Grow your own lavender
from cuttings.

Choose the right growth

Cuttings preserve the parent plant’s characteristics; seed-grown plants can vary. For this guide, choose healthy, nonflowering growth from the current season with a firm base and a still-flexible tip. This is called a semi-ripe cutting.

Late summer into early autumn is a common window. Follow the condition of your plant and your local weather, rather than a calendar date alone. Protect young plants from cold and wet conditions; spring planting depends on established roots and suitable weather, not a promised deadline.

From stem to new plant

1. Gather your supplies. Use clean, sharp pruners, pots with drainage holes, labels, and a free-draining propagation mix.
2. Take your cuttings. Work in the morning. Choose healthy shoots and trim each to about 4–6 inches, cutting just below a leaf joint.
3. Prepare the stem. Remove the lower leaves. Keep the upper foliage. If using rooting hormone, follow its label.
4. Pot promptly. Make a hole in damp propagation mix, insert the bare stem, and gently firm the mix. Water and let excess drain away.
5. Provide shelter. Keep in bright, indirect light. A clear cover can retain humidity; ventilate regularly and keep covered pots out of direct sun.
6. Watch moisture. Keep the mix moist without saturating it. Remove rotting cuttings. Do not let standing water collect beneath the pot.
7. Grow on gradually. Once rooted, gradually acclimate the plants to outdoor conditions before potting on or planting.

Keep the story with the plant

Write the parent plant’s name, where it came from, and the date you took the cutting on its label. Add your observations to a notebook. A plant shared by a friend carries a story worth keeping.

Starting a few cuttings gives you room to learn. Record what you tried and what you would change next time.

Plan their next home

Established lavender needs sun and excellent drainage. Young plants still need watering while they establish. Before planting out, consider your cultivar’s cold tolerance and your site’s winter conditions.