Lavender’s timeless beauty and alluring fragrance have earned its popularity in gardens all over the world. This perennial Mediterranean herb is drought-tolerant, low-maintenance, and long-lived. However, it is somewhat slow-growing compared to many annual ornamental flowers.
You might be interested in how long lavender takes to fully mature and what you can do to make it grow faster if you grow it in your garden. You may also be interested in what lavender should look like at different stages of its growth to make sure it’s on the right track to becoming a useful plant.
Read on to find out all about lavender’s growth rate and the different stages of growth that plants go through at different times. Ready to learn more? Let’s dig in!.
The lavender plant grows slowly and may bloom in its first year, but it takes at least three years to fully mature. Depending on the type, they will grow at different rates, and most types will take about three years to fully mature.
Growing lavender from seed is the slowest, but the cheapest way to propagate this plant. If you want to see results quickly, buy bigger plants from a nursery and move them into your garden in the spring.
Water is also a major factor in lavender’s growth rate. During its juvenile stage, it is more sensitive to water and temperature fluctuations. Your plant will get off to a fast start if there is more water available (without making the soil soggy).
There are times when lavender is fully grown in just one year, but most of the time it takes three to five years. The growth rate of this fragrant perennial primarily depends on the following:
Lavender is a fragrant, colorful perennial that can add beauty and aroma to gardens borders and containers. Many gardeners opt to start lavender from seed since it is an affordable way to propagate many plants. However lavender seeds and seedlings have some unique characteristics that you need to understand to give them the best start.
When starting lavender from seed, you’ll need to be able to recognize the seedlings properly when they germinate. Young lavender has a appearance and growth habit that differs from mature plants. Learning what to expect will help you identify seedlings correctly and tend to them properly. With the right care, you’ll gain a bounty of aromatic lavender plants from seed.
What Do Lavender Seeds Look Like?
Lavender seeds are tiny, measuring 1mm or less in size. They are oval or irregularly shaped. When fresh, lavender seeds may be gray, brown or black in color. White or very pale seeds are unlikely to germinate. To improve germination rates, some people soak seeds in water prior to planting. This can bleach the dark pigment from some varieties, resulting in whiter seeds. But the seeds will still germinate well when planted.
Lavender seeds have a broad temperature range for germination. They will sprout best when soil temperatures are 60-70°F making spring and fall ideal planting times in most climates. The seeds need light to germinate so do not cover them with soil when planting. Simply press them into the growing medium.
How to Plant Lavender Seeds
You can start lavender seeds in containers or direct sow them outdoors Here are a few tips
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Use sterile seed starting mix and containers or sow into weed-free garden beds.
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Press seeds lightly into the soil surface without covering them.
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Maintain even moisture on the soil surface to aid germination.
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Place seed trays or pots in a sunny location or under grow lights.
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Outdoors, choose a site with full sun and well-draining soil.
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Sow seeds outdoors when the soil has warmed in spring after the last frost.
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You can also direct sow in late summer or fall for germination the following spring.
With ideal conditions, lavender seeds will begin to sprout within 10-20 days. But growth is often irregular over weeks or months.
What Do Lavender Seedlings Look Like When They First Emerge?
Lavender seedlings look grassy and delicate when they first emerge. The small sprouts will have:
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Thin, threadlike green stems that may be translucent
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Narrow green leaves in opposite pairs along the stem
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A somewhat open, lanky overall appearance
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Height of 1-2 inches typically
These nascent seedlings do not resemble mature, woody lavender plants yet. Their appearance is normal for the first weeks of growth.
Lavender Seedling Growth Stages
Lavender seedlings go through a few distinct phases in their first year of growth:
Germination
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Seeds sprout and put up pairs of thin leaves along a wispy stem
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Taproot grows down while stem elongates up
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Plants reach 1-3 inches in height
Seedling/Juvenile Stage
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Stems and leaves remain narrow but lengthen
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Plants grow upright with little branching
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Lavender variety can be hard to discern
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Reach 4-8 inches tall within 2-4 months
Maturing Growth
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Stems and foliage start thickening and become woody
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Color and form characteristics of variety emerge
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Branching increases and plants bush out
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Reach 8-12 inches tall by 6-10 months old
Caring for Lavender Seedlings
Lavender seedlings need attentive care in their first year while becoming established:
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Keep plants weed-free to prevent competition.
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Water regularly to keep soil moderately moist but not soggy.
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Feed with balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to 1/4 strength every 2-3 weeks.
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Ensure seedlings receive full sun for at least 6 hours daily.
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Transplant promptly once true leaves emerge so seedlings aren’t crowded.
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Outdoors, protect young plants from harsh weather and frost.
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Pinch back tips occasionally to encourage bushy growth.
With attentive care while growing on, seedlings will mature into robust, productive lavender plants.
When to Transplant Lavender Seedlings
Ideally, lavender seedlings should be transplanted when they are still very young, at the two true leaf stage. Transplanting helps avoid overcrowding which can cause seedlings to become elongated and weak. Follow these guidelines:
Indoors:
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Transplant seedlings into cell packs or 3-4 inch pots when the 2nd set of true leaves emerges.
