French Lavender, Fringed Lavender

Lavandula dentata

lav-AN-dew-lah den-TAY-tuh

Lavandula dentata L. is the accepted scientific name for this species of Lavandula. The genus and species were named and described as such by Carl Von Linnaeus in the second volume of the first edition of Species Plantarum in 1753.

The species was first named Stoechas secunda by Carolus Clusius in 1576. Mr. Clusius, who was a Flemish botanist and doctor, was the first European to describe the species from plants growing in Gibraltar. Although first documented in 1576, the Lavandula dentata has been grown in the Middle East since… Umm… It was probably in the Garden of Eden. Mr. Linnaeus changed the name to Lavandula dentata in 1753. An attempt to change the name to Stoechas dentata (L.) Mill. was made by Philip Miller in the eighth edition of the Gardener’s Dictionary in 1768.

As of 12-19-23 when this page was last updated, Plants of the World Online lists 41 species in the Lavandula genus. It is a member of the plant family Lamiaceae with 232 genera. Those numbers could change as updates are made on POWO.

THERE ARE A FEW LINKS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE FOR FURTHER READING.

I bought this French Lavender when I was at a garden center in Clinton on April 24, 2017. I don’t remember why I went, which doesn’t matter now, but I didn’t stop at just one plant or just one visit. Click HERE to see what else I bought…

There are two species commonly known as French Lavender, Lavandula dentata and Lavandula stoechas (which can grow much taller). Both are native to some of the same areas. (See map on Plants of the World Online link below).

USEFUL INFORMATION:
Family: Lamiaceae.
Origin: Parts of Africa, Middle East, Morocco, Spain.
Zones: USDA Zones 8a-9b (10-25° F).
Size: 24-36” tall.
Light: Sun is preferred.
Soil: Average, well-drained soil.
Water: Average, drought tolerant. Needs dry soil in winter.
Leaves: Aromatic gray-green, lance-shaped leaves with toothed edges.
Flowers: purple flowers topped with pale violet bracts.

Lavandula dentata is an upright-growing shrubby perennial with aromatic gray-green leaves with toothed edges. The lavender flowers have bracts that always reminded me of wings. They are drought-tolerant and need well-drained soil in the sun.

I didn’t do much research about this plant before I bought it, so I broke a few rules right off the bat. I planted my Lavandula dentata on the north side of the house on the west side of the porch where it didn’t get much sun except in the afternoon. After I planted it, I then bought a Colocasia gigantea ‘Thailand Giant’ that in time shaded the Lavender. It grew fine and flowered, but now I know it should have been planted on the south side of the house and not the north side.

I also didn’t pay much attention to the growing zones… It is perennial in USDA Zones 8a to 9b and we are in zone 6a. Apparently, this plant can also be grown inside. Hmmm… Information also says it is an evergreen but mine completely bit the dust after a few frosts. Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Zone 8a-9b. It should have survived down to 10° F but it didn’t even last that cold.

I noticed the Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder lists Lavandula angustifolia and several cultivars as well as Lavendula x intermedia. That is because that species IS cold hardy in our zone.

The Lavandula dentata did not return in the spring of 2018 and I haven’t brought any home since…

I hope you enjoyed this page and maybe found it useful. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, I would like to hear from you. Please click on “like” if you visited this page. It helps us bloggers stay motivated. 🙂 You can check out the links below for further reading.

FOR FURTHER READING:
PLANTS OF THE WORLD ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
WIKIPEDIA (GENUS/SPECIES)
DAVE’S GARDEN
PFAF (PLANTS FOR A FUTURE)