Based on botanical classification, lavender is considered a shrub.
Understanding Lavender's Classification
While often used culinarily and medicinally like many herbs, the physical structure and growth habit of lavender firmly place it in the category of shrubs.
According to botanical descriptions:
- Lavender is a heavily branched short shrub.
- It typically grows to a height of roughly 60 centimeters (about 24 inches).
- Its structure includes a broad rootstock bearing woody branches.
- Upright, rod-like, leafy, green shoots grow from these woody branches.
This description highlights key characteristics of a shrub: a woody perennial plant, generally smaller than a tree, with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
Shrub vs. Herb: Key Differences
It's helpful to understand the fundamental differences between a shrub and an herb in botanical terms.
| Feature | Shrub | Herb |
|---|---|---|
| Stem Type | Woody, persistent year-round | Non-woody (herbaceous), often dies back |
| Growth | Multi-stemmed from base | Typically single or multiple stems from base |
| Perennial? | Yes (woody structure persists) | Can be annual, biennial, or perennial (often dies back to the ground if perennial) |
| Height | Generally taller than herbs | Typically shorter |
Lavender's woody, persistent stem structure aligns directly with the definition of a shrub. Although its leaves and flowers are harvested and used in ways similar to herbaceous plants (herbs), its fundamental botanical structure is shrub-like.
Why the Confusion?
The primary reason lavender is sometimes mistaken for an herb is its common usage in cooking, fragrance, and traditional medicine, categories often associated with culinary or medicinal herbs. However, "herb" in this context refers more to the plant's function or use rather than its botanical structure. Many plants with woody stems are used as herbs (e.g., rosemary, thyme, sage), which are also classified as subshrubs or shrubs depending on their specific growth habit.
In conclusion, while lavender is widely used as an "herb" in the culinary or medicinal sense, its physical characteristics define it botanically as a shrub. Its woody structure and perennial growth from a branched base are clear indicators of this classification.
