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You can grow lavender from the flowers, but the process is a bit more nuanced than simply planting the blooms you see fresh on the stem.
If you’ve ever wondered if you can grow lavender from the flowers you’ve cut or bought, the answer is yes, but it’s the seeds inside those flowers that hold the potential for new plants.
While many gardeners prefer propagating lavender from cuttings for speed, growing lavender from the flowers via seed is a rewarding and cost-effective way to fill your garden with these fragrant plants.
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at how you can grow lavender from the flowers, the steps to get those seeds to sprout, and the best practices to ensure your lavender thrives.
Let’s dive into the world of lavender propagation from flowers.
Why You Can Grow Lavender From The Flowers
The simple reason you can grow lavender from the flowers is that each flower spike, once pollinated, produces tiny seeds.
These seeds are the plant’s natural way of reproducing, and with the right conditions, they’ll germinate into brand new lavender plants.
When people ask, “can you grow lavender from the flowers?” they often imagine planting the whole dried flower head, but the real magic lies in harvesting the mature seeds hidden within those blooms.
1. The Flower Spike Is a Seed Factory
Lavender flowers grow in whorls along a tall spike, and each tiny blossom has the potential to become a seed.
After the flowers fade and dry on the plant, they leave behind small, dark seeds at the base of each calyx.
If you collect these dried flower heads and gently rub them, you’ll release dozens of seeds that are ready to be sown.
So yes, you can grow lavender from the flowers, as long as you let the blooms fully mature and dry before harvesting.
2. Seed Viability Depends on the Flower’s Age
When you grow lavender from the flowers, timing is everything for seed viability.
If you pick the flowers too early while they’re still vibrant and fresh, the seeds inside won’t have matured enough to germinate.
Instead, you need to leave the flower spikes on the plant until they begin to turn brown and crispy, which signals that the seeds are fully developed.
This patience is key because immature seeds from fresh flowers will simply rot or fail to sprout.
3. Different Lavender Varieties Respond Differently
You can grow lavender from the flowers of most common varieties like English lavender or French lavender, but their germination rates vary.
English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is known for having a higher success rate when grown from seed extracted from its flowers.
French lavender and Spanish lavender can also be grown this way, but they may require extra patience and a longer cold stratification period.
Either way, the flowers are your starting point, and with a little care, they’ll reward you with new plants.
How To Grow Lavender From The Flowers Step By Step
Now that you know you can grow lavender from the flowers, let’s talk about the actual process.
It’s not complicated, but it does require a few specific steps to mimic the natural cycle lavender seeds go through outdoors.
Well, follow these methods and you’ll be well on your way to a thriving lavender patch.
1. Harvest and Extract Seeds From Dried Flowers
The first step when you grow lavender from the flowers is to harvest the dried flower spikes from your plant.
Wait until the stems have turned gray-brown and the flowers feel papery to the touch.
Then, snip the spikes and place them in a paper bag.
After a week or two of drying indoors, shake the bag vigorously to dislodge the seeds from the flower heads.
You can also rub the flowers between your fingers over a bowl to collect the small, dark seeds.
2. Cold Stratify the Seeds for Better Germination
To successfully grow lavender from the flowers, your seeds need a period of cold to break their dormancy.
This mimics winter conditions and signals the seed that it’s safe to sprout in spring.
Mix your extracted seeds with a handful of moist sand or vermiculite and seal them in a plastic bag.
Place the bag in your refrigerator for three to four weeks at around 40°F (4°C).
Don’t skip this step because lavender seeds that skip cold stratification tend to have very low and erratic germination rates.
3. Sow the Seeds in Well-Draining Soil
After stratification, it’s time to sow those seeds collected from the flowers.
Fill small pots or seed trays with a light, gritty seed-starting mix that drains extremely well.
Lavender hates wet feet, so good drainage is non-negotiable when you grow lavender from the flowers.
Scatter the seeds on top of the soil and press them down gently, but don’t cover them deeply because they need light to germinate.
A very thin dusting of soil or simply leaving them on the surface works best.
4. Provide Warmth and Bright Light
Place your seeded trays in a warm spot with temperatures around 70°F (21°C).
You can grow lavender from the flowers indoors under a grow light or on a sunny windowsill where they’ll get at least eight hours of bright light daily.
Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy by misting the surface regularly.
Germination from flower seeds can be slow, often taking two to four weeks, so be patient and keep the conditions steady.
5. Transplant Seedlings Once They’re Established
Once your seedlings have their second set of true leaves, you can transplant them into individual pots.
When they reach about three inches tall and all danger of frost has passed, you can move them outdoors.
Harden them off gradually over a week by exposing them to outdoor conditions for increasing hours each day.
With this method, your flowers have given life to a whole new generation of lavender plants.
Common Mistakes When Growing Lavender From Flowers
Even though you can grow lavender from the flowers, a few common pitfalls can derail your efforts.
Avoiding these will greatly improve your success rate and keep your seedlings healthy.
1. Using Fresh Flowers Instead of Dried Ones
As we mentioned earlier, fresh lavender flowers won’t yield viable seeds because they haven’t finished maturing.
If you try to grow lavender from the flowers you just cut in full bloom, you’ll likely get nothing but mold.
Always let the flowers dry completely on the plant before harvesting them for seeds.
2. Overwatering the Seeds and Seedlings
Lavender seeds and young plants are extremely susceptible to damping off, a fungal disease caused by excess moisture.
When you grow lavender from the flowers, it’s tempting to keep the soil soaking wet.
Instead, aim for lightly moist soil that dries slightly between waterings, and always use pots with drainage holes.
3. Expecting Instant Results
Growing lavender from flower seeds is not a fast process.
Between cold stratification, slow germination, and the many weeks needed for seedlings to mature, you won’t have flowering plants until the following year.
But if you’re patient, you can grow lavender from the flowers just fine, and you’ll be rewarded with robust, healthy plants.
So, Can You Grow Lavender From The Flowers?
Yes, you can grow lavender from the flowers, provided you harvest mature, dried blooms and extract the ripe seeds inside them.
The flowers themselves don’t root like some other plant parts, but they’re the gateway to producing new lavender plants through seed.
By following the steps of drying, cold stratifying, sowing in well-draining soil, and providing warm light, you’ll see those tiny seeds sprout into seedlings.
Just remember to avoid fresh flowers, don’t overwater, and give your plants time to establish.
Now you’re equipped with everything you need to turn your gorgeous lavender flowers into a whole garden full of fragrant, purple blooms.