Harvesting Fresh Lavender: How To Harvest, Prune & Dry Lavender Flowers

Are you already enjoying the lovely scent of lavender in your garden? Whether you’re growing English, Spanish, or French varieties, this article will guide you through harvesting and drying fresh lavender flowers. Lavender is more than just a fragrant bloom – it’s an edible, versatile, and highly-healing plant that attracts pollinators to your sustainable garden. As you’ll discover, harvesting lavender is surprisingly easy, and the more you trim, the more blooms will follow!

In this article, we’ll cover the best time to harvest, where to trim, and how to give the plant a deeper prune. We’ll also explore three methods for drying fresh lavender buds and share creative ideas on what to do with them – think salves, sachets, and even cocktails!

Quick Tips on Growing Lavender

Growing lavender can be a low-maintenance endeavor when planted in the right environment and conditions. The plant thrives in USDA zones 5 through 10, but even within this range, there can be significant variations depending on the specific variety or climate. For instance, we live in zone 9b/10a and our lavender grows robustly, requiring minimal care.

In contrast, folks in Florida (also zone 9b/10a) may struggle to grow lavender due to the humid and wet conditions that are contrary to the plant’s preferences. To overcome this issue, consider growing lavender in a container filled with a well-draining potting mix or even a cactus potting mix. Avoid overwatering at all costs, as excessive moisture is the primary cause of death in lavender. Soggy roots can quickly lead to fungal diseases and demise.

When planting directly into the ground, choose a location with excellent drainage and sandy soil. Lavender doesn’t require rich or composted soil; it prefers poor rocky soil. Starting lavender from seed can be slow and finicky, but possible. Follow these tips for starting seeds indoors, keeping in mind that germination can take up to a month or two. A quicker approach is to start with an established seedling or nursery plant. Truthfully, this is the method we’ve always employed!

Young plants may be slow growers initially, so be patient and allow them to establish their roots before expecting vigorous growth. By year two or three, the roots become established, and the plants will grow and bloom more vigorously. Once established, it’s easy to harvest big bouquets of lavender for personal use while still leaving plenty of flowers behind for bees to enjoy!

Lavender Varieties

Lavender varieties can be broadly categorized into English, French, or Spanish types. Within these groups, you’ll find compact and sprawling cultivars, as well as numerous hybrids offering unique characteristics. All lavender varieties boast a wonderful aroma and are technically edible, although English and lavandin types (L. x intermedia) tend to be sweeter and more palatable for culinary use. When selecting a variety, consider your local climate.

True English Lavenders (Lavandula angustifolia), such as ‘Hidecote’ and ‘Munstead’, are cold-hardy and suitable for zones 5 and below. In contrast, French and Spanish lavenders thrive in warmer climates and higher zones. Some humidity-tolerant varieties include Lavandula stoechas and L. dentata. If you’re unsure of your USDA growing zone, a simple zip code lookup tool can help determine the answer. I recommend shopping at locally-owned nurseries for lavender varieties well-suited to your area.

Our temperate garden features a diverse selection of French, Spanish, and English lavender cultivars.

HOW TO HARVEST LAVENDER FLOWERS

Harvesting lavender is not only a thrill, but it’s also an essential step in keeping your plant healthy and thriving. In fact, pruning lavender is a double-edged sword – it encourages new growth, but also helps to control its shape and size. The more you prune, the more flowers you’ll get! It’s a win-win situation.

But before we dive into the nitty-gritty of harvesting and pruning, let’s tackle some common questions that come up again and again: when is the best time to harvest lavender, and exactly how do you go about it?

When to Harvest Lavender

When it comes to harvesting lavender, timing is everything – and that means going for the early bird approach on multiple fronts. Harvesting flowers in the early spring allows the plant ample time to produce another flush of blooms later in the summer or fall, which is especially crucial if you have a short growing season. In frost-free zones where some varieties bloom year-round, you can harvest small bunches continuously throughout the year.

For optimal fragrance and essential oil content, it’s essential to pluck individual flowers at the earliest stages of their bloom cycle – when the young, tender buds are still tight and just starting to open. This ensures you get the best out of your blooms in terms of color, aroma, and therapeutic properties. As lavender flowers age, their fragrance and oil content tend to decrease, while older, mature browning buds become prone to crumbling off the stem.

While it’s true that fully-opened flowers boast vibrant colors and are ideal for bouquets, there’s still value in harvesting slightly older blooms – especially if you don’t plan to use them immediately. Removing spent blooms is always a good idea, as it promotes healthy plant growth. Herbalists have long practiced the art of early morning harvesting, when dew has dried but plants are still perky from the cool night air.

This preserves the delicate essential oils and terpenes that might dissipate in the heat of the day. While life can get busy, I try to stick to this approach whenever possible – especially when making medicinal oil or salve. That said, if you’re pressed for time, don’t stress too much about it – just harvest those blooms when you can! Provence lavender’s early bloom phase is a great example of this, with most buds still closed and only a few having opened.

