Re: Lavandin vs. L. angustifolia

Joe, as nobody seems to answer I'll hop in for this one.
 
Quick reminder :
 
Lavandula angustifolia is a dwarf round species, growing in the southern Alps. It is variable, the common forms have thin grey green leaves (hence angustifolia) and dark blue flowers on short unbranched flower stalks. It flowers in June. No dentation on the leaves. Many selections from the wild are found in the trade, with white, pale pink, soft blue or very dark purple blue flowers. The term "English Lavender" is pretty good for confusion : here in France "English Lavender" refers to Lavandula dentata, which by the way is called "French Lavender" in England (and of course it is not native in France or England, but in Spain and Morocco !).
 
Lavandula latifolia is a low growing species with very large silver grey leaves. No dentatation on the leaves. It grows on poor alcaline soil in the open garrigue. The flowers are pale blue and the flower stalks are much branched, giving it more an appearance of a Perovskia or something like that, quite unusual for a Lavender. It flowers in July, August and September. The plant is rarely grown in nurseries.
 
Lavandula x intermedia (often called Lavandin) is the hybrid between L. angustifolia and L. latifolia. Many cultivars exist, quite different from each other, often having a clear influence from one parent. For example L. x intermedia 'Grosso' has a compact habit, grey green leaves, it is an early bloomer with dark flowers on almost unbranched stalks : it has many characteristics of L. angustifolia. On the other hand L. x intermedia 'Dutch' has silver grey leaves, strong growth, pale blue flowers on branched stalks and blooms in July, August and September : it clearly has the L. latifolia main influence.
 
Now if you have dentations on the leaves of your lavender, you most probably have one of the hybrid of L. dentata. There are three groups of hybrids having L. dentata as a parent : L. x allardii (L. latifolia x L. dentata), L. x heterophylla (L. angustifolia x L. dentata) and L. 'Goodwin Creek Grey' (probably L. lanata x L. dentata, or L. x heterophylla x L. lanata).
 
Not with dentations but with finely cut feathery foliage you also have the moroccon and canarian species, L. multifida, L. pinnata, L. minutolii, L. canariensis, and L. buchii (all beautiful but very tender).
 
There are still other species and hybrids, but I am afraid you are already fed up and more puzzled than before ...
 
Olivier
near Montpellier, South of France
 
 
 
 
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