Lavender is one of the most popular herbs grown in home gardens around the world. Its fragrant purple flowers, soft silvery foliage, and wide range of uses—from aromatherapy and skincare to culinary dishes and pollinator support—make it both beautiful and practical.
If you already have a lavender plant in your garden or access to one, you can grow new lavender plants from cuttings instead of starting from seed.
Growing lavender from cuttings is not only faster than growing from seeds, but it also guarantees that the new plants will inherit the exact same traits as the parent plant.
This method of propagation is simple, budget-friendly, and highly effective when done correctly.
In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about how to grow lavender from cuttings, including when to take cuttings, how to root them, and how to successfully transplant and care for your new plants.
Why Propagate Lavender from Cuttings?
There are several reasons why growing lavender from cuttings is preferred over growing from seed:
Faster results: Lavender seeds are slow to germinate and can take months to grow into mature plants, while cuttings root and grow more quickly.
True to type: Seeds can produce plants with varying characteristics, especially in hybrid varieties. Cuttings are clones of the parent plant, so you’ll get consistent color, scent, and growth habit.
Cost-effective: You can produce dozens of plants from just one established lavender bush, saving money on nursery plants.
High success rate: With the right conditions, cuttings have a strong chance of rooting and thriving.
When Is the Best Time to Take Lavender Cuttings?
Lavender can be propagated from either softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings, depending on the time of year and your preferences.
Softwood cuttings are taken in spring to early summer when the plant is actively putting out new growth. These green, tender stems root quickly and easily, but they’re delicate and require careful handling and a humid environment.
Semi-hardwood cuttings are taken in late summer to early autumn, when the stems have matured slightly and started to become woody at the base. These cuttings take a little longer to root but are more resilient and less prone to rot or drying out.
Both types of cuttings can be successful, but if you’re new to propagation, semi-hardwood cuttings tend to offer a higher success rate.
Choosing the Right Parent Plant
Start by selecting a mature, healthy lavender plant that is free of pests, diseases, and flowering stems.
Flowering stems put their energy into blooming rather than developing roots, so avoid using them for propagation.
Look for firm, flexible stems that are showing strong, upright growth. A robust parent plant gives your cuttings the best chance of thriving.
Step-by-Step Guide to Growing Lavender from Cuttings
Step 1: Take the Cuttings
Use sharp, clean pruning shears or garden scissors to cut a non-flowering stem from the parent plant. Each cutting should be about 4 to 6 inches long, ideally taken from the current season’s growth.
Make your cut just below a leaf node, which is the point on the stem where leaves grow. This is where the roots are most likely to develop.
Take several cuttings at once in case some do not root successfully.
see continuation on next page
