Flower Encyclopedia
Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia
Slender purple spikes with an unmistakable scent — texture, color, and fragrance in one stem.
Written by the Burton Floral Design team · Published July 24, 2026
At A Glance
Typical vase life
5–8 days
Availability
Seasonal
Peak months
Jun, Jul, Aug
Cost
Budget-friendly
Fragrance
Strong
Pollen
Low
Care
Easy
Out of water
4+ hours
Heat tolerance
High
Cold tolerance
Moderate
Outdoor events
Excellent
Around pets
Use caution
Pets in the house? Use caution.
Lavender deserves caution around cats and dogs — the plant contains aromatic oils that can cause drooling, vomiting, or stomach upset if chewed, and concentrated essential oil is more concerning than the fresh stem. Keep arrangements out of reach, and contact your veterinarian or an animal poison-control service if a pet chews on them.
What It Means
Lavender stands for calm, devotion, and quiet grace, with a long association with cleanliness and restful serenity. Its soft purple and gentle aroma make it a natural choice for arrangements meant to soothe, and it carries a note of steady, understated affection.
Colors it comes in
purple · lavender · blue-violet · silvery green
Coordinates beautifully with
cream · silvery green · soft pink · white
Season & Sourcing
Fresh cut lavender is a summer crop with a short window, strongest in the warm months. Dried lavender is available much of the year and holds its color and scent well, so many designers reach for it off-season.
Vase life, honestly
Fresh lavender holds for several days and then dries in place, keeping its shape and scent, so it transitions gracefully rather than collapsing. It is used as much for fragrance and texture as for a long fresh display.
Fragrance
Lavender has a pronounced, distinctive scent that fills a room. Lovely for many, but worth checking before using it in a small space or for a scent-sensitive recipient.
Keeping It Alive
- 1Recut the woody stems at an angle so they can take up water.
- 2Strip lower foliage and use a shallow amount of clean water.
- 3Keep it in a cool, airy spot; lavender handles warmth and low humidity well.
- 4To dry it, hang small bunches upside down in a dark, ventilated place for a couple of weeks.
- 5Refresh the water every few days while it is still fresh.
What it costs: Fresh bundles are an affordable way to add scent and texture, though the tight summer season and specialty growers can raise the price. Dried lavender is priced similarly and lasts far longer.
Where It Shines
At weddings
A favorite accent for rustic and garden weddings — sprigs tucked into bouquets and boutonnieres, tied to napkins, or bundled as favors. It dries well, so it holds up through a long outdoor event and into keepsakes.
In sympathy work
Its calming scent and soft color suit gentle, personal sympathy arrangements, especially those sent to the home rather than large formal sprays.
Every day
Bundles for the kitchen or bath, hostess gifts, and a fragrant addition to mixed bouquets. It bridges fresh and dried use better than almost any other stem.
A Little History
Lavender takes its name from the Latin lavare, to wash, reflecting its ancient use in Roman baths and laundry. It has been grown around the Mediterranean for millennia for perfume, and Provence in southern France remains the region most associated with its cultivation.
Questions People Ask
Does cut lavender dry well?
Yes — lavender dries beautifully. Hang small bunches upside down in a dark, ventilated space for a couple of weeks and it keeps its color and scent, which is why it moves so easily from fresh arrangements into keepsakes.
When is fresh lavender available?
Fresh cut lavender is mainly a summer crop with a short window. Outside those months, dried lavender is widely available and holds its fragrance, so many designers use it year-round in dried form.
Is lavender too strong to use indoors?
Lavender has a genuinely strong scent, so in a small or enclosed room it can be overwhelming. A few sprigs in a mixed arrangement usually reads as pleasant, while a large fresh bundle is better in an airy space.
Is lavender a concern around pets?
Use caution with cats and dogs — the aromatic oils can cause drooling or stomach upset if chewed, and concentrated lavender oil is more of a concern than the fresh stem. Keep it out of reach and call your veterinarian or an animal poison-control service if a pet gets into it.
From profile to porch
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