Yes, different lavender varieties can and often do cross-pollinate, especially if they are flowering at the same time and are in close proximity. This is primarily facilitated by pollinators like bees.
Here's a breakdown of what that means for different purposes:
1. For Visual Appeal in Your Garden (Most Gardeners):
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Impact: If you have different types of lavender (e.g., English, French, Lavandin) growing near each other, bees will happily carry pollen from one to another.
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Result: The seeds produced by these cross-pollinated plants will not be "true to type" (meaning, they won't produce a plant identical to the parent). If you collect and plant these seeds, you'll likely get offspring with mixed characteristics, potentially different flower colors, growth habits, or even scents. This can lead to an interesting "patchwork" effect in your garden, which some people enjoy.
2. For Propagation (Creating New Plants):
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From Seed: If you want to grow a specific lavender variety that is genetically identical to the parent, do not rely on seeds from an open-pollinated plant. The offspring from cross-pollinated seeds will be hybrids with varying characteristics. This is why most named lavender varieties are propagated by cuttings. Cuttings are clones of the parent plant, ensuring they retain all the original traits.
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Creating New Hybrids: Cross-pollination is how new lavender hybrids (like the widely used Lavandin, Lavandula x intermedia, which is a natural cross between L. angustifolia and L. latifolia) naturally occur. Breeders intentionally facilitate cross-pollination to develop new varieties with desirable traits (e.g., higher oil content, specific fragrances, disease resistance).
3. For Essential Oil Production:
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Impact on Yield: Cross-pollination by bees is generally beneficial for essential oil production in terms of yield. Studies have shown that pollinated lavender plants produce more essential oil compared to unpollinated plants. Bees are crucial for good seed set and overall plant vigor.
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Impact on Quality (Chemical Profile): This is where it gets more nuanced.
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While cross-pollination increases yield, some research indicates it can slightly alter the chemical composition of the essential oil. For example, one study found that pollinated Lavandula angustifolia (English Lavender) produced more essential oil, but with lower relative amounts of linalool and higher relative amounts of linalyl acetate. These two compounds (linalool and linalyl acetate) are key to the desired "sweet" and "floral" aroma of true lavender essential oil.
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Commercial growers producing "true" lavender essential oil (e.g., Lavandula angustifolia chemotypes prized for high linalool/linalyl acetate and low camphor) are typically very careful about maintaining the genetic purity of their stock. They propagate via cuttings from known, stable cultivars and may try to isolate fields of specific varieties if they are concerned about the nuanced chemical profile.
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Lavandin essential oil, being a natural hybrid, already has a different chemical profile (typically higher in camphor) compared to true lavender, which is expected.
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In summary:
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Yes, different lavender varieties can and do cross-pollinate through bees and other pollinators.
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For home gardeners, this means if you grow from seeds collected from your garden, the offspring won't be identical to the parent, but you might get interesting variations.
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For commercial essential oil production, cross-pollination is good for yield, but strict varietal purity is maintained via cuttings to ensure a consistent and desired essential oil chemical profile.
