French Lavender
Lavandula dentata
Fringed Lavender, Sweet-Scented Lavender, Toothed Lavender
1 of 7
1 of 7
France was first to cultivate Lavandula dentata, thus it has the common name French lavender, amongst others! It has a bushy, spreading growth habit and typically grows to a maximum height of 1m and a maximum spread of 1.5m. This species is valued ornamentally rather than for its practical uses in medicine and the cometic industry, of which other species are better suited. Popular with landscapers for its grey-green foliage and sturdy purple blooms. Leaves are divided into a scalloped arrangement and linear to oblong in shape. Flowers are purple-blue in colour, semi-scented and borne on spikes above the foliage, up to 5cm long. They have showy purple bracts at the top of the spike.
Free download for your phone or tablet
Related Plants
Planning
Difficulty
Easy
Flowering time
Spring, Summer, Autumn
Fruiting time
Summer, Autumn
Harvesting
Harvest flowers and leaves as needed, especially in summer.
Propagation
Cuttings
Make 5 to 10 cm cuttings during the growing period. Place them in deep seed trays or six packs in a cold frame for two weeks or until rooted.
Layering
Select a long stem and remove 10 - 15 cm of foliage, leaving 10 cm at the tip of the branch. Cover the bare section with moist soil. Once rooted, cut new plants from mother plant and replant.
Seed
Seeds can be sown in Autumn, when ripe. Sow by sprinkling seeds over soil. Keep the soil moist and germination should take two weeks. Thin out too closely germinated plants or replant when they get a bit bigger.
Special features
Attracts useful insects
Attracts bees and butterflies.
Repels harmful insects
Due to the high volatile oil content it repels moths, fleas, flies and mosquitoes.
Drought resistant
This highly drought resistant species can withstand many weeks without water.
Pot plant
Great pot plant as it can flourish in any sized pot in a sunny veranda, stoep or balcony.
Hedge plant
This can be used as a great hedge to create a formal border, or for a loosely planted wild looking hedge for any sunny spot.
Crop rotation
Light Feeder
Attractive flowers
Special features
Origin
Western Europe to North Africa, Spain, Madeira and Cape Verde Islands
Natural climate
Mediterranean
Environment
Light
Full Sun
Soil moisture
Dry
Soil type
Loam, Sand, Gravel, Chalk
Soil PH preference
Neutral, Alkaline, Acid
Frost hardiness
Tender
Uses
Teas
Flavour herbal tea - often used as sweetner in the place of sugar!
Pest deterrent
Keep mice out of cupboards...
Notes
Medicinal, teas, tussie mussies
Personality
Family
Lamiaceae
Flower colour
Purple, Blue
Scent
Strong
Problems
The plant is a natural repellent of many pest species. May be susceptible to rosemary beetle, sage and Ligurian leafhoppers.
Lavender is prone to ill-health when it's watered too much, such as root rot and leaf spot. Both can be prevented by letting the lavender bush dry out slightly in between watering.
Attack by fungal pathogens is more likely if there is an abundance of water, usually from planting in a poorly draining soil mixture.
Related Problems
Free download for your phone or tablet
Knowledge and advice
Search our ever-growing knowledge base to find plants and information. Find out about pests and diseases you should be keeping an eye out for. Watch How to videos or follow step by step guides for tasks in the garden.
Free download for your phone or tablet.,