What is the common name for the plant Lavandula?

The common name for plants in the genus Lavandula is lavender.

Lavender is a group of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. The plants are best known for narrow, gray-green leaves and spikes of small purple, pink, or white flowers. Their distinctive fragrance comes from volatile oils concentrated in glands on the foliage and flowers, which are used in perfumes, soaps, cosmetics, teas, and some culinary products.

Lavandula includes many species and hybrids. English lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, is valued for high-quality essential oil and is widely grown in gardens. Lavandin, commonly associated with Lavandula × intermedia, is a hybrid of English lavender and spike lavender and is often cultivated commercially because it produces abundant oil.

Lavender is sometimes confused with sage, thyme, or rosemary because all are aromatic members of the mint family and can grow as woody herbs. They differ in leaf shape, scent, and flowers. Lavender also has a long history beyond gardening: ancient cultures used aromatic plants in bathing and scenting, while modern gardeners prize lavender for drought tolerance, ornamental flowers, and its attraction to bees.