History
For more than 2000 years the lavender plant has adorned many gardens all over the world. From Roman times until now lavender has provided all cultures with many riches, from the radiant tapestry of flowers and fragrant perfume to its known healing qualities and modern status in aromatherapy. Lavender has been loved by all ranks in all ages. The word lavender is thought to have derived from the Latin lavare meaning 'to wash' since the Romans made a habit of scenting their baths with lavender.
They spent vast amounts of money on their ritual ablutions and at the public baths many of their lotions contained lavender.
The Romans traditionally used the dried and crushed leaves of lavender as a form of incense in honour of their gods. It was also present at many ceremonial occasions being burnt on hot coals, and widely used in the preparation of childbirth.
The Greeks too had a fond respect for lavender, but more for its medicinal qualities. Dioscorides, a Greek physician and botanist from the first century AD attributed it with having 'deobstruent and roborant [laxative and stimulant] qualities' which enabled it to be used for chest complaints.
In the Middle Ages it was the monks and nuns who maintained knowledge about herbal medicine. The monastries of this time cultivated herb gardens each plant grown especially for its specific culinary or medicinal use.
Lavender and linen have since always had a strong association. It is reminiscent of Victorian ladies with linen closets stacked high with white laundered linen smelling of fresh lavender. Young ladies of the time who swooned at the slightest incident were revived with lavender smelling salts. No Victorian medicine cupboard would have been without its small blue bottle of lavender oil. Lavender has always been essential to the medicine cabinet. It has been used to relieve numerous ailments and many of the purported medicinal uses for lavender have, upon modern scientific testing, proven to be legitimate. During the Plague of London in the 1700's lavender was made up into nosebags to combat serious infection.
Lavender oil was used extensively during World Wars I and II on the battle field. If any medical supplies became scarce lavender was used to douse wounds to prevent infection and as a pain reliever.
With such a vast array of applications, it is not surprising that lavender has always been considered an essential component of the garden. Aside from the medicinal and antiseptic uses, lavender was also planted for its ornamental effect. Lavender was one of the first garden plants imported by immigrants to Australia and New Zealand during the nineteenth century. Gardeners are now offered an array of over 30 species and hybrids for every planting opportunity and in flower colour range from greens, pinks and whites to the darkest violet.