Learning Lavender – A Grower’s Journey
There’s something truly special about lavender. For us here at G’s Lane, it started with the fragrance—clean, calming, and timeless. But the more we looked into it, the more we loved it. Lavender isn’t just a pretty face with beautiful purple flowers and soft, grey-green foliage—it’s hardy, drought-tolerant, and, best of all, the bees absolutely love it.
We picked up our first lavender plants at none other than the Esk Garden Fair, a real highlight of the local calendar. It’s a big deal in our little town, and this year didn’t disappoint. I managed to score a cracking deal on some French lavender plants. They were a bit pot-bound, and I knew I was taking a bit of a risk—but I decided to roll the dice and give them a go.
To my surprise, they settled in nicely. That success gave me the confidence to try something I’d never done before: lavender propagation.
Well, let’s just say my first attempt didn’t exactly go to plan. I started with the water method—cuttings in jars on the windowsill. It was a bit sad, to be honest. Not much action. Undeterred, I gave it another crack—this time with soil propagation. The results were a little better—about 5 rooted out of 30 cuttings.
But it was my third go where things finally clicked. I took around 30 cuttings again, but this time it was during our Queensland summer, and everything seemed to align. Around 20 successfully rooted—a massive improvement! Turns out, timing really is everything when it comes to propagation.
Through all of this, I’ve truly come to love lavender. There’s a sense of reward in growing something so versatile and beneficial—not only for the garden but for our little pollinators too.
I’ll definitely be continuing the journey with lavender. It’s been a challenge, but a satisfying one. And as any gardener knows, the most memorable lessons are often the ones that don’t go perfectly the first time around.
Until next time,
From the fields at G’s Lane