About Lavandula multifida L.
Lavandula multifida, commonly known as fernleaf lavender or Egyptian lavender, is a small plant that sometimes grows as a shrub. It is native to southern Mediterranean regions, including Iberia, Sicily, Northwest Africa, and the Canary Islands. This species grows to a maximum height of 24 inches (61 cm). Its stems are grey and covered in woolly texture. The leaves are fern-like in appearance, double pinnate, and range in color from silver to green. Its dark blue or violet flowers can be either single or three-pronged, and grow on long stems that sit above the plant’s foliage. L. multifida is cultivated both as an herb and as an ornamental plant. Its foliage is aromatic, but its scent has been observed to be closer to oregano than to other types of lavender. In cooler latitudes, winter frost kills this plant, but it can be grown as an annual. One known cultivar of this species is 'Spanish Eyes'.
