Re: Lavandin vs. L. angustifolia

Merci Olivier.

I realize now that I worded my question incorrectly
(and probably thought that lavandins had one dentate
parent).

Let me put it in the practical sense...

A local nursery here has been selling lavenders as
"Lavandula x intermedia 'Provence'".  They are small,
unflowering one gallons and for all that I can see,
they look EXACTLY like Lavandula angustifolia.

I have never seen 'Provence' so I couldn't tell you
if, indeed, these plants are what they are said to be.
 What's the difference between 'Provence' and L.
angustifolia?

Thanks again,
Joe
--- Olivier Filippi <olivier.filippi@wanadoo.fr>
wrote:
> 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
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 


=====
Joe Seals
Santa Maria, California --
where the weather is always perfect
and my garden always has something blooming
and birds galore

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