Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia
Description
overall appearance
Perennial evergreen shrub growing 1-3 feet tall and wide, forming dense, aromatic clumps with gray-green foliage and purple flower spikes.
roots
Deep taproot system with fibrous secondary roots; drought-adapted root structure extending several feet deep.
stem
Woody base with numerous branching stems; young stems are square in cross-section (characteristic of mint family), becoming round and woody with age.
leaves
Opposite, linear to lance-shaped leaves 1-2 inches long, gray-green in color with entire margins, densely covered with fine hairs giving silvery appearance.
flowers
Small, tubular, purple-blue flowers arranged in dense terminal spikes 2-4 inches long; blooms June through August with distinctive sweet, floral fragrance.
fruits/seeds
Small, smooth, brown nutlets about 1-2mm long; four nutlets per flower enclosed in persistent calyx.
Active Compounds
Traditional Uses
- European folk medicine for nervous conditions, insomnia, headaches
- Wound healing and antiseptic applications
- Digestive disorders and stomach upset
- Respiratory conditions and bronchitis
- Women's health and menstrual irregularities
- Perfumery and aromatherapy
Modern Applications
- Anxiety and stress reduction
- Sleep disorders and insomnia
- Wound healing and burn treatment
- Antimicrobial and antifungal effects
- Pain relief and anti-inflammatory effects
- Aromatherapy and mood enhancement
- Skin health and dermatitis
⚠️ Safety Information
Contraindications
- Known allergy to plants in Lamiaceae family
- Pregnancy (large therapeutic amounts of essential oil)
- Very low blood pressure (hypotension)
Side Effects
- Rare allergic reactions
- Skin irritation with undiluted essential oil
- Drowsiness with large amounts
- Possible hormonal effects with chronic use
Drug Interactions
- Sedative medications (may enhance effects)
- Blood pressure medications (mild hypotensive effects)
- Central nervous system depressants
Parts Used
- Flowers (dried flower buds and spikes)
- Essential oil distilled from flowers
- Occasionally leaves and stems
Preparation Methods
1-2 teaspoons dried flowers per cup boiling water, steep 5-10 minutes
Steam distillation of fresh flowers, 2-3 drops for aromatherapy
1:5 ratio in 40% alcohol, 2-4 ml three times daily
Dried flowers in olive oil for topical use
Dried flowers in small bags for aromatherapy and insect repelling
Related Plants
Basil
Ocimum basilicum
Catnip
Nepeta cataria
Chaste Tree
Vitex agnus-castus
Chamomile
Matricaria chamomilla
St. John's Wort
Hypericum perforatum
Calendula
Calendula officinalis