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Lavender facts for kids

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Lavender
Single lavendar flower02.jpg
Lavender flowers
Scientific classification
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Lavandula

This article is about the plant. For the colour see Lavender (color).

Lavender is a type of plant found on almost all continents. It has a purplish colour. It has a colour named after it, called lavendar. Its Latin and scientific name is Lavandula.

Lavenders used in gardens

Bee pollen lavender
A bee on a lavender flower

Lavenders are very popular among gardeners. Sometimes their petals are dried and sealed in pouches for good scent, and sometimes put inside clothes to prevent moths, who can damage the clothes.

Lavenders in food

Lavender cupcakes
Lavender infused cupcakes

Lavenders are also used in cake decorating, because the flowers can become candied. Sometimes they are used in flavoring baked goods and chocolate desserts, and sometimes they use it to make a very delicious "lavender sugar". Lavender flowers are also used to make tea. The French make lavender syrup, which is used to make lavender scones and lavender marshmallows.

Medicine

Vaucluselavender
A field of lavender in France

Lavenders are sometimes put in medicine, too, and sometimes to prevent infection - such as lavender oil, that was used in World War 1 to disinfect walls and floors of the hospital. As the folk wisdom says, lavender oil is also helpful to headaches when rubbed on your temple, and lavender tea helps you relax before bed time. Lavender also is very helpful when applied to insect bites.

Other uses

Sometimes, dried petals of lavender are used to throw confetti at a wedding.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Lavandula para niños

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