Where to Harvest Lavender Flowers

When harvesting individual lavender flowers or small quantities, start by identifying the bloom you want to collect. Next, follow the stem down from the flower bud until you reach a node where two side leaves, new buds, or branches have formed. Use pruning snips or scissors to cut the stem just above these leaves or side branches. This redirects the plant’s energy, causing the remaining shoots to grow rapidly and produce fresh flowers of their own.

For longer stems or bouquets featuring green foliage, follow the main stem down a little farther and trim above a similar node but deeper into the plant. This is particularly useful for smaller lavender plants with less space between nodes or for trimming larger established plants. After harvesting, you’ll be left with a nice bunch of fresh lavender that can be dried, displayed as a bouquet, or used immediately for its fragrance and flavor.

How to Prune Lavender

Pruning lavender shares similarities with harvesting, but requires a bit more vigor! Schedule pruning sessions once or twice a year, always following flowering. Prune after blooming to avoid delaying subsequent flower arrivals. The initial and less significant pruning round can be a springtime harvest of the first bloom’s flowers. Even if not preserving blooms for drying, deadheading promotes plant health and encourages new growth. During this spring prune, aim to trim about 25-33% of the plant.

In contrast, the more substantial pruning occurs in the fall, after the last floral display fades away. Hardy English lavender varieties naturally retreat in winter, responding better to hard pruning than non-English types. For instance, consider an English lavender plant in full bloom. Although not yet time for its full cut-back, harvesting a portion of flowers allows for drying and utilization. A closer examination reveals the cuts made near the stem bases, above the main plant mound.

Pruning English Lavender

To maintain the health and appearance of your English lavender, prune it annually by removing one-half to two-thirds of the new growth that has developed since the previous fall. When trimming, be sure to cut just above a leaf node or side branch, avoiding any bare woody growth near the base of the plant.

Take note of the different types of stems present: tough, woody growth close to the ground with no signs of sprouting or leaves, and above that, more tender growth in shades of green or light brown. When pruning, aim to trim at least a few inches above the bare woody part, leaving behind two or three leaf nodes per branch. This will encourage new growth and prevent the plant from becoming leggy.

Pruning Spanish & French Lavender

When pruning Spanish and French lavender varieties that are more delicate than English Lavender, exercise caution to avoid damaging the plant. Instead of cutting back too much, opt for light pruning, harvesting, or deadheading blooms throughout the growing season. As the summer winds down, shape the shrub into a rounded mound of foliage by pruning it slightly. Most gardening resources suggest removing no more than one-third of the plant’s foliage.

Don’t be overly concerned about pruning; a newly pruned lavender plant may appear rough around the edges initially, but it will soon bounce back and fill out. In fact, regular pruning can prolong the life of the plant. Established lavender plants are surprisingly resilient to hard pruning, as I’ve discovered by cutting some of mine nearly to the ground (almost into the woody zone). The more mature the plant, the better it will tolerate a severe prune.

Take my word for it – even a drastic cutback can still yield amazing results. Just look at this massive lavender bush that had grown unchecked and was blocking our front yard pathway! I hacked it back hard, cutting down into the woody parts in some areas, but within a month, fresh new growth began sprouting from the wood. While I wouldn’t recommend such a drastic cutback for the entire plant, this side needed it.

HOW TO DRY LAVENDER FLOWERS

With your freshly harvested lavender in hand, the next step is to decide how you’ll preserve its fragrant goodness. You have a trio of drying methods to consider, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Let’s explore your options and weigh the pros and cons of each approach.

1) Hanging Lavender to Dry

To dry fresh lavender, a straightforward approach is to allow it to air-dry naturally. Gather small bunches of stems and secure them with twine or rubber bands, then hang them upside down for passive drying. Harvesting large quantities of lavender can be overwhelming, so consider dividing the crop into smaller bunches to ensure even drying. Avoid tightening the bands excessively, as this can impede air circulation and promote mold growth.

For optimal results, position the bunches in a warm, dry location with good airflow. An open window or nearby fan can facilitate drying, while keeping the lavender out of direct sunlight can preserve its color intensity. The duration of the drying process may vary depending on your climate, ranging from a few weeks to over a month. To determine if the lavender is fully dry, attempt to break one of the stems – when completely dry, it should snap crisply in two.

Alternatively, you can place the bunches upright for drying, similar to an airy vase without water. While this method may not produce perfectly straight blooms, it still yields decent results. This method works best in warm, arid climates or controlled indoor environments that allow for thorough drying. In our case, living near the coast with mild humidity and fog, we’ve found success using this approach for decorative purposes.

2) Drying Lavender in a Food Dehydrator

When it comes to drying lavender, a food dehydrator can be a game-changer. Not only does it speed up the process, but it also ensures that the herbs are completely dry and free of any potential moisture that could affect their quality or shelf life. This is particularly important when making medicinal oils or salves, as even slight moisture levels can cause spoilage or mold growth.

