Lavender Plant Care & Growing Guide

Lavender needs free-draining, slightly alkaline soil with a pH of 6.5–7.5. In New Zealand, the biggest risk is heavy clay soil that holds moisture around the roots — lavender will rot in wet feet within one growing season. If your garden has clay soil, raise your planting bed by 15–20 cm or work in coarse sand and lime before planting. In pots, use a cactus or succulent mix with extra perlite. A gravel mulch around the base helps drainage and reflects heat onto the lower stems.

Prune lavender after it has finished flowering, in late summer to early autumn. On our Waikato farm we prune Lavandula angustifolia ‘Pacific Blue’ after its December flowering, and we prune Lavandula × intermedia ‘Super’ in early April, after its February harvest. Cut back by about one-third, to just above the lowest green leaves, and never into bare woody stems, because lavender will not regrow from old wood. Avoid a hard prune in winter or early spring; a light tidy in spring, once the frosts have passed, is fine.

Established lavender in New Zealand needs very little watering — in most regions, natural rainfall is sufficient from autumn through spring. In summer, water deeply once every two to three weeks rather than lightly and frequently. In the first season after planting, water weekly until the plant shows signs of active new growth. Container lavender dries out faster — check the top 3–4 cm of soil and water when it is fully dry. Yellow leaves are most often a sign of overwatering, not underwatering.

English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is compact, with narrow grey-green leaves and a softer, sweeter, classic floral scent. It flowers earlier in summer and suits pots, small gardens and culinary use such as teas and baking; 'Pacific Blue' is the culinary variety we grow. Lavandin (Lavandula × intermedia), such as 'Super', is a larger hybrid with long stems and a fuller, richer, more aromatic scent, high in linalool. It flowers a little later and gives a generous harvest, which is why we grow it on our Waikato farm for essential oil, sachets and dried flowers.

Yes — lavender grows well in pots in New Zealand, provided the pot is at least 30 cm diameter, has excellent drainage holes, and is filled with a free-draining mix. Lavandula angustifolia 'Pacific Blue' is the best variety for pot growing — it stays compact at 40–60 cm. Use a terracotta or unglazed ceramic pot rather than plastic. Place in your sunniest position. Feed with a slow-release low-nitrogen fertiliser in early spring only — too much nitrogen produces leafy growth at the expense of flowers.

Harvest lavender when about half the buds on each stem have opened, which is when the scent is strongest and the dried colour holds best. On our farm in Newstead, Waikato, Lavandula angustifolia ‘Pacific Blue’ is ready in the last two weeks of December, and Lavandula × intermedia ‘Super’ is ready in early February. Cut in the morning after the dew has lifted, using sharp, clean secateurs, and cut stems at least 15–20 cm long.

Lavender goes woody when it is not pruned every year. If your lavender is mildly woody but still has green growth throughout, a firm prune after flowering, back to just above the lowest green leaves, will usually bring it back. If the plant is severely woody with no green growth on the lower two-thirds of the stems, pruning will not recover it. Take cuttings from the healthy green tips in late summer, root them in sandy compost, and replace the old plant next season.

Cut stems when half the buds are open, tie in small bundles of 20–30 stems, and hang upside down in a dry, well-ventilated space away from direct sunlight. In New Zealand's summer humidity, drying takes two to four weeks. The bundles are fully dry when the stems snap rather than bend. Store in a cool, dark place — an airtight glass jar or cotton bag preserves colour and fragrance for 12 months or more.

On our farm in Newstead, Waikato, Lavandula angustifolia ‘Pacific Blue’ starts flowering in early December and Lavandula × intermedia ‘Super’ starts flowering in mid December. We harvest ‘Pacific Blue’ in the last two weeks of December and ‘Super’ in early February. Exact timing shifts a little each year with the weather, and gardens further south often flower later.

Yes. Our farm in Newstead, Waikato is open to visitors from late November to the end of January, and you can pick your own lavender throughout that season. Pick-your-own blueberries usually run from late December until the first few days of January, depending on the crop. Check our farm visit page for opening days before you come.