Flower Facts,  Flower Meanings

Lavender: A Comprehensive Guide

Lavender is famous for its calming fragrance and stunning beauty. But there are a lot of other qualities in this flower that seeks our attention. It is a perennial flower native to the Mediterranean and North Africa. It is toxic for some animals, yet they are widely used in the cosmetic industry to make essential oils, and it also has medicinal qualities. Let’s find out everything you should know about Lavender!

What does Lavender Symbolise?

Lavender Plant in Pot

Lavender symbolizes beauty, calmness, grace, purity, and devotion. Lavenders can be found in many colours, including pink, white, and violet, other than purple. Nevertheless, purple Lavenders are widely popular. Purple signify elegance, royalty, and luxury. The flower’s grey-green leaves and soft coloured spikes make it a stunning beauty. People from different cultures worldwide have been using Lavender for its fragrance and medicinal value. The flower is a miraculous combination of many benefits that we will dive deep into soon, so read on!

Some lesser-known facts about Lavender

  • Lavender comes from the family of mints!
  • The ancient Egyptians used Lavender perfumes in the mummification process. 
  • Lavender is effective in warding off pests and critters. So, if you want to guard your garden from insects and animals, Lavender can help you with that. 
  • Lavender is believed to treat hair loss, digestion related problems and relieve stress.
  • During the Bubonic Plague, Europeans used to tie the Lavender bunch to their wrists to protect against the disease. 

The Uses of Lavender

Lavender has been used in different ways for nearly twenty-five hundred years now. Ancient Greeks, Egyptians, Europeans, and many other races and ethnicities have found Lavender helpful. The Greeks used Lavender for treating headaches, easing stomachs, and sore throats. The Romans carried Lavender and taught its several uses throughout the Empire. 

Lavender is also mentioned in the Bible. In John Chapter 12, Lavender is referred to as ‘spikenard’. Queen Victoria has also shown great interest in the flower. She used products made with Lavender’s fragrance and essence. Her tea was also incomplete without dried lavender leaves. Moreover, Lavender is not only special because of its beauty, but it has been effective in providing ease and comfort to humankind sich historical times.

Let’s take a look at how Lavenders can be used in our daily lives: 

Lavender Oil Close up
  • Healing wounds: Lavender has healing properties. In Medieval times, civilisations used Lavender oil to heal their wounds, but there was no scientific evidence to back this hypothesis. But a comparative study of lavender oil with other compounds like Poviodine- iodine and saline solution has observed the quick healing effects in wounds when treated with lavender oil. So, people can use it to treat small injuries and wounds for a faster recovery. 
  • Preventing hair loss: Studies have observed that Lavender effectively enhances hair growth. It has antibacterial properties. Keeping your scalp healthy is necessary to prevent hair loss. When you apply lavender oil to your scalp, it prevents bacteria, strengthens follicles, and enhances blood circulation to boost hair growth. 
A Man Applying Lavender Oil
Chicken With Lavender seasoning
  • In the Kitchen: In ancient times, Romans used Lavender for cooking purposes as well. And they propagated its uses all around the Empire. Lavender is a part of the family of herbs, making it perfectly edible (if you were wondering). Although some varieties might be toxic, so, check before using. Many people use Lavender to prepare meat and bread to enhance its flavour. All parts of Lavender can be put to use while cooking. Its leaves and flowers can be used fresh and dry. Many people also use its buds and stem after drying. 
  • Essential Oils: Lavender essential oil has many properties. It is anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and antibacterial. Apart from this, Lavender essential oils are used in aroma therapies as well as the fragrance of Lavender has soothing effects. The oil is used for anti-depression and relaxation. Lavender doesn’t have scientific evidence to prove that it can be used to treat depression. Yet Lavender is used to relieving stress and induce sleep. 
Lavender Tea in a Cup
  • Lavender Tea: The dried leaves of Lavender are not only taste enhancers, but they also have great medicinal purposes. Adding lavender leaves to tea can help you get better sleep and a relaxed mind. Lavender tea is also effective in reducing gastric issu

Care Tips for Lavender

If you want to grow Lavender, then don’t think too much. It is the easiest plant to grow. You have to find a spot in your house that gets direct sunlight. Lavenders love full sunlight, so make sure that the spot receives sunlight for at least six hours in the day. Regular watering is also essential, but Lavenders might not need water every day. So, notice when the soil is dry and water them accordingly. Here are some tips to take care of your lavenders: 

  • Pruning is an essential aspect while growing a lavender plant. Cut off the stem tips to boost the flower growth (but not too often). Remove dried flowers to give place to the new ones. 
  • Water the plant sufficiently to reach the deeper layers of the soil. And water again when the soil gets dry. 
  • Use fertilisers to promote growth. 
  • Check the quality of your soil before planting Lavenders. Mineral-rich soil will enhance the growth of the plant. 

What else do we need to know about Lavender? 

Lavender has many varieties, and they are all unique in their fragrances, culinary purposes, etc. Here is a list of different varieties of Lavenders: 

Lavender Perfume with Lavender Plant
  • Grosso (French Lavender): It is utilised in making perfumes and potpourris. Grosso is grown in French and Italian regions, and their fragrance is strong with violet-blue flowers. Its foliage is silvery and grows in summers.
  • English Lavender: It is found in different colours- pink, white, purple, and violet. It has a sweet fragrance and is used in perfumes, meats, ice-cream flavouring, potpourris, etc. It blooms in summer and midsummer and is best grown in well-drained soils
  • Spanish Lavender: These plants grow up to three ft. in height with long petals resembling rabbits’ ears. It is found in the shades of pink and purple. They grow from spring to summer. Spanish lavenders might not be the best choice for culinary purposes, but they are highly used in essential oils, perfumes, and potpourris.

 

  • Edelweiss: It is a French hybrid that follows a monochromatic colour scheme. Edelweiss is snow-white colour flowers. 
  • Portuguese Lavender: These flowers have a strong sweet fragrance with long stems. The flowers bloom in late spring and remain till late summer.

 

Conclusion

Lavender is a gorgeous creation of nature with many uses. Humankind has been enjoying the benefits of Lavender for a long time. Many scientific studies and research have proved the efficiency of Lavender in healing wounds, relaxing therapies, and getting better sleep. Since Queen Victoria’s time, cosmetic industries have been thriving using various lavender fragrances. The best thing about Lavenders is that you can plant them easily at home. All they need is sunlight and water. So, go ahead and find a spot for your favourite Lavender!

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