In the lavender fields of the Valensole plateau in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department, the rows are placed 5.9 to 6.5 ft (1.80 to 2 m) apart, which makes it possible to plant 8,000 vines per hectare in the first case and 7,200 in the second. Lavandin plants are placed 2.2 feet (70 cm) apart so as not to smother each other. Lavender plants, on the other hand, are closer and only 1.6 feet (50 cm) apart, which is equivalent to about 10,000 plants per hectare. At flowering, such planting in rows gives the impression of discontinuous purple bands.