ABSTRACT
Lavender cultivars have been increasing since the early 1600s. Most of the earlier hybridisations involved Lavandula angustifolia, L. latifolia and later L. stoechas, giving rise to the numerous cultivars of colours ranging from white, yellow, blue to mauve and purple. Many different cultivars have been produced in different parts of the world, often giving rise to the same cultivar being produced with a different appearance and name. There is at present no International Register of Lavenders, but there is frequent talk among growers and enthusiasts about setting up such a register (Head, 1999). The International Registration Authorities are appointed through the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) in London and operate within the provisions of the current edition of the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants. This results in the publication of all the registered cultivars and all the relevant data on the characteristics, history and origin of each cultivar is kept.
