Lavender - how to grow it and use it

Feb 27, 2013

by Ankaret Dean, Lanark County Master Gardener

Lavender is native to the mountainous areas of the Mediterranean, and belongs to the mint family of plants called Lamiaceae. The name lavender comes from the Latin root lavare, which means "to wash."

In Egypt, lavender was used in cosmetics and embalming products. The Greeks used lavender oil as perfume for their bodies. In Rome, lavender was widely regarded as a healing herb. Included in insect repellents and bath water, lavender was taken internally and topically in ancient Roman societies. In the Middle Ages, lavender flowers were grown and used by monks as medicinal herbs.

Locally the two varieties of Lavender, I’ve had the best results with are Munstead and Hidcote. Lavender likes full sun, well-drained conditions. Find a spot in your garden where you have the best snow cover/drifting each winter, as it is just border-line hardy to this area. In the very early spring cut back the plant to 4-5” from the ground, and within a couple of weeks you will see all new growth start to appear. Lavender, being an aromatic plant can be planted along the border of your garden, where you can enjoy the look as well as its fragrance. After the flowers fade, you can cut them off for many such uses such as:

Potpourri - flowers can be dried and used in potpourri or in sachet in drawers/closets as well as in soaps/candles/teas. Or you can collect the seed to grow more plants, which germinate easily at 70F.

Culinary uses: The aromatic lavender flowers can be used in salads, teas, honey, flavored butter and vinegars, delicate cakes and cookies, ice cream or sorbet, flavored sugars and candies, jelly, and can be a substitute for rosemary in recipes and meat marinades.

Insomnia or Agitation Scientific evidence suggests that aromatherapy with lavender may slow the activity of the nervous system, improve sleep quality, promote relaxation, and lift mood in people suffering from sleep disorders. Studies also suggest that massage with essential oils, particularly lavender, may result in improved sleep quality, more stable mood, better concentration, and reduced anxiety. In one recent study, people who received massage with lavender felt less anxious and more positive than those who received massage alone. Several small studies suggest that lavender aromatherapy may help reduce agitation in patients with dementia.

I soak the flowers in distilled water for a few days, then screen and pour the water into a spray bottle. Then spray it periodically in the bedroom as a room fragrance freshener.

All your gardening questions can be submitted and answered on our website at www.lanarkmastergardeners.mgoi.ca

Are you interested in becoming a Master Gardener? Contact Ankaret Dean at 613 278-1203 for more information