Lavender is one of those plants almost everyone loves. It looks great in the garden, and the scent is hard to beat.
But not all lavender varieties are created equal. In fact, Lavandula stoechas, usually sold as Italian, Spanish or topped lavender, is a declared noxious weed in Victoria, prohibited in Western Australia, and spreading into bushland across south-eastern Australia. Here’s how to spot it, and why it’s a problem.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Lavandula stoechas, sold as Italian, Spanish, French, topped or bush lavender, is a declared noxious weed.
- Check the plant tag for the botanical name.
- With no tag, look for chunky flower heads, big “ears” on top and smooth-edged leaves.
- It spreads by seed into bushland, where it crowds out native plants
- Already have it? Deadhead before it sets seed, or remove it and bag it. Don’t compost it.
- Try English lavender (L. angustifolia) instead, or a native such as emu bush.
How to tell if you have Italian lavender
Lavender names can be confusing. The same plant might be labelled Italian, Spanish, French, topped or bush lavender, depending on where you buy it. The easiest way to know what you’re getting is to check the plant tag for the botanical name. If it says Lavandula stoechas, that’s the one to watch out for.
If there’s no tag, don’t worry; you can still figure it out. Italian lavender has short, chunky flower heads that look like tiny pinecones, with big, petal-like ears sticking up on top. The leaves are narrow, grey-green and have smooth edges.
Here’s how it compares with the two other lavenders you’re most likely to see:
- English lavender (L. angustifolia) has long, slender flower spikes and no ears.
- L. dentata (often sold as French lavender) can have small ears too, but its leaves have toothed, serrated edges, like a fine-toothed comb.
So if you spot chunky flower heads, big ears and smooth-edged leaves, chances are you’ve got Italian lavender.
Why Italian lavender is a problem
Italian lavender has been in Australian gardens since the 1850s, and it didn’t take long to make itself at home. By the 1890s, it was already spreading in the wild in Victoria, and by the 1920s, it was officially a noxious weed.
According to Weeds Australia, Italian lavender “has spread primarily through deliberate plantings in gardens”. Its seed travels on the wind, in water, on animals, in soil and even on clothing, and dumped garden waste carries it straight into bushland.
Once it takes hold, it’s hard to stop. Agriculture Victoria warns that it “forms dense patches which eliminate most other vegetation”, crowding out native shrubs, grasses and wildflowers.
Getting rid of Italian lavender isn’t easy either. The seeds can hang around in the soil for years, so even if you pull out the plants, new seedlings will keep popping up. That’s why it’s considered high risk.
Already have it in your garden? Here’s what to do
If you spot Italian lavender in your garden, don’t panic. But it’s best to act before it spreads. Since it reproduces by seed, the easiest thing you can do is deadhead the flowers as soon as they fade, before any seeds form.
Want to get rid of it completely? Pull out small plants by hand, and dig up bigger ones, roots and all. Whatever you do, don’t toss the seed heads in your compost or dump them in bushland; that’s how it spreads.
Bag up the cuttings and put them in your council’s green waste or general waste. Keep an eye out for new seedlings in the same spot.
What to plant instead
If you’re still set on lavender, you have options.
English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) has a lovely scent, and it’s perfect for cooler climates. Be wary, though; it’s toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. For warmer spots, French lavender (L. dentata) is a tough, water-wise choice.
Or if you want a native plant with that same silvery look, try emu bush (Eremophila) or native scurf pea (Cullen australasicum). Both are tough, drought-hardy and great for pollinators. Your local nursery can help you pick the best one for your area.
How to check if a plant is low risk
Weeds don’t just appear on their own. Most of the time, they escape from someone’s backyard and spread from there. The Gardening Responsibly initiative is trying to fix that.
They help gardeners pick plants that look good without risking the local bushland. Using an online plant-checking tool, gardeners can search for low-risk plants at participating nurseries.
“The definition of a weed is a plant in the wrong place. Nobody wants weeds in their garden,” says Program Manager Aimee Freimanis.
Before you buy, here’s how to check a plant:
- Search the low-risk plant list on the Gardening Responsibly website.
- Search by growth habit to find low-risk alternatives to a plant you like.
- Sign up for the free Research Portal to look up detailed plant data or request an assessment.
- Upload your plant list to the portal to check several plants at once.
- Ask a member supplier for advice.
If a plant isn’t on the list, it might not have been checked yet, or it may not be considered low risk. So it’s worth double-checking before you plant.
