Common English Lavender Seeds – Vera | Heirloom, Non-GMO

Common English Lavender – Vera

Bring timeless fragrance and graceful purple color to your garden with Common English Lavender Seeds. Also known as Vera Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia is a classic heirloom perennial valued for its aromatic gray-green foliage, upright growth and fragrant purple flower spikes.

Vera Lavender is a beautiful choice for cottage gardens, herb gardens, pollinator plantings, sunny borders, raised beds and well-drained containers. Once established, the plants require relatively little water and can return for multiple growing seasons in suitable climates.

Product Highlights

• Heirloom Common English Lavender variety
• Non-GMO seeds
• Botanical name: Lavandula angustifolia
• Also known as Vera Lavender and True Lavender
• Fragrant lavender-purple flower spikes
• Aromatic gray-green foliage
• Upright, compact and shrub-like growth habit
• Perennial in suitable climates
• Drought tolerant after establishment
• Attractive to butterflies and other garden pollinators
• Suitable for borders, raised beds and containers
• Excellent for cutting and drying
• Useful for bouquets, sachets, potpourri and botanical crafts

Plant Profile

Common Name	Common English Lavender
Variety	Vera
Botanical Name	Lavandula angustifolia
Botanical Synonym	Lavandula vera
Plant Family	Lamiaceae
Life Cycle	Perennial
Growth Habit	Upright and shrub-like
Mature Height	Approximately 20–24 inches
Plant Spacing	18–24 inches
Flower Color	Lavender purple
Foliage Color	Gray-green
Bloom Season	Late spring through summer, depending on climate
Sunlight	Full sun, preferably 6 or more hours daily
Water Needs	Moderate during establishment and low once mature
Soil Preference	Light, sandy, gravelly or loamy soil
Soil Drainage	Excellent drainage is required
Soil pH	Neutral to slightly alkaline
USDA Hardiness	Generally Zones 5–9
Container Suitable	Yes
Establishment	Approximately 90–120+ days; fuller flowering often begins after establishment

Why Grow Vera English Lavender?

Vera is a classic English lavender variety well suited to gardeners who want fragrance, ornamental beauty and a long-lasting perennial planting.

The compact, upright plants fit easily into borders, herb gardens and smaller growing spaces. Their gray-green foliage provides attractive color and texture even when the plants are not flowering.

During the blooming season, slender stems carry fragrant purple flower spikes above the foliage. The flowers complement cottage-style landscapes, Mediterranean gardens, cutting gardens and pollinator-friendly plantings.

Lavender stems may also be harvested for fresh floral arrangements or dried for bouquets, sachets, potpourri and decorative botanical projects.

Important Germination Information

English lavender is a perennial with naturally slow and sometimes uneven seed germination. It should not be treated like a fast-germinating annual flower.

Cold-moist stratification is strongly recommended before sowing. This treatment recreates the cool, moist conditions that seeds would naturally experience during winter and can improve germination results.

Some seeds may germinate earlier than others. Patience, proper temperature, bright light and careful moisture management are important when starting lavender from seed.

How to Cold Stratify Lavender Seeds

1. Moisten a clean paper towel, fine seed-starting medium, sand or peat. The material should be damp but not dripping wet.
2. Place the lavender seeds on or inside the moist material.
3. Put the seeds and moist material inside a sealed bag or covered container.
4. Label the container with the variety name and starting date.
5. Refrigerate at approximately 40°F for about four weeks. Do not freeze the seeds.
6. Check approximately once each week. Add a small amount of water only if the material begins drying.
7. If any seeds begin germinating during stratification, carefully transfer them into sterile seed-starting mix.
8. After approximately four weeks, sow the remaining seeds.

Seed-Starting Instructions

1. Fill clean seed trays or small containers with sterile, well-draining seed-starting mix.
2. Water the mix before sowing and allow excess water to drain.
3. Place the stratified seeds on the surface of the growing medium.
4. Press the seeds gently against the surface.
5. Barely cover them with fine seed-starting mix, vermiculite or perlite. Plant no deeper than approximately 1/8 inch because light assists germination.
6. Maintain a growing temperature near 65–70°F.
7. Provide bright light from a sunny window or grow light.
8. Keep the growing medium consistently moist during germination, but never saturated or waterlogged.
9. Germination commonly begins within approximately 14–30 days after stratification. Some seeds may take longer.
10. Once seedlings emerge, provide strong light and good air circulation.
11. Transplant seedlings into individual containers after they develop at least two sets of true leaves.
12. Allow young plants to develop a healthy root system before moving them outdoors.

Hardening Off and Transplanting

Before transplanting seedlings permanently outdoors, gradually introduce them to direct sunlight, wind and outdoor temperatures.

