Lovely lavender is in bloom! – Portugal Resident

This aromatic herb has many traditional uses. It’s a flavoring, most notably in the herb mixture Herbes de Provence. Combined with rosemary, thyme, oregano and marjoram (among others), it adds a subtle floral note to fish, chicken and roasted vegetables. It is also used in North African cuisine, where it may be an ingredient in the spice mix ras el hanout. It’s no surprise that these culinary uses for lavender conform to the plant’s native range.

Lavender is said to have calming properties, and the scent is thought to promote restful sleep. It is used in soaps, perfumes and cosmetics. The plant is steam distilled to produce the essential oil, which most of us won’t do at home! Lavender sachets are a do-able home project. Harvest just when blooms begin to open with clean, sharp shears, just above the foliage. Bundle together with twine and hang upside down in a cool place to dry. Once dried, hang the bundle in a net bag in the closet, or get fancy and sew little bags out of muslin — if you’re really crafty, make those little fabric Portuguese fish and stuff them with dried lavender.

Lavender is a Mediterranean native, and it does well in all areas of Portugal if its specific needs are attended to. Let’s review some different types of lavender, the optimal time for planting, and best practices for success.  

There are 47 species of lavender, and more than 450 varieties.

Spanish lavender, or French lavender according to your preference, is Lavandula stoechas. Americans call it Spanish, and those from the UK use the designation French. It’s notable for its “bunny ears” on long spires. True to its Mediterranean roots, it thrives in hot, dry climates.

Fern leaf lavender, Lavandula multifida, is a low, spreading variety, also called Egyptian lavender. It thrives in southern mediterranean climates.

Portuguese lavender is Lavandula latifolia. Its scent is more pungent than other varietals, and native variants are found throughout Portugal.

Unique lavenders grow wild in the countryside. Pictured is a local variant from my area, São Brás de Alportel in the Algarve. I took this photo on a nearby hiking trail in early April this year. I call it São Brás lavender, though I’m not certain of its exact designation. Note the bunny ears!

Most varieties of English lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, are not suited to mediterranean climates. Stick to the mediterranean varieties here in the Iberian peninsula.

Lavenders hate wet feet. They tolerate poor soil, but they must have good drainage. You can do a drainage test by digging a hole 30 cm deep and wide. Fill it with water and let it drain completely. Then refill it, and time how fast the water drops. Less than five minutes is fast draining. Less than 15 minutes is good. Anything more: look for a different site for your lavender, or consider container planting as an option.

For best results, plant in the fall so your lavender can enjoy the winter rains and get established to be ready for heat and drought the following year.

Don’t water lavenders in the heat of summer, when they are dormant and want to sleep. They hate wet feet in hot soil and will die from root rot if watered in summer. This is the main reason for lavender dying. I know this from personal experience: I watered my first lavenders in the Algarve summer, and they keeled over dead!

Lavender doesn’t like organic mulch because it holds too much moisture. Pebbles are great.

Prune in fall back to just above new green growth. If you don’t aggressively prune your lavender, it will get woody and leggy and lose its beautiful mounding shape.  

And finally, here is my recipe for lavender linen spray. I love using this to freshen sheets and towels in my closet — and it’s especially nice to spray on the guest room bed just before friends arrive. It’s a lovely hostess gift, or a thoughtful item for a gift bag at the holidays.

Lavender Linen Spray

Put in a spray bottle and shake:

• 1/4 cup vodka
• 35 to 40 drops lavender essential oil

Add:

Shake to mix.

Read more articles from Justine Strand de Oliveira on gardening: There’s always room for a garden … it just might be in a container or Artichokes: all about this interesting vegetable, which is actually a flower bud