Lavandula stoechas (Spanish lavender)

Spanish lavender occurs naturally in the Mediterranean region. It is a perennial shrub, it usually grows to 30–100cm (12-40in) tall and wide. The leaves are 1–4cm (½-1½in) long, greyish tomentose. The flowers are pinkish-purple (lavender-coloured), produced on spikes 2–3cm (¾-1¼in) long at the top of slender leafless stems 10–30cm (4-12in) long; each flower is subtended by a bract 4–8mm long. At the top of the spike are a number of much larger, sterile bracts (no flowers between them), 1–5cm (½-2in) long and bright lavender purple (rarely white).