Lavandula stoechas L.

Small, densely branched shrub, with stellate tomentum, strongly aromatic. Lvs 0.8-3 cm long, sessile, revolute, grey, linear-lanceolate or linear, (linear lvs commonly forming axillary fascicles subtended by a larger linear-lanceolate lf). Peduncle c. = spike. Spike 1.5-3 cm long (excluding plume of sterile apical bracts), composed of very densely packed verticels of fls. Fertile bracts 5-6 mm long, rhombic-cordate, green or brownish; sterile bracts 1-2 cm long, obovate or spathulate, mauve. Calyx 4-7 mm long, tubular, tomentose outside; teeth acute; appendage broad and ± reniform. Corolla 5-8 mm long; tube > calyx; upper tube and lobes dark purple; lobes 1-1.5 mm long, broader than long, subequal. Nutlets c. 2 mm long, broad-oblong, mucilaginous when wet.

It is a warm temperate plant. It grows in rocky places and open pine forests. It is drought tolerant. It suits hardiness zones 8-11. Kyneton Botanical Gardens. Hobart Botanical Gardens 1

The plant produces a dark golden honey. The flowers are used as flavouring. The leaves are used to flavour snails in cooking. They are also used for a herbal tea.

It spreads by seeds. Plants can be grown by cuttings.