10 Tips for Harvesting & Using Lavenders

Lavender is one of the most rewarding plants in the garden. It provides months of color, attracts bees and butterflies, fills the air with fragrance, and can be enjoyed long after it’s harvested. Whether you’re growing it for fresh bouquets, culinary uses, homemade gifts, or simply to support pollinators, these tips will help you get the most from your lavender.

1. Choose the Right Lavender for the Job

Not all lavender varieties are the same. Choosing the right one makes all the difference.

  • Best for hydrosol & essential oil: Lavandula × intermedia ‘Phenomenal’ and ‘Grosso’ produce abundant, oil-rich blooms, while L. angustifolia varieties create a sweeter, more delicate aroma.
  • Best for culinary use: Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’, ‘Hidcote’, ‘Royal Velvet’, and ‘Buena Vista’
  • Best for drying & cut flowers: Lavandula × intermedia ‘Phenomenal’, ‘Grosso’, and ‘Provence’
  • Best for pollinator gardens: Nearly every lavender variety is a favorite of bees and butterflies, so choose the size, flower color, and bloom time that best fits your garden.

2. Harvest at the Right Time

The best time to harvest lavender depends on how you plan to use it.

  • For drying, bouquets, sachets, and culinary uses, cut stems when the flower buds are fully colored and the first few flowers on each stem have opened.
  • For hydrosol or essential oil, wait until most or all of the flowers on the stem have opened. This is when the flowers contain the highest concentration of aromatic oils.
  • For the best results, harvest on a dry morning after the dew has evaporated but before the heat of the day.

3. Cut Carefully With Clean, Sharp Pruners

Use clean, sharp pruners to cut long stems for arranging or drying. Leave plenty of green growth on the plant, and avoid cutting into old, woody stems, which are slower to regenerate.

4. Fresh or Dried? Know When to Use Each

Fresh lavender is ideal for:

  • Hydrosol
  • Culinary recipes
  • Bouquets and floral arrangements

Dried lavender is best for:

  • Sachets
  • Infused oils
  • Bath salts
  • Crafts and gifts
  • Long-term storage

To dry lavender, gather bundles of 10–20 stems and secure them with a rubber band or twine. Hang them upside down in a cool, dry, dark place with good airflow. Most lavender dries in 1–2 weeks and is ready when the stems snap easily and the buds feel dry.

Fresh Lavender Uses

5. Make a Simple Lavender Hydrosol

Hydrosol is the fragrant floral water created during steam distillation.

To make a simple version at home, place fresh lavender around a small heat-safe bowl inside a pot. Add water to the stems(not in the bowl), cover the pot with an upside-down lid, and place ice on top of the lid. Simmer gently for 30–45 minutes. The condensed floral water will condense on the inverted lid and drip into the bowl.

6. Enjoy Fresh Lavender in the Kitchen

Use only culinary lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) for cooking and baking. Add a small amount to:

  • Lemonade
  • Tea
  • Simple syrup
  • Cookies and shortbread
  • Lavender sugar

Lavender has a concentrated flavor, so a little goes a long way.

7. Enjoy Fresh-Cut Lavender Bouquets

Fresh lavender makes beautiful bouquets and simple arrangements. Place a few stems in a vase to enjoy their color and fragrance, or combine them with other summer flowers for a long-lasting display.

Store hydrosol in the refrigerator and use within 1–2 weeks as a linen spray, room mist, or refreshing facial mist.

Dried Lavender Uses

8. Make Lavender Sachets

Fill small fabric bags with dried lavender buds and tuck them into drawers, closets, linen cabinets, or under a pillow for a fresh, calming fragrance.

9. Create Lavender-Infused Oil

Place fully dried lavender in a clean jar and cover it with a neutral oil such as jojoba, sweet almond, or olive oil. Let it infuse for 2–4 weeks, then strain. Use it as a body oil, massage oil, or as the base for homemade salves.

10. Make Lavender Bath Salts

For a relaxing soak, combine:

  • 1 cup Epsom salt
  • 1–2 tablespoons dried lavender buds
  • Optional: ¼ cup baking soda for a softer bath
  • Optional: 3–5 drops lavender essential oil, mixed thoroughly into the salts

Store in a sealed jar and add ½–1 cup to a warm bath.

A Final Tip: Leave Some Blooms for Pollinators

Lavender is one of the best plants for supporting bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. Harvest what you need, but leave plenty of blooms in the garden so pollinators can continue enjoying them throughout the season.

Get the Most Out of Your Lavender

Whether you’re planting for pollinators, fragrance, culinary creations, or handmade gifts, the right lavender variety makes all the difference. Visit Sonoma Valley Nursery to explore our selection of lavender varieties—from culinary English lavenders to long-stemmed varieties perfect for drying, hydrosol, and crafts. We’ll help you choose the perfect lavender so you can enjoy it for years to come.