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Lavandula dentata var. candicans (Gray Leaved French Lavender) - An attractive and bushy lavender, typically growing to 3 to 4 feet tall by 5 to 6 feet wide with pungently aromatic gray toothed-margined leaves. The aromatic pale lavender-blue flowers in short spikes rising a foot above the foliage on slender peduncles can be present nearly year-round with peak flowering in fall and early winter.
Plant in full sun in a well-drained soil where it has low water needs and it is hardy to about 20 degrees F. This is a great long lived shrubby lavender species that forms dense mound holding attractive flowers rising just above the foliage but unlike the English Lavender varieties these flowers are not recommended for human consumption. It is similar to the plant we grow as Lavandula dentata, but is grayer and more robust. It can be shearing lightly to shape and control size so can be used somewhat formally as a low hedging plant.
The species Lavandula dentata (L. dentata var. dentata) has a disjunct distribution across Mediterranean Sea basin from Spain and North Africa east to the Arabian peninsula and south to Ethiopia. This variety candicans is noted to occur sporadically within this range but most common in North Africa. The name for the genus is from the Latin 'lavare' or 'lavo' meaning "to wash" in reference to use of infusions of the plants. The specific epithet is a reference to the dentate margins of the leaves and the varietal name 'candicans' is Latin meaning "shining white" in reference to the silver-gray to white tomentose indumentum of branched hairs on the leaves. This plant, commonly sold as Gray French Lavender, is similar to the species but is more robust with grayer foliage. We have grown this outstanding and long lived lavender variety since 1990 and have 20 plus year old plants of this variety in our garden that are over 4 feet tall by 10 feet across.
This information about Lavandula dentata var. candicans displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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