Begin by placing seedlings outside in a protected location for a short period. Increase their outdoor exposure gradually over approximately 7–10 days.

Transplant after the danger of severe frost has passed and when the soil can be worked. Choose a sunny location with excellent drainage. Space plants approximately 18–24 inches apart to provide sufficient room for mature growth and good air circulation.

Sunlight Requirements

English lavender performs best in full sun. Select a location receiving at least six hours of direct sunlight daily.

Insufficient sunlight may cause weak, stretched growth and reduced flowering. In very warm climates, light afternoon protection may be beneficial, but the plants should still receive abundant direct light.

Soil and Drainage

Drainage is one of the most important requirements for successfully growing lavender.

Vera Lavender grows best in light, sandy, gravelly or loamy soil that drains quickly after watering. Neutral to slightly alkaline soil is generally preferred.

Avoid locations with heavy clay, standing water or constantly wet soil. Poor drainage can damage the roots and cause mature plants to decline.

For heavy or slow-draining native soil, consider growing lavender in:

• A raised garden bed
• An elevated planting location
• A planting mound amended for drainage
• A well-draining outdoor container

Watering

Keep seedlings evenly moist during germination and early development. Do not allow young seedlings to dry completely, but avoid soaking the growing medium.

Newly transplanted lavender benefits from regular watering while the root system becomes established.

Once established, English lavender is drought tolerant. Water deeply but less frequently, allowing the upper portion of the soil to begin drying before watering again.

Overwatering is generally more damaging than allowing an established lavender plant to become slightly dry.

Fertilizer

Lavender has relatively low fertility requirements. Rich soil and excessive nitrogen may produce abundant foliage with fewer flowers.

If the planting area has been properly prepared, heavy fertilization is usually unnecessary. A small amount of compost or mild, balanced fertilizer may be used during establishment when needed.

Avoid applying high-nitrogen lawn fertilizers near lavender plants.

Growing Lavender in Containers

Vera Lavender can be grown in containers when excellent drainage is provided.

Choose a container with multiple drainage holes and use a coarse, well-draining potting mix. Avoid allowing the container to sit in standing water.

Place the container in full sun and check soil moisture regularly. Container-grown plants may dry more quickly than garden-grown plants, but their roots should never remain constantly wet.

In colder climates, containers may require winter protection because roots inside pots experience colder temperatures than roots planted in the ground.

Flowering Expectations

Lavender is a slow-growing perennial. Plants started from seed may produce only limited flowers during their first growing season while they develop roots and foliage.

Stronger growth and more substantial flowering are generally expected after the plants become established, often during the second growing season.

Climate, winter survival, sunlight, drainage and growing conditions can affect flowering time and overall plant performance.

Harvesting Lavender Flowers

For fresh arrangements, cut lavender stems when a portion of the flowers has opened.

For drying, harvest when the first few flowers on each spike begin opening. Cut the stems after the morning dew has dried but before the strongest afternoon heat.

Gather the stems into small bundles and hang them upside down in a dark, dry and well-ventilated location. Keeping drying flowers away from direct sunlight helps preserve their natural color and fragrance.

Pruning and Maintenance

Light pruning helps lavender maintain a compact and attractive shape. After flowering, remove finished flower stems and lightly trim the green portion of the plant.

Avoid cutting deeply into old, leafless woody stems because lavender may not produce new growth readily from old wood.

In spring, remove damaged or dead stems and inspect the plant for signs of winter injury.

Common Growing Problems

• Slow or uneven germination: Cold stratify the seeds, maintain temperatures near 65–70°F and allow sufficient time.
• Seedling loss: Avoid saturated seed-starting mix and provide bright light with good air circulation.
• Root rot: Improve drainage and reduce watering frequency. Never allow established plants to remain in standing water.
• Weak or stretched growth: Provide additional sunlight and avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizer.
• Reduced flowering: Make sure plants receive full sun and are not being overfertilized.
• Humidity-related problems: Increase plant spacing and airflow. Avoid watering directly over the foliage late in the day.

Package Contents

• One packet of Common English Vera Lavender seeds
• Seeds only—live plants, pots and growing supplies are not included
• Seeds are sold for planting and are not intended for direct consumption

Natural Seed Notice

Seed germination and plant performance depend on temperature, moisture, light, soil, climate, seed-starting methods and individual gardening practices.

Lavender naturally has slower and more variable germination than many annual flowers. Cold stratification and proper moisture management can improve results, but germination of every individual seed cannot be guaranteed.

Plants grown from seed may display natural variation in height, growth habit, foliage and flower characteristics.