My grandma gave me a plant that was supposed to be lavender ...But it doesnt have a lavender smell. I have lavender oil that is nice..but this smells strong and spicy...almost not pleasant...the blooms are purple and the leaves are ferny looking ...what is it?? Is it lavender ??
2007-06-24 17:16:12 · 7 answers · asked by jamzesmom 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
Perhaps your have fern-leaf lavendula (lavender); check out this website: http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/2862/ the woman who grew this particular lavender said it smelled like savory. (Odd)
2007-06-24 17:43:37 · answer #1 · answered by fair2midlynn 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are many different kinds of lavender, and the plant that your grandmother gave you is one that isn't the French Lavender your oil came from. It may be a Spanish Lavender, which is more 'spicy' smelling and has a 'ferny' leaf ... or it could be another type of Lavender. If you could 'grow it' to it's 'full grown' stage, and then break off the flowers and smell them, and then the leaves and smell them, you'll probably notice that 'lavender' smell that you are thinking of ... most lavender doesn't really 'smell' until it's picked and partially dried, when the 'full scent' comes through. And thank your grandma, and ASK HER if she knows the 'botanical name' of the plant she gave you, and any of it's HISTORY ... that may tell you what kind of lavender plant you have.
2007-06-25 00:22:34 · answer #2 · answered by Kris L 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like a lavender. There are many types of lavender though and they have many slightly different scents to them. The oils that you buy at the store really don't smell much like a lavender plant. Take some of the leaves and roll them in your hand and smell them, they should smell like lavender, real lavender! The first early growth smells much stronger than later growth. The flowers tend to be a bit more subtle.
2007-06-25 02:57:52 · answer #3 · answered by noonecanne 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ferny looking leaves doesn't sound like lavender. However fresh lavender doesn't smell like the lavender you buy in the stores. My lavender plants have a light green leaf and they do have purple flowers on them, so does onion chives when they mature.
2007-06-25 00:20:32 · answer #4 · answered by easterbaby1975 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are different kinds of lavender. Some are just for show, and some are used for oils and scents.
If it is just flowering at the top, then it sounds like lavender.
all bees love lavender - so that should be a hint as well.
2007-06-25 00:19:41 · answer #5 · answered by Puss in Boots 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds similar to the lavender we planted a couple year ago.
2007-06-25 04:33:19 · answer #6 · answered by knight1192a 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes if it has a slim stem comming up out of the fern looking leaves with lots of small cluster purple flowers the smell should soften as the picked lavender dries then you can make it into a sachet with sweet soothing smell
2007-06-25 00:28:32 · answer #7 · answered by nevadagoddess 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