Lavandula stoechas
French Lavender
a perennial woody evergreen member of the Lavandula genus in the family Labiatae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
French lavender has similar medicinal properties to common lavender (L. angustifolia). It yields more essential oil than that species but is of inferior quality[11]. The flowers, and the essential oil derived from them, are antiasthmatic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, digestive and expectorant[13][14][17][9]. It is used internally to alleviate nausea[9]. Externally, the essential oil is used as an antiseptic wash for wounds, ulcers, sores etc and as a relaxing oil for massage[9][11].
- Product or use
- Antiasthmatic
- Product or use
- Antiseptic
- Product or use
- Antispasmodic
- Product or use
- Digestive
- Product or use
- Expectorant
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
An essential oil is obtained from the flowers - used in soap making, perfumery, medicinally etc[15][17]. When growing the plant for its essential oil content, it is best to harvest the flowering stems as soon as the flowers have faded[10]. The aromatic leaves and flowers are used in pot-pourri, as an insect repellent in the linen cupboard etc[19][4][9]. They are also used as a strewing herb in churches etc[13]. The flowering stems, once the flowers have been removed for use in pot-pourri etc, can be tied in small bundles and burnt as incense sticks[10].
- Product or use
- Essential
- Product or use
- Incense
- Product or use
- Pot-pourri
- Product or use
- Repellent
Environment
- Range
- S.W. Europe.
- Habitat
- Dry hills, garigue and open woods on limestone and granite soils[19].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 8+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- high wind, drought
- Wind
- Yes
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- tolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed[13]. It usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15°c. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for their first winter, planting them out in late spring after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood 7 - 10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Usually very east, a high percentage will root within a few weeks[18]. Grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter and plant them out in late spring after the last expected frosts. Cuttings 7cm with a heel succeed at almost any time of the year[1]. Layering.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in almost any soil so long as it is well-drained and not too acid[1][8]. Prefers a sunny position in a neutral to alkaline soil[1][8], growing well on chalk[2]. When grown in rich soils the plants tend to produce more leaves but less essential oils[13]. Grows well in a hot dry position[5]. Established plants are drought tolerant[7]. When growing for maximum essential oil content, the plant must be given a very warm sunny position and will do best in a light sandy soil, the fragrance being especially pronounced in a chalky soil[10]. Hardy to between -5 and -10°c[6], it is often killed in severe winters in Britain[2]. Plants are not very long-lived and soon become straggly unless pruned. Any trimming of the plant is best done in spring and should not be done in the autumn since this can encourage new growth that will not be very cold-hardy[8]. Polymorphic[8]. A good bee plant, also attracting butterflies and moths[12]. The flowering spike has showy infertile flowers to attract insects at the top of the stem and small fertile flowers beneath[7]. A good companion for most plants[16], growing well with cabbages[3].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7
Niebuhr. A. D. Herbs of Greece. Herb Society of America. 1970-00-00
Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00
Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2
Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent 1982-00-00 ISBN 0460045512
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148
Carter D. Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe. Pan 1982-00-00 ISBN 0-330-26642-x
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Allan. H. H. Flora of New Zealand. Government Printer, Wellington. 1961-00-00
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Hatfield. A. W. How to Enjoy your Weeds. Frederick Muller Ltd 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-584-10141-4
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00
Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7012-0784-1