Shrubs - French Lavender

French lavender has the scientific name Lavandula dentata where dentata translates to "toothed" referring to the scallops on the leaves as shown above. It's sometimes confused with Spanish lavender or Lavandula stoechas.

Both French and Spanish Lavender are evergreen, mostly herbaceous perennial shrubs.  Foliage is nearly silver white when immature to grey green at maturity.  In Phoenix, the bush flowers during the cool season, winter through mid-spring.  It grows to 2-2.5ft in height and can be more spreading.  These lavenders do better with eastern exposure and are intolerant of western afternoon sun especially during late spring through early autumn.  Lightly amend with organic matter, avoid highly organic and amended soils as this will promote a rank and rangy habit of growth.  Like English lavender, French and Spanish lavender attracts bees and butterflies and is differentiated from L. angustifolia (English lavender) by the presence of distinct leaf marginal dentations. 

Scientific name:  Lavandula Dentata