An herb is a plant whose leaves, seeds, or flowers are used for flavoring food or in medicine. Other uses of herbs include cosmetics, dyes, and perfumes. The name derives from the Latin word herba, meaning “green crops.” Lavender, Lavandula, is an herb in the mint family that is primarily employed for its fragrance in the garden and in personal care products, but also finds its way into culinary use. The different varieties are sometimes categorized as English lavender, French lavender, Italian lavender, and Spanish lavender.

History. The name lavender derives from the Latin lavare, meaning “to wash.” The Romans used lavender to scent their baths, and also discovered its medicinal properties. The Romans introduced lavender to Britain during their early times there. This nursery rhyme, first printed in the late 17th century, reportedly bears witness to the cultivation of lavender near London at the time:

Lavender’s blue,
dilly, dilly,
Lavender’s green.
When I am king,
dilly, dilly,
You shall be queen.

Description. Lavender grows to a height of one to three feet (30 to 90 cm). Its blue to lilac-colored flowers bloom from July to September.

Gardening. Lavender does best in light soil and with plenty of sun. It is easily grown from seed, or from cuttings or seedlings. To dry, harvest the buds when barely open and spread in a dark, well-ventilated place.

Food and Other Uses. Lavender used to be considered characteristic only of the cuisine of Provence and is included as one of the constituents of Herbes de Provence, along with chervil, marjoram, rosemary, savory, tarragon, thyme, and sometimes fennel. Innovative cooks have recently extended the reach of lavender in the kitchen. Among desserts and other sweet items, one can find recipes for lavender jelly, lavender lemonade, lavender crème brûlée, lavender ice cream, and lavender cookies. Among savory dishes, lavender blossoms are used in salad dressing, in goat cheese tart, and to season poultry.

Lavender is used to scent linen and clothes in sachets, pomanders, and other dried arrangements. As a general air scent, lavender is available as incense. Lavender oil is also used as a fragrance ingredient in shampoo, hair gel, soap, bubble bath, bath salts, perfume, and other products. It is also used as an antiseptic.

Two cautions: Be sure to clearly mark culinary lavender and not to substitute personal care products or florist’s lavender in recipes. Also, it has been recommended that young boys should avoid personal hygiene products that contain lavender oil, as it has resulted in gynecomastia, the abnormal development of breasts in boys. Please check with a health professional for any concerns.