Lavender

flowers · Mediterranean · fragrant · herbs

Purple, fragrant flowers. Lavender produces beautiful purple flower spikes that smell absolutely wonderful. The scent comes from oils in the plant that insects and people find irresistible.

Mediterranean native. Lavender grows wild in the warm, dry regions around the Mediterranean Sea, where it loves sunny hillsides and sea breezes.

Uses for people. Humans have used lavender for thousands of years to make perfumes, soaps, teas, and medicines. Many people today use lavender oil to help them feel calm and relaxed.

Pollinator magnet. Bees and butterflies absolutely love lavender flowers and visit them constantly to collect nectar and pollen.

47 different types. There are 47 known species of lavender, and they're all part of the same family as mint, basil, and sage.