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The Latest on Planting Lavender & How To Grow More

Whitney Laritson | February 14, 2026

Become a Lavender Expert This Season

Want to grow Lavender like a pro? You’ve come to the right place! We’re full-blown Lavender lovers here at Nature Hills Nursery, and we’ve packed this guide with everything you need to plant, grow, prune, and harvest your own Lavender plants.

Lavender (Lavandula) is one of the most popular perennial herbs for home gardens. This low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, and wonderfully fragrant plant adds year-round charm and pollinator appeal to sunny borders, patio pots, and herb gardens.

How To Grow Lavender 101
Lavender Cuttings Propagation
- Cuttings Care

All About Lavender

Part of the Lamiaceae (Mint) family, Lavender shrubs form neat, aromatic mounds topped with stems of purple, pink, or white blooms. Their soothing fragrance makes them perfect for cottage gardens, rock gardens, or patio containers. In frost-free zones, try a flowering hedge along a walkway or driveway for nonstop color and scent!

For design inspiration, explore Lavender landscaping ideas that wow the senses - perfect for pairing Lavender with companion plants in eye-catching borders and containers.

The blooms are prized for drying, sachets, and potpourri, while Lavender’s oils are treasured in aromatherapy and skincare. Known for relaxation and healing, it’s been used for centuries to calm nerves and ease headaches.

Lavender thrives in full sun and well-drained, alkaline soil. Avoid overwatering, and prune lightly above the woody base after flowering to keep plants healthy and compact.

Top Lavender Varieties from Nature Hills

Anouk Spanish Lavender Tree Form
English Munstead Lavender
Grosso Lavender
Hidcote Lavender
Phenomenal French Lavender
Provence Lavender
Sensational! Lavender
Silver Mist English Lavender

Not sure if it’s Lavender, Russian Sage, or Salvia? Here’s how to tell them apart once and for all.

How To Grow Lavender 101

Planting Lavender

Plant Lavender in spring as the soil warms. Fall planting works too - just choose a larger, more established plant. Lavender prefers full sun and excellent drainage, so amend compacted soil with compost or sand. Space plants 2-3 feet apart for airflow and cover roots with a light mulch layer to retain moisture and prevent weeds.

Care & Maintenance

Watering: Once established, Lavender is drought-tolerant. Use the Finger Test - if the soil feels dry an inch down, water deeply.

Winter care: In cold regions, mulch roots or overwinter container Lavender indoors in bright light. Try winter watering during dry spells. Container Lavender also makes lovely houseplants.

Pruning: After blooms fade, trim back about one-third of top growth to shape and stimulate new stems. Avoid cutting into woody portions - see renewal pruning tips for details.

Harvesting Lavender

Cut stems when about half the buds have opened
Harvest in the morning when oils are most fragrant
Bundle with rubber bands and hang upside down in a dry, airy place

Lavender Cuttings Propagation

Lavender is easy to multiply! Take softwood cuttings in spring or hardwood ones in fall from healthy, non-flowering stems. Strip the lower leaves, lightly scrape the stem, and insert into well-draining soil. Cover with a clear bag to create a mini-greenhouse.

Cuttings Care

Softwood cuttings root in 2-4 weeks; hardwoods take longer. When you feel gentle resistance, roots are forming. Remove the cover, set plants in full sun, and keep the soil barely moist. Repeat as often as you like - there’s no such thing as too much Lavender!

Lavender season is coming - join the purple-power party and grow your own!

Happy Planting!

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do you plant lavender in the ground for the best results?

Plant lavender in spring once the soil has warmed, spacing plants 2 to 3 feet apart to ensure good airflow and reduce disease pressure. Choose a site with full sun and excellent drainage, and if your soil is compacted, amend it with compost or sand before planting. Cover the root zone with a light layer of mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds, but keep mulch away from the crown to prevent rot. Water deeply after planting and use the finger test going forward, watering only when the soil feels dry about an inch down.

