Lavender

Description
Lavender is an always green, long lasting plant. It grows in the form of a small bush and grows to be about 60cm big. The leafs are greenishly gray, with smooth hairs. The blooms are combined in thin inflorescence on long stems, they are either blue, purple or even white coloured. It blooms from July till September. We plant it in spring from March till April. We harvest the flowers right after they open because that’s when they have the most healing potential, they bloom from June till August. We gather the leafs the whole year around. After blooming, cutting the plant is recommended.

Growth conditions and habitat
It requires a sunny, airy and warm habitat. In the Mediterranean the plants can survive the winter on their own, but in colder areas they require protection. The soil must be dry, permeable and preferably made of limestone.

Culinary use
It can be used as an aroma in jams, fruit salads and jellies. The young leafs can be used as seasoning on fish and wild game. We can also produce vinegar from it.
Lavender can be use for massage oil, which helps with headaches and sore muscles. Vegetation of lavender oil helps with asthma and bronchitis, soothes coughs; helps with skin burns, bug bites, rheumatism and skin illnesses with a lot of rashes, because it acts anti-inflammatory and antiseptic.The swelling of lavender flowers helps with stress, irritability, depression, insomnia and strengthens the nervous system. It can also be used as an air freshener.

Sources:
Karin Greiner/angelika Weber, Zelišča od A do Ž, Narava d.o.o. Kranj, 2007
http://www.zdravilnerastline.si/rastline-s-z/29-prava-sivka-lavandula-angustifolia.html