Lavender is a flowering plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae, with a sweet floral scent. It's native to the Mediterranean, Middle East, and India, and has been used for 2,500 years. 
It's a bushy perennial that grows 1–3 ft tall, with blue-violet flowers and blue-green needle-like leaves. Lavender is often grown in herb gardens for its fragrant leaves and attractive flowers, and its essential oils are used to scent many products. Dried lavender flowers have long been used in sachets to scent closets and chests, and the ancient Romans used it in their baths. Lavender is also sometimes used to flavor sweets and beverages, and has many applications in herbal medicine. 
Lavender plants require lots of sun and good drainage, and grow best in sandy, nutrient-poor, alkaline soil. They should be watered right after planting, and every few days until they become established.