This is normally one of the methods used for differentiating between various forms of lavender. The same goes for leaf colour, which is effected by light levels. This leaves the various flower parts to differentiate different lavenders. The flowers of the hybrid are generally longer and more cone shaped, compared with the L. angustifolia forms which are short, plump and squat. The bracts on the L .
Lavenders originate from the Mediterranean region.
This includes the Middle East, Southern Europe, Northern Africa and many of the islands in and around the Mediterranean. Consequently they have adapted to fairly harsh and dry conditions. Also many of the soils in these areas, and parts of France and England where much of the early cultivation was done, have high a Calcium content. Calcium is a key secondary nutrient for plant development. Various nutrients have different specialist functions.