How do you grow lavender successfully in your home garden?

Lavender thrives in full sun and well-drained, alkaline soil, so amend compacted or clay-heavy ground with compost or sand before planting. Set plants out in spring once the soil has warmed, spacing them 2 to 3 feet apart to ensure good airflow and reduce disease risk. Water deeply but infrequently once established, using the finger test to check that soil is dry about an inch down before watering again. After flowering, prune lightly above the woody base to keep plants compact and productive season after season.

How do you grow lavender outdoors in different climates?

Lavender thrives in full sun and well-drained, slightly alkaline soil across a wide range of climates, but your approach should match your region. In cold climates, plant in spring once the soil warms, choose cold-hardy varieties like Phenomenal or Hidcote, and mulch roots before winter to protect them. In frost-free zones, Lavender can be planted in fall using a larger, more established plant, and it can even be grown as a flowering hedge along walkways for year-round color. Space plants 2 to 3 feet apart for good airflow, amend heavy or compacted soil with compost or sand, and prune lightly above the woody base after flowering to keep plants healthy no matter where you garden.

How far apart should you plant Phenomenal lavender?

Phenomenal Lavender is a large, vigorous variety that benefits from extra spacing, so plant it 3 to 4 feet apart to allow for its substantial mature size and to promote good airflow between plants. Adequate spacing helps prevent the moisture buildup that can lead to root rot and fungal issues, which Lavender is particularly susceptible to. As with all Lavender, choose a site with full sun and excellent drainage, and plant in spring once the soil has warmed for the best establishment.

How do you plant and grow French lavender?

French lavender (Lavandula dentata) thrives in USDA zones 8-11, where it can be grown as an evergreen shrub or even a flowering hedge. Plant in spring once the soil has warmed, choosing a site with full sun and excellent drainage, spacing plants 2 to 3 feet apart to promote good airflow. Amend compacted or clay-heavy soil with compost or sand before planting, and apply a light layer of mulch over the roots to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Water deeply but infrequently once established, and prune lightly above the woody base after flowering to keep your plant compact and productive.

Can lavender be trained or grown into a tree form?

Yes, lavender can be trained into a tree form, and Nature Hills carries the Anouk Spanish Lavender Tree Form as a ready-made option for gardeners who want that elegant, standard look without the years of training. Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas) is particularly well-suited to this style due to its naturally upright growth habit and thrives in USDA zones 8-11. To enjoy this striking form on a patio or in a container, shop the Anouk Spanish Lavender Tree Form at Nature Hills and place it in full sun with fast-draining soil for best results.

Are lavender trees perennials or do they need to be replanted each year?

Lavender trees are perennials, meaning they come back year after year without needing to be replanted. In frost-free zones, they thrive outdoors year-round and can even be grown as flowering hedges along walkways or driveways. In colder regions, container-grown lavender trees can be overwintered indoors to protect them from harsh temperatures. Choose a well-established plant, provide full sun and excellent drainage, and prune lightly after flowering each season to keep your lavender tree healthy and long-lived.

When is the best time of year to plant lavender?

Spring is the best time to plant lavender, once the soil has begun to warm and frost risk has passed. Fall planting is also an option, but choose a larger, more established plant to give it the best chance of settling in before winter. In either season, make sure your site offers full sun and excellent drainage, spacing plants 2 to 3 feet apart to promote good airflow. Cover the roots with a light layer of mulch after planting to retain moisture and keep weeds at bay.

Should lavender be planted in raised beds or directly in the ground?

Both options work well for lavender, but raised beds offer a significant advantage because they provide the excellent drainage this plant demands. In heavy clay soils or regions with wet winters, a raised bed filled with amended, well-draining soil can mean the difference between a thriving plant and root rot. If planting directly in the ground, loosen the soil and work in compost or coarse sand before setting plants 2 to 3 feet apart in a full sun location. Choose raised beds in problem drainage areas, and plant in spring once the soil has warmed for the best start either way.