Herb
French Lavender
C tier
French lavender in nursery English often means Lavandula dentata or stoachas-type plants with toothed leaves and pineapple-like bracts—pretty, less hardy, and not the best culinary chemistry. True Provençal field lavender is usually angustifolia or lavandin under other names. Treat garden-centre “French lavender” as ornamental unless a supplier confirms food-grade angustifolia. Bracts look dramatic but can taste resinous.
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History
English speakers loosely called various French-grown lavenders “French lavender.”
Nursery trade applied French lavender to dentata and similar ornamentals.
Confusion between French lavender ornamentals and culinary true lavender grew.
Herb educators clarified French lavender naming for cooks.