How to Separate Dry Buds From a Lavender Plant

Lavender is a short perennial shrub that is grown for the beauty of its flowers and their intoxicating scent, used in perfumes, soaps and bath oils, among other products. Hardy lavender survives in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 5 to 7. Once lavender flowers, it can be harvested. If you wait for the flowers to dry on the plant they will go to seed. Collecting the dry buds from the plant gives you an abundance of lavender seed you can use to grow more lavender. You can also use dry lavender buds in dried floral arrangements.

Scissors
Basket

Instructions

- 1
  Locate the dry buds on the lavender plant. The buds will be grayish purple and brittle to the touch. The buds will be withered flowers with lavender seed inside of them. The leaves on the plant should still be green and supple so the only dry part will be the dry flower buds.
- 2
  Hold the base of the dry bud with one hand and the scissors in the other hand. Cut the dry bud from the lavender plant 4 to 6 inches from the top of the bud.
- 3
  Place the dry bud into the basket, if you want to keep it. If not, discard it. Look for buds that have all of the withered flowers on them intact and that are full size and not broken. Buds with an abundance of seed are also useful if you want to grow lavender from seed. Any dry buds that are broken or have no withered flowers or seeds can be discarded.
- 4
  Store the dry lavender buds in a cool dry location, such as a garage, until you are ready to use them.

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