Lavender Lavender

There lavender, Lavadula, is a herbaceous perennial plant cultivated for ornamental purposes almost everywhere for its decorative design and for the intense and pleasant scent of its flowers similar to spikes.

Characteristics and generalities of lavender

There lavender is an evergreen bushy plant native to the Mediterranean basin that belongs to the Lamiaceae family.

From the root system, consisting of numerous fasciculated roots, semi-woody stems covered with leaves very narrow silvery lanceolate intensely perfumed.

Read also: Lavender – Lavandula latifolia

THE flowers they are spiked inflorescences with different scents (citrus, camphor, rosemary) that appear at the apexes of the erect stems.

Flowering

The flowering period of lavender depends on the variety, generally occurs in the spring – summer period.

Lavender cultivation

Exposure

Likes sunny and well-ventilated exposures. Some species tolerate intense heat, others fear cold.

Ground

It is a rustic plant that adapts well to all types of soil while preferring calcareous, alkaline and well-drained ones.

Watering

It is a plant that should be watered only when the soil is completely dry. In potted plants it is advisable to empty the saucer to prevent root rot.

Fertilization

In spring, give some liquid fertilizer, specific for green plants, diluted in the watering water.

Lavender-Lavender: cultivation in pots

It is an easy plant to grow in pots, perfect for embellishing balconies and terraces.

You may be interested in: Lavandula dentata – Spigonardo

It is sufficient to use a nice tall and capacious pot, a good dry soil and some expanded clay to be placed on the bottom of the pot to facilitate drainage.

The pot should be placed in a sunny and ventilated place and watering should be done when the soil is completely dry, avoiding water stagnation in the saucer.

As it is a cold sensitive plant, as soon as the temperatures start to drop, it will need to be moved to a sheltered but bright environment.

Repotting lavender

Pot-grown lavender plants need repotting into larger containers as the roots protrude from the water drainage holes.

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Multiplication of lavender

Lavender reproduces by seed and by cutting.

Sowing

The sowing of the achenes must be done in a seedbed with a soil mixed with sand always kept humid until the buds appear. When the sprouted seedlings are strong enough they can be transferred to the ground or in pots. Direct sowing in the field takes place in spring.

Multiplication by cuttings

The cuttings are carried out in spring by taking some lateral branches about 10-15 cm long which must be rooted in mixed soil composed of sand and peat and the containers must be placed in bright and sheltered areas from the cold.

Lavender plant

The planting of lavender plants in the ground is carried out in spring. The planting soil, as for other acidophilic plants, must be acid mixed with draining materials (perlite, pine flakes). To create flower beds or borders, Lavender plants must be planted at 30-50 cm between the rows and 50-100 cm on the row.

Pruning of lavender

Lavender pruning is done at the end of flowering by trimming the apical shoots or cutting the stems more drastically, to favor stumbling and more compact the shrub.

Diseases and pests of lavender

Lavender fears root rot caused by water stagnation.

In too humid environments it could be attacked by the fungus Septoria which manifests itself with light spots on the leaves.

Lavender drying and storage

Let’s see how to dry lavender, when to cut the twigs and how to store it to perfume the house, drawers and keep moths away from closets.

There lavender or Lavadula is an evergreen aromatic plant that produces intensely scented blue-violet spiked inflorescences.

The tiny ones flowers that form the ears as well as being rich in healthy active ingredients for our body are useful useful for the preparation of natural deodorants for the environment, to keep mosquitoes away, to protect perfume drawers and linen and keep away from the meshes of wool the fearsome moths.

THE lavender flowers you can easily buy them in herbal medicine or those who want to can try to dry those of lavender grown in pots or in the garden

Procedure for drying lavender flowers

If you have a lavender plant, of any variety, from officinal to Stoechas with larger flowers and greener leaves, put on a pair of gardening gloves, take your well-sharpened and disinfected shears and proceed as follows:

Cut the stems with the lavender flowers to about 20 centimeters long, then form small bunches and proceed with drying.

Tie the branches in bunches with thread or string and put them to dry in a dry and ventilated place.

In the evening, withdraw the bunch of lavender and put it back in the sun the next day until completely dry.

Preservation of lavender

Shell the dried flowers, fill them with small bags or handkerchiefs even those of the favors, tie them and put them in the drawers or in the wardrobe.

Variety of Lavender

Lavender is a family of plants that has several varieties and, even if slightly, they differ from each other in size, leaves, flowers and hardiness.

Lavender spicata or officinal lavender

There Lavendula officinalis or spicata, also called True Lavender or Spico, native to the Mediterranean countries, is a plant entirely covered with hair that reaches even one meter in height. The erect branches have a quadrangular shape, linear gray-green leaves and long, very fragrant greyish-blue flowers that sprout in summer at the tips of the stems.

Lavender stoechas

Lavender, Lavandula stoechas, is a variety characterized by narrow, linear gray-green leaves covered with a thin down and is certainly the most fragrant flower variety whose deep purple bracts persist on the stems even after flowering which occurs in the spring – summer period.

The fragrant flowers that appear from spring and throughout the summer are used in the preparation of lavender colonies.

The leaves are very narrow and linear, covered with a thick and soft down.

Lavandula latifolia

The larger Lavendula latifolia is the least widespread variety in the wild.

Lavandula angustifolia

It is the most cultivated variety in gardens for borders and hedges. Characterized by more modest dimensions, 20-60 cm, erect stems with very small green leaves and much more showy and showy fragrant flowers that appear in summer.

Toothed lavender

The dentate or spigonard lavender, typical of Mediterranean countries, has opposite linear leaves, hairy with strongly toothed margins. In summer it produces light blue flowers surrounded by light violet bracts.

It is a lavender variety that loves temperate climates and protection during the winter.

Properties and uses of lavender

There lavender, Lavandula officinalis, well known for its delicate scent and cultivation for ornamental purposes, possesses numerous phytotherapeutic properties and many uses.

In particular it has the following properties:

• Relaxing is soothing: for internal use it is indicated to relieve headaches, nausea and hiccups. Calms muscle spasms, thins bile and helps liver function. The herbal teas lavender helps fight stress and anxiety.
• Balsamic: in the case of colds, they make secretions more fluid, facilitate their elimination, thus improving breathing.

In the phytotherapeutic field, lavender is used for ointments against insect bites, infusions and relaxing baths.

In perfumery, lavender is used for the preparation of delicate colognes, soaps, deodorants and salts.

In cosmetics for the preparation of creams.

At home to perfume rooms, furniture and for the preparation of lavender vinegar against ants.

Infusion of lavender flowers

For internal use has effects tranquilizers. It should be consumed in moderation and only when there is no inflammation in place.
It is prepared by putting half a teaspoon of flowers in a cup of hot water for 5 minutes. Filter and drink a maximum of one cup as needed.

Lavender clutches

They are suitable for external use cutaneous in case of rheumatic pains, itching, insect bites and skin irritations. The clutches they can be applied either with the mother tincture directly on the skin or with 3-4 drops of essential oil diluted in sweet almond oil.

Fumenti

The fumenti are indicated in cases of diseases of the airways and to enhance their beneficial action add thyme and eucalyptol.

Purifying bath

The dried lavender flowers, closed in bags, added to the bath water exert a purifying action on the skin, help you relax and breathe better.

Lavender deodorant for the home

To perfume the house, just put a few drops of lavender essential oil in the appropriate room diffusers.

The lavender-scented environment becomes relaxing and soothing.

Natural Mothproof Lavender

The bags of dried lavender flowers make the linen pleasantly scented and keep moths away.

Mosquito repellent lavender

The dried lavender flowers are …