Lavandula (lavender) is a genus of 47 known species of flowering plants in the Lamiaceae ‘Mint’ family. The genus is native to the Old World; the Canary Islands, Europe, the Mediterranean, northern and eastern Africa, southwest Asia to India.

Many members of the genus are cultivated extensively in temperate climates as  landscape plants or culinary herbs and also commercially for the extraction of essential oils. Lavender is used in traditional medicine and as an ingredient in cosmetics. The genus includes annual or short-lived herbaceous perennial plants, and shrub-like perennials or small shrubs. “English lavender”, “French lavender” and “Spanish lavender” are all imprecisely applied. “English lavender” is commonly used for Lavandula angustifolia (old name Lavandula officinalis), though some references say the proper term is “Old English Lavender”. The name “French lavender” may be used to refer to either L. stoechas or to L. dentata. “Spanish lavender” may be used to refer to L. stoechas, L. lanata or L. dentata. The English word lavender is derived from the Latin lavare (to wash), referring to the use of infusions of the plants. The botanic name Lavandula as used by Linnaeus is considered to be derived from this European name.

Lavandula stoechas, named French lavender or Spanish lavender  is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, occurring natively in several Mediterranean countries including; France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece and Turkiye. The Latin specific epithet stoechas comes from the Greek Stoechades (the name of the small islands south of France, that Dioscorides and Galen both mentioned  this lavandula was found at this islands).

French lavender is an evergreen shrub that usually grows up to 100 cm tall but usually seen only 25-40 cm high. One variety called; Lavandula stoechas ‘luisieri’ (from Portugal and adjacent regions of Spain) occasionally reaches up to 2 m tall. The leaves of French lavender are 1–4 cm long, greyish and tomentose. It starts blooming from march to early summer, and the seeds ripen from July to September. This is a hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) plant, pollinated by bees, butterflies and moths. The flowers, are pink to purple, produced on 2 cm long spikes at top of slender, leafless stems.  Each flower is subtended by a 4–8 mm long, purple elongated oval bracts. At the top of the spike there are a number of much larger, bright lavender purple colored sterile bracts (no flowers between them). There are some subspecies of this lavander; L. stoechas ‘pedunculata’ the common type, is native to many coastal regions of the Mediterranean, L. stoechas ‘luisieri’, which has petals much less interconnected and taller than the others. It is found mainly in Portugal and adjacent regions of Spain. There is a tree form of this lavender called L. stoechas ‘anouk’.

Lavandula stoechas can be grown at light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Prefers dry or moist, well-drained soil and can tolerate drought. In areas of high humidity, root rot due to fungus infestation can be a problem. Organic mulches can trap moisture around the plants’ bases, encouraging root rot. It is not particular about pH of the soil, even does not mind in very alkaline soil. Plant needs full sun,
cannot grow in the shade. Although tolerates strong winds, not tolerant to maritime exposure. This species is not as frost hardy as Lavandula angustifolia, can only tolerate up to -12 ˚C.

Use in Landscape: French lavender is a lovely specimen to put in a herb or perennial garden. Specially a plant of choice for Mediterranean and dry gardens. It may be used solitary or as a patio plant. L. stoechas ‘anouk’s tree form can be used as a container plant on the patios. Urban landscape areas can be designed in order to produce, grow, and introduce ornamental vegetables, medicinal and aromatic plants, this Lavandula stoechas is one of the plant to be chosen for this areas.

Lavandula stoechas is used commercially in air fresheners and insecticides. Flower spikes have been used internally for headaches, irritability, feverish colds and nausea, and externally for wounds, rheumatic pain and as an insect repellent. It is used as antiseptic, digestive, antispasmodic, healing and antibacterial. The flowers are used in aromatherapy, to prepare infusions. Flower spikes are used for dried flower arrangements. The fragrant, pale purple flowers and flower buds are used in potpourris.