Grow | Harvest | Make with Lavender
“There are some things I know for certain: always throw spilled salt over your left shoulder; keep rosemary by your garden gate; plant lavender for luck; and fall in love whenever you can.”
Practical Magic
I D E N T I F I C A T I O N
Grows 12-18ft tall
Green leaves with silver gray tones
Narrow, long leaves with rounded tips
Long spikes with small blueish purple flower buds
Strong fragrance
G R O W
Lavandula officinalis or angustifolia
Indigenous to Mediterranean
Lamiaceae - mint family
Perennial
Zones 4-8, depending on species
Slightly sandy, poor, dry, well drained soil
Full sun
Protected location
Mulch heavily to over winter
Root division or stem propagation
H A R V E S T
Mid to late summer
Midmorning
Warm, dry day
As buds just begin to open
Leaves contain essential oils
D R Y
Dark, dry, well ventilated place
Strip buds from stalks after dried
because wyse men founde by experience that it was good to washe mennis heades with, which had anye deceses therein’.
-William Turner referencing Lavender to support all "diseases of the head"
P R O P E R T I E S
Mild Bitter I Cool
aphrodisiac, analgesic, antibacterial, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aromatic, carminative, nervine, sedative
M A K E
Tea: anxiety, tension, insomnia, headache, sore throat, digestion, menstruation, spasms, fevers
Oil: burns, wounds, insect bites, perfume, soaps, lice, sore muscles, infections, cramps, spasms, yeast infections, breast lumps
Steam: chest ailments, coughs
Wash/Compress: wounds, bites, stings
Gargle: loose teeth, bad breath
Flower Essence: develop intuition, purify mind, meditation practice to overcome overactive mind
Culinary: baking, drinks, spice mixes
Essential Oils: calming, sleep, anxiety, aphrodisiac, burns, wounds, disinfect, insect repellent, stings, bites,
Dried: incense, baths, sachets, pillows
Burn: see post on cleansing stick
For educational purposes only. Not intended for medical advice. Always consult your physician.
Folklore & Fables of Lavender
“Her first love was like lavender,
delicate and melancholic.”
― Laura Chouette
Lavandula officinalis or angustifolia
It's species name "lavare" in Latin means "to bathe"
Greek "nardus" or "nard" referring to Naarda, the city where it was sold
Common names include spike and elf leaf.
Ruled by Mercury and the sign Virgo, its element is Air and its energy is masculine.
In floriography, or Victorian Language of Flowers, Lavender signifies distrust or mistrust
Symbolism includes:
love
passion
purification
protection
chastity
healing
peace
Highly aphrodisiac to men, Lavender evokes love, especially of the sexual nature, but can also protect from false love and fleeting infatuations. Maidens sprinkled over their heads to keep themselves chaste while married women kept by bed to incite passion. Cleopatra is said to have utilized its powers to seduce Mark Antony and Julius Caesar.
An herb of royalty in ancient Egypt, it was found in King Tut's tomb and was used in mummification.
Carrying on the royal theme Queen Elizabeth I always had Lavender conserves on hand, Queen Victoria Charles VI of France had Lavender pillows wherever he went. Queen Victoria was so in love with the scent she appointed Sarah Sprules as “Purveyor of Lavender Essence to the Queen” after visiting her distillery.
Used in Midsummer fires to honor gods and goddesses and ensure a safe year.
There is a reference in the Bible that perhaps Mary bathed the baby Jesus and anointed him before his death with a plant called Spikenard which may have been Lavender.
Burned in a birthing room to purify the air, foster a relaxed environment and welcome the new babe.