Additional notes (click to expand)
Medicinal
Traditional Herbal Medicine Registration (THMR).
Used as a relaxant. Flowering spikes can be dried and used as a tincture, more commonly essential oil is used, applied to skin for wounds and burns, sunburn, bites, rubbed into temples for headaches, as an antiseptic, an antidote to some snake venoms, aromatherapy.
The species is listed in the Pharmacopoiea Londinensis of 1618.
Plants for a Future at www.plantsforafuture.org.uk
Culpeper (1649) “... resist all cold afflictions of the brain, convulsions falling sickness, they open cold stomachs, and open obstructions of the liver, they provoke urine and the terms, bring forth the birth and afterbirth.”
Culpeper, Nicholas. (1650). A Physical Directory . London, Peter Cole.
Other use
Essential oil from flowers used in soap, perfume, cleaning agents, food flavouring, insect repellent. Harvested as soon as flowers have faded for best oil content. Flowers used in pot pourii, insect repellent, as a strewing herb, to repel mice, flowering stems once flowers removed can be burnt as incense.
Plants for a Future at www.plantsforafuture.org.uk
Geographical distribution
- Europe, Southeastern Europe, Italy
- Europe, Southwestern Europe, France
- Europe, Southwestern Europe, Spain
Lavandula angustifolia Mill. 'Imperial Gem'
Family: LAMIACEAEGenus: Lavandula
Species: angustifolia Mill.
Cultivar: 'Imperial Gem'
Common names: Common Lavender; English Lavender
Pharmacopoeia Londinensis name: Lavendula
Distribution summary: S.Europe
Habit: Sub-Shrub
Hardiness: H5 - Hardy; cold winter
Habitat: Dry, grassy slopes amongst rocks , usually on calcareous soils
Garden status: Not currently grown
Flowering months: June, July, August
Reason for growing: Medicinal, other use