Lavandula dentata - Lavender

Lavandula dentata, is called  English lavender in France, and 'French Lavender' in England, but is actually native to Spain and Morocco. This large lavender forms a beautiful rounded mass, with leaves that are toothed along the edges and remarkably aromatic. In mild climates, the plant can flower from July to October, producing dense spikes composed of small light blue flowers topped with decorative mauve bracts. Incredibly decorative, even in winter, this lavender deserves to be planted in full sun, in a very sheltered spot, protected by a wall for example. Not very hardy, it will withstand frost better if the soil it is planted in is perfectly well-drained and dry in winter.

Lavandula dentata is a shrub with woody stems in the family Lamiaceae, related to sage, thyme, mint, and rosemary. Native to the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco, it is a plant typical of Mediterranean climates, very dry in summer, and even in winter. Its natural habitat consists of low hills, and it thrives in limestone, poor, and very well-drained soils, including sandy and rocky soil. It is a remarkably aromatic lavender, but its cultivation is quite delicate: it perishes below -5/-6°C (23/21.2°F) and does not appreciate soils that are both wet and warm in summer, or too wet in winter. It can be grown in a pot, with careful watering which should be spaced out in summer to allow the substrate to dry between waterings, and reduced in winter.

Lavandula dentata forms a small rounded and bushy shrub, composed of leafy stems with quadrangular cross-sections. At maturity, it will reach between 60 and 80 cm (24 and 32in) in all directions, sometimes more. Its foliage undergoes marked seasonal dimorphism: during the rainy season, from autumn to spring, it consists of large almond-green leaves. With the arrival of summer, heat and drought, this foliage is replaced by much smaller, woolly-looking grey leaves, tightly arranged vertically along the branches. Each elongated leaf is bordered by a multitude of small teeth. The flowering is renewed as long as it is neither too cold nor too dry. In areas with borderline hardiness, the main flowering occurs in spring, from March to June-July, with a small resurgence in October. At the top of the leafy stems, small spikes of blue flowers bloom, crowned with a tuft of violet bracts. This flowering is highly visited by pollinating insects.

With its significant growth, unique foliage, fragrance, and generous flowering, this lavender is one of the most beautiful in its genus. It has its rightful place in a Mediterranean style garden, which is not too cold and or too wet, alongside rockroses, rosemary, teucriums, and other shrubs of these dry areas. It can also be associated with grasses such as Stipa pennata or Stipa tenuifolia, which, with their tousled appearance, will contrast with its rounded shape and create a harmonious association, sometimes found in nature. It also works wonders among evening primroses, perennial flax, asphodels, euphorbias, or dark shrubs like dwarf conifers. It pairs particularly well with a small bindweed called Convolvulus althaeoides. It is also possible to mix several varieties of lavender together, creating an elegant display with a variety of flower and foliage colours, as well as different plant sizes.

Properties: Lavandula dentata is a very nectar-rich plant, it contributes to the conservation of bees: the nectar from its flowers attracts bees, making some of the best honey.  The plant can be distilled to obtain highly sought-after essential oil for perfume and aromatherapy.  Lavandula angustifolia is a medicinal plant.  Its numerous therapeutic properties are still widely used: its essential oil has antiseptic, antispasmodic, healing, cleansing, diuretic, and other properties.