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Gradually acclimate plants to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days before transplanting into the garden after the last spring frost.
Outdoors:
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Thin direct sown plants to stand 6 inches apart when the 2nd set of true leaves is present.
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Water transplants well and shade for a few days until established if temperatures are high.
Giving each seedling adequate space at an early stage prevents competition and results in bushy, robust transplants.
When Do Lavender Seedlings Flower?
Lavender seedlings typically will not flower until their second year of growth. Flowering in the first season is uncommon but can occasionally occur if plants are grown under ideal conditions and with attentive care. Do not worry if your seedlings do not bloom the first year – this is normal. The second season is when prolific flowering will occur after plants are well established. Deadheading spent blooms the first year can help promote bushy growth.
How to Overwinter Lavender Seedlings
The first winter can be challenging for young lavender plants. Follow these tips to help them successfully overwinter:
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Transplant into well-draining soil enriched with grit or sand for drainage.
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Apply 2-3 inches of mulch around plants to insulate roots from cold.
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Prune leggy growth in late fall and protect with row cover if frost threatens.
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Water deeply before ground freezes but avoid overwatering during winter.
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Ensure excellent drainage to prevent crown rot.
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Shelter from harsh winds and winter sun which can desiccate plants.
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If snow covers plants, gently brush it off to avoid breakage from heavy snow.
With attention to their special needs, your seedling lavenders will come back vigorously the following spring.
The first year requires vigilance when growing lavender from seed. But the reward is having many plants adapted to your site at a very low cost. Learning to identify true lavender seedlings and providing attentive early care will set your plants up for success. In time, you can look forward to enjoying bountiful, fragrant blooms from your homegrown lavenders.
Plant in Well-draining Soil
Lavender thrives best in well-drained soil that mimics its native habitat. This Mediterranean herb prefers gravelly, sandy soil that allows water to quickly rush through.
Your plant will have a hard time getting established if your soil is heavy clay or easily gets wet. It may also not grow very quickly. The roots will be sitting in a pool of water and can quickly get root rot, which will kill your lavender plant.
To create better drainage, generously amend with one or two of the following:
- Horticultural sand
- Pea gravel
- Crushed limestone rock
- Pebbles
- Peat moss
- Vermiculite or Perlite
- Bark
When the soil is hardpan or packed down, it helps to double-dig, broadfork, or plant lavender on raised mounds.
Tips For Encouraging Faster Growth
Even though every plant needs its own time to grow up, you can still make them grow faster. Just like with a puppy or a child, you can speed up lavender’s growth by giving it what it needs to do well. These five simple tips will help your lavender take off with vigor:
Transplant shock is a brief period of adjustment that a plant needs in new ground. A short period of transplant shock is normal, but major transplant shock happens when the plant is hurt, stressed, or having a hard time getting used to its new home. Sudden shifts in weather can also cause the plant to go into shock mode.
Transplant shock is one of the most common reasons for slow growth, stunting, a lack of flowers, or even young plant death. Thankfully, it’s fairly easy to prevent so your lavender can get started with a bang!
- Wilting (even with ample water)
- Yellowing leaves
- Delayed flowering
- More susceptibility to disease
- Slow growth
- Death
- When you plant in the spring, after the risk of frost has passed,
- Planting in full, direct sunlight
- Making sure the plant has strong roots in its pot before planting it
- Ensuring that the soil drains quickly
- Making a planting hole that is at least twice as big as the root ball and is loose.
- Watering in with a diluted kelp solution
- Watering once or twice per week after transplanting
- Let the soil dry between watering
- Avoiding fertilizers in beds
- Pruning before transplanting (don’t transplant when in bloom)
Sprouting Lavender Seeds: 4 Things Lavender NEEDS for Successful Germination
FAQ
How long does lavender take to grow from seedling?
How does lavender look when it grows?
How to care for lavender seedlings?
How do you identify lavender seedlings?
Identifying your lavender seedlings in their early days can be a relatively tricky task. When they first sprout, they look like small blades of grass, which could identify a varying amount of other plants. It’ll take 2 to 4 weeks before you notice the blade of grass emerging from the seed.
What do lavender leaves look like?
They are slightly oval shaped, and rounded on the ends. Everything that grows after that are called the “true leaves”, and they look exactly like the mature leaves, only they are tiny. Once your lavender seeds have sprouted, it’s important to give your seedlings the proper care so they will grow strong and healthy.
How do you grow lavender seeds?
Put potting soil in the seedling tray; spread a one-inch layer is using a flat tray or box lid. Spray the top of the soil lightly with water. Place lavender seeds (two or three seeds per pot) on soil surface and pat down very gently. Cover lightly with plastic wrap or a clear ziplock bag. Place in a sunny warm spot with plenty of light.
How long does it take for lavender seeds to grow?
It’ll take 2 to 4 weeks before you notice the blade of grass emerging from the seed. However, if you wait another 2-4 weeks, you’ll be able to identify your lavender as the seedlings will begin to develop needle-like leaves, which are generally associated with lavender.