Growing Lavender: Beautiful Herbs and Herbal Medicine Combined

Spring is Approaching fast!

 Things to Consider for Spring

• Germinating Your Own Herb Seeds

• Ordering Potted Herb Plants

• Controlling Garden Pests

• Composting - Using Compost

• Drying and Storing Your Herbs

• Soil Fertility - Soil Testing Your Herb Garden Soil

• How the Changing Weather Will Affect Your Herb Garden

Lavender is one of the most popular of herbs because of the fragrance of its dried flowers

Lavandula angustifolia

Plant Type: Perennial                         Growing Zone: 6-9  

English Lavender is a many-branched, somewhat woody, perennial plant growing 1 ½ to 3 feet tall. The narrow leaves are about 2 inches long and have a pleasing gray-green color. The small bluish-purple flowers are borne on long-stemmed, slender spikes that rise up above the foliage.

• History of Lavender: History: Lavender received its name, Lavandula, from the Latin verb “to wash,” and was used as a form of aromatherapy by both Greeks and Romans to scent soaps and bathwater. Lavender water made from the essential oil was, as it is today, commonly used in therapeutic baths as a perfume and to calm. The aromatic properties of the lavender plants make it popular in lotions, creams and fragrant sachets.

• Growing Lavender Plant: Lavender is native to the mountains of the Northern Mediterranean region. For this reason Lavender flourishes in sunny, well drained, even rocky areas of your herb garden. If winters are severe, the plants should be mulched for protection.

• Propagation of the Lavender Plants: The different species and varieties of Lavender cross-pollinate easily and rarely produce true from seed. For this reason, Lavender can be best propagated from cuttings taken from the side shoots of mature Lavender plants in mid to late summer.

• Harvesting the Lavender Flowers: Cut whole flower spikes when the first flowers begin to open.

Lavender is one of the most famous of all herbs for the fragrance of its dried flowers and the lavender oil distilled from them. It is used most often in sachets and perfumes. Among essential oils it is well-loved for its delicate scent and as an excellent herbal remedy. 

Lavender and the essential oils is well-loved for the delicate scent but is also considered an excellent remedy for stings and burns. It can help heal cuts and has traditionally been used to treat coughs, colds, chest infections and as an infusion or steam inhalation. Lavender is also used as the essential oil in aromatherapy, is a great relaxer.  

Lavender essential oil has sedative properties that make it useful in calming anxiety or tension

Lavender, and a few drops of lavender essential oil in a massage oil helps relax muscles. A warm herbal tea can be used as a compress for relieving chest congestion and as an infusion to ease nervous headaches. 

Thomas Kueny – Publisher

http://www.growing-herbs.com