Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, is the narrow-leaved Mediterranean shrub whose purple flower spikes give the classic lavender scent. In India it is now a farm crop in the hills of Jammu and Kashmir, where the CSIR Aroma Mission’s “purple revolution” has helped farmers switch from maize to lavender for oil. A carefully standardised oral lavender oil has some trial evidence for anxiety.
- Botanical name
- Lavandula angustifolia Mill.
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Tamil
- Lavender
- Hindi
- Lavender
- Parts used
- Flower, Distilled oil
- Habit
- English lavender; rosemary is a cousin, not this spike
- Last updated
- 2026-10-30
How to recognise Lavender
It is a small, bushy, evergreen shrub with narrow, grey-green leaves along woody stems.
Flowers are small and purple to violet, in dense spikes at the ends of long, leafless stalks.
The whole plant smells of lavender, most strongly in the flowers.
French lavender, Lavandula stoechas, has flower heads topped with showy purple bracts like rabbit ears.
Flowers are harvested when about half the spike has opened, for the best oil.
Traditional use of Lavender
European practice
Lavender has been used for centuries to scent linen, soaps and baths, and in sachets to repel moths.
European household practice
Indian cultivation
Farmers in Bhaderwah, Doda and other districts of Jammu and Kashmir now grow lavender and distil its oil.
CSIR Aroma Mission
Modern notes on Lavender
The oil is rich in linalool and linalyl acetate. Trials of a standardised oral lavender oil preparation have found modest benefits for anxiety.
Lavender is widely used in aromatherapy, though evidence for many claims is weak.
Lavender safety
Do not swallow lavender essential oil. Dilute it before applying to skin, as it can cause irritation.
Ecology and sourcing
It is native to the western Mediterranean, on dry, rocky, sunny slopes.
It needs cold winters and well-drained soil, which suits Indian hill regions.
Bees love lavender, and lavender honey is a speciality.
Related plants
Also in Lamiaceae
Questions about Lavender
Is Lavender grown in India?
Yes, mainly in Jammu and Kashmir.
What older names does Lavandula angustifolia go by?
Lavandula officinalis and Lavandula vera.
Can lavender oil help anxiety?
One standardised oral preparation has some trial support.
Is English lavender from England?
No. It comes from the Mediterranean; the name refers to its long cultivation in England.
Sources
- Lavandula angustifolia Mill. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q42081 (Lavandula angustifolia)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.