In our cool and foggy summers, using a dehydrator to dry lavender has been a reliable method for achieving the best results. To ensure the highest level of essential oils and therapeutic benefits, it’s crucial to avoid overheating the lavender during the drying process. This can be achieved by setting the dehydrator to its lowest temperature setting, typically between 100°F to 105°F. The process of drying lavender in a dehydrator is straightforward.

First, harvest fresh lavender as described earlier, taking care to remove the entire stem and trim off any excess leaves or stems. Then, cluster the buds together and lay them out on the dehydrator trays in a single layer. If the lavender is particularly crumbly or the trays have large openings, consider using dehydrator tray liners or parchment paper to prevent any of the flower buds from falling through.

Once the lavender is loaded onto the trays, set the dehydrator to its lowest temperature setting and let it run for 24 to 48 hours, depending on the variety of lavender, the size of the buds, and the machine used. To check if the lavender is fully dry, simply break a large bud apart. If it feels crumbly and the middle stem snaps rather than bends, it’s ready. Once the lavender is completely dry, transfer it to an air-tight container for storage or its intended use.

In the case of our Goodwin creek lavender, which has small, crumbly buds when dry, we find that drying them on top of silicone tray liners produces the best results.

3) Drying on Screens or in Baskets

Lavender drying can also be achieved by laying out fresh herbs and flowers on screens or in airy baskets. This method is similar to the first approach, but without the bunching and hanging. You can dry full stems or just the buds using this technique. For a more DIY-friendly option, you can create your own herb drying racks using flat framed screens or go for a specialized multi-tier hanging rack like we use for other herbs, including cannabis.

Just like the first method, passive drying on screens or in baskets requires warm and arid conditions, as well as time. To ensure good air flow, spread the lavender flowers out in a single layer. As seen in this photo, it’s best to spread them out evenly rather than leaving them piled high to dry.

How to Store Dried Lavender

When the lavender has fully dried, you have two main options. You can choose to leave the flower buds intact on their long stems, which is perfect for creating stunning dried bouquets or adding them to dry floral arrangements. Alternatively, you can trim or remove the flower bud portion from the stem and store it in an airtight glass container. This will help preserve the maximum freshness, flavor, and aroma of the lavender.

Make sure to keep the container in a cool, dark, and dry location to maintain its quality.

Ways to Use Dried Lavender

Lavender is a remarkably versatile herb that offers numerous creative ways to utilize its benefits. Beyond floral arrangements, dry lavender can be harnessed for aromatherapy, which has been proven to alleviate anxiety, stress, depression, and insomnia. The aroma also repels pest insects, making it an effective natural insecticide.

Additionally, lavender’s natural properties – including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-fungal, and pain-relieving qualities – make it an ideal ingredient for homemade medicine and body care products. As a culinary delight, edible lavender varieties can be used in various recipes. The most popular types for consumption are English and lavandin hybrids, while Spanish and French lavender are better suited for medicinal purposes due to their higher camphor content.

To utilize dry lavender, consider the following ideas:Create sachets of soothing lavender potpourri by filling small mesh bags or cheesecloth with the herb. This is perfect for dresser drawers, bathrooms, cars, or bedside tables. Make a refreshing lavender room spray or linen spray. Use it as an ingredient to craft lavender-infused oil, tinctures, salves, soap, body scrub, and other products.

For instance, we make our own organic lavender salve (learn how here), and have recently started offering it in our shop! You can also create lavender bath bombs like my friend Tanya at Lovely Greens. Make a light lavender syrup to add to homemade kombucha or use as a topping for desserts like sugar cookies, cake, or cupcakes. Incorporate lavender into savory marinades for meats, potatoes, or other veggies.

Sprinkle dry lavender in your chicken coop and nesting boxes to repel flies, reduce odor, and calm your hens. You can also add old dead-headed lavender buds and stems as a soil top-dressing in potted plants to serve as organic mulch and repel pests. I plan to share more detailed articles on some of these ideas, so stay tuned! In the meantime, you can learn how to make lavender-infused oil (here) or homemade lavender salve (here).

Our own homemade lavender salve (available for sale here) is a great way to soothe dry skin, bites, scrapes, stings, scars, and more. Or, learn how to make your own here.

And that is how you harvest, prune, and dry lavender.

As you wrap up your lavender harvest, you might be surprised at how therapeutic the process can be – much like a meditative experience. The soft rustling of the stems as they’re cut, the calming aroma that fills the air… it’s almost like a mini-vacation from the hustle and bustle of daily life. And before you know it, you’ll have a bounty of dried lavender to enjoy in all sorts of creative ways.

I hope you found this little tutorial helpful in getting started with harvesting and drying your own lavender. Don’t be afraid to reach out if you have any questions or just want to say hi – I’d love to hear from you! And, as always, don’t forget to spread the word (or rather, the lavender) by sharing this article with friends and fellow homesteaders.