Lavender is a woody aromatic shrub best treated as a long-lived garden plant rather than a short-term annual herb.
Quick fit: Full sun and fast drainage; avoid persistently wet soil.
Common harvest focus: flower spikes.
Common harvest focus: flower spikes.
How to grow lavender
- Prioritize full sun and fast drainage.
- Avoid planting into persistently wet or waterlogged soil.
- Containers can work well when they have generous drainage holes and a free-draining mix.
- Prune appropriately for the lavender type rather than cutting hard into old bare wood.
Garden placement
Plan around mature size rather than seedling size. Keep access for watering, inspection and harvest, and avoid crowding plants simply to fit more varieties into one bed.
Harvest and preservation
Use clean tools where appropriate and process harvested material promptly. See our general guides to harvesting herbs and drying herbs.
Gardening, not medical advice: This page explains cultivation. Traditional use of a plant does not establish that it is safe or effective for a health condition.
Source note
RHS describes lavender as sun-loving, drought-tolerant once established, and particularly intolerant of cold, wet conditions.