Notice

Colin Mills, compiler of the Hortus Camdenensis, died in late November 2012 after a short illness. As he always considered the Hortus his legacy, it is his family's intention to keep the site running in perpetuity. It will not, however, be updated in the near future.

Lavandula spica Cav.

Hardy sub-shrub with pale grey, downy leaves and terminal spikes of fragrant, tubular, pale grey-blue flowers.  To 1.2m.  [RHSD, Hortus].

Horticultural & Botanical History

Introduced to Britain in 1568.  [JD].  ‘Lavender.  Lavendula.  It grows about two foot high, the leaves are a light green and the flowers bluish.  It grows wild in the southern parts of France and Spain and is planted here in gardens flowering in July.  Lavender is esteemed cordial and cephalic, good for all diseases of the head and nerves.  It is also good to expel wind from the stomach and bowels, and prevent the collic.  Outwardly it is used in warming and strengthening fomentations.’  [Blackwell pl.294/1739].

History at Camden Park

Handwritten note in an 1850 catalogue in the Mitchell Library [MP A2947A] so certainly grown at this time, but it would be very surprising if this plant had not been an early introduction to the gardens.

Notes

Lavandula spica Loisel. (1806) = Lavandula vera DC. but this is today generally regarded as a form of L. spica.

Published Mar 19, 2009 - 05:02 PM | Last updated Mar 22, 2010 - 02:40 PM

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Illustrated are pale grey, downy leaves and terminal spikes of tubular, pale grey-blue flowers. Blackwell pl.294, 1739.

Lavandula spica Cav. | Blackwell pl.294/1739 | BHL

Family Lamiaceae
Category
Region of origin

Mediterranean
Synonyms
  • Lavandula officinalis Chaix
Common Name

Common lavender
Name in the Camden Park Record

Lavandula spica 
Confidence level high