Characteristics

True lavender is an aromatic shrub covered with grayish felt-like hairs and can reach heights of one to two meters. Its branches are ascending, upright, and strongly branched. They are stiffly upright and either unbranched or bear short shoots.

Lavender originally comes from the western Mediterranean region, where it is widespread on dry, warm slopes as far as Dalmatia and Greece, occasionally growing up to the tree line. It has also become naturalized near Jena, Rudolstadt, and Bad Blankenburg in Germany.

At the turn of the 18th to the 19th century, a larger lavender population existed near Laubenheim between Bingen and Bad Kreuznach on the so-called “Lavender Hill.” However, by around 1840, it had disappeared because the rootstocks were used as firewood and the area was converted into vineyards.

Otherwise, lavender is mainly cultivated in gardens and only rarely grows wild. The colder the region, the less fragrant the lavender becomes.

Medicinal Effects

The effects of lavender are mainly due to its content of essential oils. In addition to its calming and relaxing properties, which can help relieve restlessness and tension, lavender also has positive effects on digestive problems, especially gallbladder complaints.