French Lavender
Lavendula stoechas Fr: Lavande à toupet (Lavande Stéchade)
A grey-hairy shrub, usually 30-60 cm high, but can reach 1 m. Grows throughout the region, but only on sandy or grantitic, acid soils. Flowers in the spring and early summer.
Flowers. Mar-June
Flower. The dark purple flowers are 6-8 mm long, borne in stubby spikes, and easily recognised by the large bracts above the flower-head.
Leaves. The leaves are linear to lanceolate, smooth-edged (untoothed), and the stems are much-branched.
Habitat. maquis, garrigue, cultivated fields, roadsides, rocky areas and stony fields. Grows throughout the region, but only on sandy or grantitic, acid soils.
Practical. It is collected for its oil, used in the perfume industry (see Lavender).
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