Rusty Acres Herb Farm, The Lavender Place, specializing in lavender, herbs and heirloom vegetables.

LAVENDER

Contents:

  English Lavender

  Lavandin

  Spanish Lavender

  French Lavender

  Spike Lavender

  Cooking with Lavender

  Other Uses for Lavender
Lavender Lemon Bars
Lavender Cookies

Lavender belongs to the large plant family of mints, a botanical grouping distinguished by the square stems and, in many cases, remarkable fragrances. Its cousins include culinary and herbal tea mints, ornamental and cooking sages, marjoram's, thymes and horehounds.

Not all lavender shrubs are highly scented; some varieties are lovely garden specimens but have little fragrance. Others are insignificant to look at but are rich in aroma. The most popular species is English Lavender, which has over 40 named varieties. Colors of English Lavender range from purest white to pale pink, clear violet-blue to dark purple, even yellow green.

As evergreen shrubs, lavender also offers the gardener a wide assortment of form and foliage color. The smallest English lavenders can be sheared to tight herbal hedges only 6 to 12 inches tall. Other lavenders can grow to more than 4 feet tall. Lavender also comes in every size in between.

Almost every type of lavender has beautiful foliage, with colors ranging from dusty green to silver. A few species of lavenders have bright green leaves. Lavender leaves range from long and narrow, simple and coniferlike to lacy, fernlike, and ornate.

When choosing a species, be sure to look for the Latin name as well as the the botanical name. All lavenders belong to the genus Lavandula. There are 28 species of lavender, and each one is distinguished from one another by a different species name. The most popular lavenders fall into two basic groups. The first are all cultivars of the species Lavandula Augustifolia, and are often called English lavenders The second group is made up of hybrids between the English lavenders and another species, Lavandula Latifola and are called Lavandins. When appropriate, a plant’s botanical name includes a variety name. A variety is like a subdivision of the species due to naturally occurring or selectively bred plants that differ from the species in minor characteristics.

English Lavender ( also called "true" lavender) Lavandula angustifolia:

This is the hardiest of all lavenders, enduring winter temperatures down to minus 20 degrees. The average flower head shows 6 to 10 whorls of flower buds stretched along the stem beneath the main head. English Lavender has the sweetest scent of all species. It is the source of the highest quality oil for soaps and perfumes and is used as a flavoring in ice cream, sorbets, baked desserts, and candied flowers. English lavender is highly prized for its scent: both its leaves and stems as well as blossoms are fragrant.

Here are some of the most popular of its 40 varieties.

Alba pure white
Buena Vista dark purple
Compacta light purple
Croxton’s Wild light purple
Graves light purple
Hidcote very dark purple
Hidcot Pink rosy pink
Irene Doyle light purple
Jean Davis pinkish white
Lavender lady light purple
Martha Roderick light purple
Melissa pale lavender
Munstead intense blue
Nana Alba green/white
Premier dark purple
Rosea green/light pink
Royal Velvet very dark purple
Seals Seven Oaks light purple
Sharon Roberts dark purple
Twickel Purple purple
Wycoff deep blue

Lavandin is a natural interspecific hybrid of English lavender and spike lavender. The lavandin cultivar Grosso was discovered in 1972. In the United States, the oil of lavandin Grosso is becoming popular as the superior lavender aroma for soaps, room fresheners, scented candles and culinary uses. Provence is the other more popluar Lavandin and is used in much the same way as the Grosso but has a sweeter aroma. Because Provence is culinairly stronger you may want to cut down on the amount called for in recipes. Other lavandin hybrids to watch for are Abrailii, Alaba, Dutch, Fred Boutin, Grappenhall, Grey Hedge, Old English, Seal, Silver Gray, Standard and Super.

Spanish Lavender ( also sold as French Lavender or Italian Lavender) its botanical name is Lavandula Stoechas. Spanish lavender is noted for its deep purple flowers topped with elongated petals which resemble miniature pineapples. Both the leaves and flowers are very fragrant and smell much like rosemary. This variety is idea for making potpourris and sachets, for seasoning meats grilled over hardwood charcoal and for using in floral arrangements.

French Lavender (also sold as Spanish lavender, ringed lavender) its botanical name is Lavandula Dentata. French lavender has pale blue-purple flowers with a finely toothed, fernlike gray-green leaf. It grows up to 3 feet tall and is very vigorous, flowering several times during the year. Both its leaves and flowers are fragrant. Heavy flavor reminiscent of both rosemary and sage. Grilling chicken with the foliage produces a unique flavor that you will love or hate. Fragrance creates a pleasant clean smell in the home.

Spike Lavender ( also called Dutch lavender and lesser lavender) its botanical name is Lavandula Latifolia or L. Spica. Spike lavender has pale to medium violet and darker purple flowers with large silver gray leaves. Its scent contains a hint of spice and camphor in addition to the lavender scent. It’s very fragrant and one of the lavenders commonly used for perfume.

COOKING WITH LAVENDER

Lavender lends a lovely note to savory as well as sweet dishes. However take care that the fragrance dose not overwhelm the recipe.

Do not let meats marinate with lavender for longer than 48 hours. The interaction of the lavender with the fat will yield a soapy, disagreeable flavor.

Lavender has a natural affinity for red meat, game and game birds; for rich flavorful fish and crustaceans; and for red and black fruits such as blackberries, currants and plums.

English & sweet lavender can be used in flavoring desserts such as ice cream, sorbets, and baked dishes.

French lavender is too strong for most breads and desserts but can be used for grilling red meats or hearty herb breads.

Spanish lavender should not be used in sweet dishes and use only the foliage in cooked or grilled dishes.

Spike lavender should not be used in desserts or breads but the foliage can be used in grilling of meats.

OTHER USES FOR LAVENDER

Lavender has many uses for the bed and bath. There are many wonderful gifts you can make for yourself or family and friends.

Soap Incense
Tea Scented bath blends
Insect Repellants Sachets
Potpourri Pet soother
Dream Pillows Wands

Information regarding how to prepare these items can be found on the internet and in several books that have been written regarding the nature’s most fragrant herb.

Questions?  Email us:

Rusty Acres Herb Farm 4233 Rosa Rancho Lane, Rainbow, CA 92028 (760) 731-7349