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Lavender is one of the best known aromatic plants. Therefore, in this Green Ecologist article we want to introduce you to the various types of lavender so that you can learn to differentiate them and choose the one you like the most, either for its shape and size, for its more or less intense color or for its more or less remarkable aroma. In addition, the care of the lavender plant is simple and that makes them suitable plants for beginners.
Go ahead and learn more about them by reading this article that brings you closer to 12 types of lavender, their names, characteristics and photos.
Lavender officinalis or common lavender
Belonging to the labiates family, this aromatic plant It has woody stems and opposite leaves. Its flowering occurs in early summer, providing the plant with inflorescences of purple, attributed to this species. In addition to its pleasant perfume, the Lavender officinalis plants They are cultivated for their ornamental value and medicinal properties.
If you like plants with an intense and pleasant aroma and with great medicinal properties, we recommend this other post by Green Ecologist about the different types of aromatic and medicinal plants.
Lavandula angustifolia or lavender
East kind of lavender it is endemic to Europe, specifically Italy and France. Its leaves are greyish-green in color and can be up to six centimeters long. Shrubby type, the lavandula angustifolia it reaches a height close to one and a half meters. Its flowers appear in long-stemmed inflorescences that can measure up to 9 centimeters. It is usually used both as a food seasoning, especially to prepare infusions.
Lavandula dentata
Native to the western Mediterranean, the Lavandula dentata takes its name from the serrated leaves on its woody stems. This plant prefers limestone soils and can grow to a height of almost five feet. Also noteworthy are the coloration of its greyish green leaves and its mauve spike flower terminations. It is used mainly as an ornamental plant, but also to make perfumes or even to relieve stomach pain.
Lavandula latifolia
Of Spanish origin, unlike others types of lavender, it gives off a somewhat unpleasant aroma. Therefore, it is easy to recognize by this aroma, which is totally contrary to that of most species of this type of aromatic plant. Its leaves can measure up to ten centimeters in length and its flowers are grouped in spikes. These, of purplish color, are used both for their medicinal values and for their ornamental beauty.
Lavandula stoechas
The Lavandula stoechas stands out for its flowers. These are arranged in inflorescences compacted in herringbone shape quadrangular and you end up in three bracts of purplish or reddish color. Its leaves are grayish green. Coming from the Mediterranean basin and Macaronesia, it can reach more than one meter in height.
Lavandula lanata
This type of lavender, with leaves covered by a small woolly bed, is typical of mountain climates. Its flower spikes can measure up to 20 centimeters long and are of lilac. The Lavandula lanata It is of Spanish origin and is very characteristic of the Serranía de Ronda, in Malaga, although it can also be found in its natural state in other provinces of Andalusia.
Lavandula viridis
Also known as green lavender or green lavender It is typical of the Sierra de Aracena, in Huelva. Its lanceolate leaves usually measure up to 10 centimeters. Its inflorescences, unlike the vast majority of lavenders, are almost greenish-cream in color, hence its name. It is used for its medicinal values and as an ornamental plant.
Lavandula allardii
This hybrid formed between the lavandula latifolia and Lavandula dentata is also known as Allard Lavender, It is a striking shrub used in gardening for its ornamental value. One of its most striking characteristics is its bushy shape with a rounded crown and its pale lilac or blue flowers.
Lavandula canariensis
The lavandula canariensis it is an endemic species of the Canary archipelago. This shrub can be up to a meter and a half tall and has opposite green leaves and glabrous stems.
One of its most distinctive features is that the flowers are quite different from those of other types of lavender, and as you can see in the image, their shape is different, although it maintains a purple.
Lavandula Hybrida
This type of lavender is the product of a hybridization between Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula latifolia. It stands out for being a highly flowering lavender, which is why it is highly valued by gardening enthusiasts. Colloquially known as lavandin It is cultivated for its medicinal properties and for its essential oil, widely used in parapharmacy.
Lavandula multifida
This type of lavender usually grows near the coast, although this does not prevent it from being grown far from the sea. Of African origin, it has very divided leaves covered by a thin layer of whitish hair. The Lavandula multifida flowers They are grouped in inflorescences of cscent between purple and indigo.
If you like to have your own lavenders at home, learn here how and when to prune lavender so that you can fully enjoy it, either as a home air freshener or as an infusion.
Lavandula pinnata
This type of lavender also has, as in the case of the multifid lavandula, divided leaves. Native to the Canary Islands and Madeira, it has inflorescences that are grouped three by three. The Lavandula pinnata it is used primarily as an ornamental plant.
If you like the different types of lavender and you want to have some at home, we tell you the care of the potted lavender plant.
If you want to read more articles similar to 12 types of lavender, we recommend that you enter our category of Cultivation and care of plants.
