Question
Dear Ms. Wilson,
 A gardener on television said the only edible lavender is gray lavender, not the purple lavender. Is this true? I would like to bake with lavender.
Thank you so much, Lisa.

Answer
Dear Ms. Lewis,

At the risk of sounding crabby... What on EARTH did that gardener mean by "grey" or "purple"?! ;) Those are hardly botanical names, and I have never heard of either as a distinctive factor myself.

Any of the lavendula species are perfectly edible. Angustifolia, intermedia, latifolia species are all edible. I'm not actually sure that the dentata and spicata species are edible. I don't grow them. It would surprise me if they weren't, but if you're not CERTAIN, then don't try it. I'm sorry that I can't help you better on that count.Perhaps the gardener on TV was talking about a completely different plant called "purple lavender" which might not be a lavender at all! Local names can be very confusing - many names for the same plant, and same names for different plants! Always ask for the Latin, botanical name. Safety first...

Just make certain that what you are growing is one of the first three species (you probably have one of the first two). Harvest your buds, and enjoy! Lavender is one of my favourite herbs used in cooking and baking.