Accession Count: 0
Common Name:
French lavender, fringed lavender
Family Name:
Lamiaceae
Botanical Name:
Lavandula dentata
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
Lavandula dentata is a semi-woody, evergreen, perennial shrub, reaching a height of up to 3ft, and a spread of 3ft wide (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9). Lavandula dentata also has an extensive root system (7,8). This plant’s leaves are lance-shaped with dentate leaf margins, each with a grey-green adaxial surface and a light pubescence on the ad- and abaxial surfaces giving the foliage a grey-green appearance overall (3,4,5,7,8,9). This plant produces unbranched terminal flower stalks that each bear a densely packed spike inflorescence of purple flowers (3,4,6,8). The flowers are perfect, and are a purple/blue coloration and are each tipped with a showy pale violet bract (1,2,3,4,6,8). The flowers are highly aromatic, possessing the classic lavender scent of other species in the genus, but are not as sweetly fragrant as English lavender, which has a more rosemary-like scent (1,2,3,4,6,7,8). This plant produces seeds from small dry schizocarp (3,8).
Compound:
Lav den
Geographic Origin:
Ecozone Origin:
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
Lavandula dentata is native to Europe, being especially common in the Mediterranean region, Madeira Islands, Canary Islands, and the Arabian Peninsula (2,3,4,5,7). France was the first to cultivate Lavandula dentata, hence its common name, French lavender (6). The specific epithet ‘dentata’ is Latin for ‘toothed’, given the pronounced fringe on this plant’s leaf margins (1,3,4,5,7,8,9). This plant is native to semi-arid and Mediterranean climatic regions, being found in open woodland, banks, and rocky limestone slopes (2,3,4,5,7)
Cultivation Notes:
Lavandula dentata is lauded not only for its beauty and long-lasting blooms, but also for its ease of care compared to other species in the same genus (4,7,8). French lavender needs bright direct sun to thrive, being highly intolerant of shade (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9). This plant thrives in USDA zones 8-11, and is not frost-tolerant (1,2,4,6). This plant prefers hot and dry conditions, and is drought and heat tolerant (1,2,3,4,5,6,7). This plant would benefit from a soak-and-dry watering method, as it is highly intolerant of overwatering. This plant is highly susceptible to root-rot and will perish when sitting in standing water or excessively soggy soil (6,7,9). French lavender prefers sandy, well-drained soils, but will tolerate loamy and clay soils if proper drainage is permitted (2,3,4,5,6,7,9). However, when grown in rich soils, this plant will express excessive vegetative growth with reduced essential oil production (2). In the field, these plants are often planted in elevated mounds to encourage better drainage (7). French lavender tolerates a wide range of soil pH, preferring mildly alkaline and neutral, mostly being sensitive to excessively acidic soil (2,3,7,9). French lavender is also tolerant of saline soils and maritime exposure (2,3,9). This plant can be propagated by seed, layering, and cutting propagation (6,8). For layering, de-foliate 10-15 cm in the middle of a stem, leaving some foliage on the distal end, and cover the bare portion with moist soil (6). New plants will soon root from the mother plant, which can then be cut away and replanted (6). For seed propagation, seeds should be sown in a cold period of spring, directly into moist soil, and germination should take two weeks (6). This plant blooms from the spring until the fall, however in warmer climates it can bloom year-round (2,3,4,6,7). If being cultivated for essential oil, light, soil, and watering requirements must be met for optimal oil production (2,3). This plant does very well in pots, although it has an extensive root system and care should be taken to assign pots that provide enough room for healthy root growth (7,8,9). Lavandula dentata is Deer resistant (9). This plant is generally pest resistant, although it can suffer from rosemary beetle and sage leafhoppers (3). This plant is also susceptible to grey molds and Xylella fastidiosa bacterial infections (3)
Ethnobotany:
Lavandula dentata is an exceedingly popular choice for many gardeners, for its elegant form, aromatics, and unique silvery-green fringed foliage (5,6,9). Lavandula dentata is often steam distilled for its aromatic oil compounds, being used in aromatherapy, soaps, lotions, and perfumes (1,5,6,7). However, it is not as fragrant as its close relative English lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, and therefore is not used as often for commercial essential oil production (1,5,6,7). The volatile oils in this plant naturally repel many species of insects including moths, fleas, flies, and mosquitoes (6). However, the plant itself attracts many pollinators with its lovely flowers, being especially enticing to bees and butterflies (2,6,9). The flower stems are often dried and tied in small bundles for potpourri, or sometimes burnt as incense sticks (2,7). This plant is drought tolerant as well as tolerant of urban pollution, making it suitable for inter-city and xeriscape application (9). French lavender is also a great choice in coastal communities as it is fairly tolerant of saline soils and maritime exposure (2,3,9). Some regions of southeastern Spain use this plant as an herbal remedy for stomachache (4) French lavender is not used as often as English lavender for culinary uses, as its flavor is not as pleasant, although it is often steeped as an herbal tea (5,6). This plant is sometimes used as a deterrent to keep mice out of kitchen cabinets. French lavender’s lovely, ruffled appearance makes it a favorite accent piece in gardens, thriving as a potted plant or border plant (5,6)
Height:
0 - 5 feet
Width:
0 - 5 feet
Growth Rate:
Grow Season:
Summer
Flower Season:
Spring
Color:
Purple
Function:
Accent
Spread:
Spreading
Allergen:
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Tender
Water Use:
Low water Use
