Lavender is a favorite herb for many gardeners, prized for its fragrance and beautiful purple spikes. Propagating, or creating new plants from an existing one, is a simple way to multiply your stock for free. Success in this process, however, depends almost entirely on timing, as the plant’s growth stage dictates which method will work best. Lavender can be propagated throughout the year, but the specific material used—ranging from tender new growth to woody, mature stems—changes with the seasons.
Spring and Early Summer Propagation
Spring and early summer mark the beginning of the active growing season, making it the perfect time to take softwood cuttings. Softwood is the newest growth on the plant, characterized by its soft, green, and flexible nature. This material is typically available from late spring, after the first major flush of growth, until early summer, before intense heat hardens the stems.
Softwood cuttings root rapidly, often establishing a root system in two to four weeks due to the high concentration of growth hormones in the young tissue. To succeed, cuttings require a warm environment and consistent, high humidity. This prevents the tender leaves from drying out before roots can form.
Although these cuttings root quickly, they are prone to failure if conditions are not carefully managed. They can easily rot if overwatered or wilt if exposed to direct sunlight. This technique is best for gardeners who can provide a sheltered, humid environment, such as an enclosed propagator or a temporary humidity dome.
Late Summer and Early Fall Propagation
Late summer through early fall is the most reliable time for propagating lavender using semi-ripe cuttings. This timing, generally from August to October, occurs after the primary flowering cycle when the plant shifts energy toward structural growth. Semi-ripe cuttings are ideal because the base of the stem is firming up and becoming woody, while the tip remains soft.
The slightly hardened stem material is more resilient than softwood, making it less susceptible to wilting and rot. This robustness allows the cutting a better chance of survival over the winter months compared to the tender spring growth. Selecting stems that have just finished flowering means the plant is naturally concentrating resources toward developing stronger tissue, which aids in root formation.
Cuttings taken during this window typically require four to six weeks to develop roots. They benefit from being potted and kept in a cool, bright location, often overwintering in a protected, unheated space like a cold frame. This late-season propagation offers the best balance of rooting speed and plant survival rate, resulting in a healthier plant ready for transplanting the following spring.
Dormant Season Propagation
The colder, inactive months of late fall and winter offer opportunities for propagation using methods that rely on the plant’s natural dormancy. Hardwood cuttings involve taking fully mature, woody stems, typically after the leaves have dropped or the plant has entered a deep rest. This material is taken from the fully ripened growth, which is firm and brown, providing a robust, though slow-to-root, cutting.
Hardwood cuttings are slower to root than softer counterparts, often taking six weeks or more before development is visible. They are often planted directly into a sheltered spot in the ground or in a cold frame. This allows them to slowly develop roots over the winter and spring, requiring minimal immediate attention and proving highly durable against adverse weather.
Simple layering is a second technique suited for the dormant season, initiated in late fall or early spring. Layering involves bending a long, low-growing stem to the ground, scraping a small section of bark, and burying the scraped area while the stem remains attached. The attached stem receives continuous nourishment, allowing it to root slowly and reliably over the dormant period. The newly rooted plant is then severed from the parent and transplanted the following year.