14 Things Every Lavender Lover Should Know

Any lavender lover knows at least some of its many uses. But the fragrant plant also has an interesting
history.

1Lavender is a perennial in the mint family.
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Its genus name is lavandula, and the color lavender is actually named after the species lavandula angustifolia,the most widely cultivated species of the group. "Lavender" comes from the Latin word "lavare," which means "to wash."

2The Romans used lavender to their bath water, their bedding — and even their hair.
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They also used the plant for medicinal purposes, too.

3Lavender buds are covered in tiny hairs.
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They hold the essential oil— which lavender is most commonly grown to produce.

4Lavender is drought-tolerant and can thrive in high temperatures.
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It enjoys the sunlight and relatively dry soil, much like these other drought-resistant plants.

5It doesn't take long to dry it.
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In just two or three weeks, you can have a lovely aromatic accent for your home.

6Different varieties bloom in different seasons.
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There are three main types that will bloom during different periods from spring to late summer.

7Lavender oil is thought to cause drowsiness.
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Rub it on your temples to help you fall asleep.


8You can cook with both the flowers and leaves.
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The dried flower buds are most commonly used in the kitchen, but the leaves are also edible and found in recipes.

9In Ancient Egypt, lavender was used in the mumification process.
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10Queen Victoria was a fan.
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Allegedly, she required lavender-based polish on her furniture and drank lavender tea for stomachaches and headaches.

11Queen Marie Antoinette also decorated her royal palace with fragrant lavender.
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It's quite the aristocratic scent.

12In Elizabethan times, people used lavender to make their clothes and linens smell nice.
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Because bathing wasn't really an every day practice back then.

13Lavender will help attract bees and butterflies to your yard.
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14But it will keep mosquitoes away.
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The lavandin variety is high in camphor, which repels the bugs.

From: Country Living US


By Rebecca Shinners

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