip of the stem. They look very pretty in flower beds, especially when paired with complimenting colors like yellow or white.
Once pollinated, these flowers produce small, dry nutlets that help in propagation.
Gardening Tips
Spanish lavender plants need bright sunlight and well-drained soil. They are tolerant to drought and need very little water to thrive and bloom regularly. Minimal fertilization during the growing and blooming season can help the plant stay healthy.
Pruning is essential to keep the plant bushy, and to remove the spent flowers. Prune once after the flowers start dying and once again after the flowering season to maintain the shape of the plant.
Uses of Spanish lavender
Flowers of this plants are used to produce essential oils that are used in aromatherapy and massages. Spanish lavender produces more essential oils than the more popular English lavender, but the oil is of slightly inferior in quality and aroma.
This oil is used to relieve chest congestion, digestive disorders, and nausea. They are also used to treat acne, cuts, wounds, ulcers, and sores.
Commercially, the essential oil obtained from Spanish lavender is used for making soaps, perfumes, and cosmetics. Leaves and flowers are used in pot-pourri and inside cabinets for their aroma. Stems can be burned as incense sticks.
Propagation is through seeds, stem cuttings, and root division, all of them very effective.
Photographed at: GKVK College of Agriculture, Bangalore and Cromwell road, London
