English Lavender: How to Grow it and Propagate Cuttings

English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is an easy-to-grow beautiful and fragrant herb that adds charm to gardens. It can be used in the garden in various ways, such as edging garden paths, creating low hedges, accenting other plants, and even growing in containers with other herbs or flowers. It attracts pollinators that will help pollinate your other plants and contribute to the well-being of our planet.

English lavender is a hardy herbaceous perennial with semi-woody stems. It typically reaches a height of 1 to 2 feet and spreads 2 to 3 feet wide. The narrow, gray-green leaves complement its purple, white, or pink flowers that bloom in summer. It thrives in full sun and well-draining soil.

Propagating lavender from cuttings is a rewarding way to expand your garden. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to propagate lavender cuttings (this method works for any variety of lavender):

1. Choose Blossom-Free Stems to Cut: Look for healthy, straight stems without pests or flowers (flowers drain energy needed for successful root formation).
2. Take Cuttings: Use clean, sharp pruning shears, scissors or a knife to take 3-4 inch cuttings from the chosen stems. Taking multiple cuttings increases your chances of success.
3. Remove Lower Leaves: Strip the lower 2 inches of leaves from each cutting. This is the area where roots will form.
4. Rooting Hormone (Optional): While not necessary, using rooting hormone encourages strong root development. Dip the cut end of each stem in rooting hormone if desired.
5. Plant in Well-Draining Soil: Plant the cuttings directly in nutrient-rich soil. Softwood (soft bendable stems) cuttings will grow new roots in 2-4 weeks, while hardwood (stems that have wood on them and are less bendable than softwood) cuttings may take 4-6 weeks to root. Water gently and keep the soil consistently moist.

I have created a few new lavender plants by taking the cuttings, stripping the bottom leaves and planting next to the parent plant in the garden. One plant has turned into a patch of 5 plants.

After they have rooted, water young plants once every other day during the first week. Once established, they are drought-tolerant and prefer infrequent watering. They do not require any fertilization, but it wouldn’t hurt to add some compost every now and then.

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