How to Grow Lavender Vera

Starting Cuttings

• 1

  Cut off several nonflowering side shoots from the mother plant after the lavender flowers have bloomed for the season. Gently scrape the base of each cutting with the edge of a sharp knife to remove the thin layer of bark.

• 2

  Remove the first one or two pairs of leaves from each cutting, leaving 3 to 4 inches of bare stem.

• 3

  Fill a 5- to 6-inch pot with vermiculite. Dip each stem in a rooting hormone and insert them into the pot along the edges. Water thoroughly until you notice water dripping through the bottom. Cover the pot in a clear plastic bag with the corners cut off to help preserve moisture, and place the pot in a warm, shady location.

• 4

  Fill one 4-inch pot per cutting half full with sterile potting soil mixed with an organic fertilizer, according to the fertilizer manufacturer's instructions. Gently remove the first cutting with its root bundle from the vermiculite and place it in the center of the new pot.

• 5

  Add more of the soil mixture around the root bundle and fill the pot to the base of the stem. Water thoroughly. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for each cutting. Allow the plants to grow in the pots for several weeks, watering whenever the soil feels dry, until the roots are well established.

Transplanting to Your Garden

• 6

  Locate an area of your garden with full sun. Loosen the soil with a shovel to an 8-inch depth. Incorporate compost into the soil until it is loose and crumbly.

• 7

  Dig a hole for each lavender plant slightly wider and deeper than the size of your pot. Vera lavender usually grows to about 2 feet, so space the planting holes 24 inches apart.

• 8

  Place your hand over the top of the first pot, with the lavender stem between your fingers. Carefully turn the pot over to release the plant and root bundle.

• 9

  Place the root bundle in the center of the first hole and fill in around it with the displaced soil. Repeat for each potted lavender plant. Thoroughly water the plants immediately after planting, and again once or twice per week until they begin to get bigger.

• 10

  Continue watering the plants every two to three weeks until they begin to bloom. Water every week or two until the plants finish blooming or you're ready to harvest the flowers.