The first Lavandin to be cloned or propagated was Lavandula x intermedia Abrialii in the late 1920's. A natural cross between L. angustifolia and L. spica, Abrialii Lavender was the plant of choice for oil distillation until it was hit hard by a disease. Much of it was replaced by another Lavandin, Super. These two Lavandins closely resembled the harder to grow Lavandula angustifolia and gave more oil per plant. In the 1970's lavender grower Pierre Grosso developed the Lavandin, Grosso Lavender, which was more robust and is now the most widely cultivated Lavandin.

Abrialii is a little shorter than Grosso, but it has the same deep purple flower bracts (instead of green like many lavenders) which may make it the perfect choice for down in front.

Like all Lavandula x intermedias, Abrialii makes an attractive fragrant hedge. When the bloom is finished it can be sheared into any shape, but be sure to take off about a third of the stems to promote bushiness and good flower pattern the next spring.

Abrialii Lavender is one of the six plants chosen to be in our Crafter's Herb Garden for Zones 5-11, and would make a great addition to both our Zone 5 Fragrant Herb Garden Six Pack.