It is estimated that there are between 25 and 30 different types of lavender, seven of which grow wild, mainly in the Mediterranean region. Lavender has its home in the barren, Mediterranean mountain regions, with different varieties with difficult needs having developed in different locations.
Where is lavender primarily found?
Lavender is mainly found in the Mediterranean region and thrives in dry, rocky areas. The best-known species include real lavender, spit lavender, crested lavender and the hybrid Lavandin or Provence lavender.
The natural habitat of lavender
Most of the numerous lavender varieties are cultivated forms of the three species known as progenitors. Both the real lavender as well as the spike lavender and the crested lavender grow on rocky, dry locations around the Mediterranean. The evergreen sub-shrubs have been thriving for thousands of years, especially in southern Europe, North Africa, India and southwest Asia. In Germany, only the strong seed-forming lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) sows itself and occasionally grows wild from gardens.
Occurrence of real lavender
The real lavender is originally a mountain plant; it is found at altitudes between 600 and 1600 meters. It is also known as wild lavender or mountain lavender. Due to this origin, this species thrives best on dry, preferably stony soils and is also the only type of lavender that is hardy in Germany.
Spit lavender and lavandin
Spit lavender comes from the western Mediterranean region. It is more likely to occur in deeper and therefore warmer areas than true lavender, which is why it grows significantly larger (up to a meter high) but is also more sensitive to frost. Lavandin or Provence lavender, as its name suggests, thrives primarily in southern France. It is a cross between lavender and real lavender. The species is only slightly frost hardy and remains smaller than the two parent species.
The origin of lavender
The lavender, a popular species for pot and balcony planting, is naturally found primarily in the coastal regions of southwestern Europe. However, two different forms are distinguished, depending on their origin. In Germany, both Spanish and Italian lavender are only suitable for cultivation in pots, as this species is not hardy. The crested lavender also has a special feature: In contrast to the other types of lavender, Lavandula stoechas thrives on lime-free soils.
Tips & Tricks
If you are looking for something special: Green lavender (Lavandula viridis) is very rarely cultivated in this country. This species, which comes from southwest Europe, grows to around 60 centimeters high, has white flowers and yellowish-green leaves.
