Lavender is a fantastic plant to have in your garden! The flowers and sprigs have many uses, mostly because of its divine scent. It’s also easy to care for lavender, since it’s drought tolerant and low-maintenance.
And of course, when growing this plant, all gardeners look forward to lavender flowering season.
Lavender blooms in Australia starting mid-spring, then peaks in the summer, especially in the more temperate climates. December to January are generally the most flush, with purple buds sprawling across fields throughout the country. Some varieties can bloom earlier, in late winter, but these are usually hybrids that can withstand the cold more than ‘true’ lavenders.
Growing lavender in Australia is very straightforward! Whether you’re a home gardener or waiting for lavender farm season, it’s good to know when lavender flowers in Australia.
When Does Lavender Flower In Australia?
Lavender flowering season in Australia is slightly different between states and cities. It’s also down to the regional climate and common lavender types.
Queensland
When does lavender flower in Queensland? Generally around mid-spring through the summer, with some possible late blooms in autumn. This includes cities like Brisbane and areas like the Scenic Rim Region.
Spanish lavender and Lavandin are more tolerant of Queensland’s humid climate, although French lavender can grow in the more subtropical areas.
New South Wales
There are many popular lavender farms in NSW!
Peak lavender season in NSW is in the summer, from November to January. Some lavender farms even begin preparations in October.
Victoria
The state of Victoria is one of the cooler regions in Australia, with a temperate climate. Because of this, lavender grows very well across the state.
When does lavender flower in Melbourne and other Victoria cities? Around summer time, especially in December and January. However, some varieties will bloom during other seasons.
Tasmania
There’s plenty of lavender in Tasmania, with many popular farms around.
Lavender season in Tasmania is best in summer, from December to January. However, many farms still have beautiful blooms in cooler months.
Western Australia
The climate in many areas of Western Australia is not that ideal for growing lavender, so propagation might be difficult. However, cities like Perth can feature varieties such as Italian lavender, which is considered an invasive species.
There are lavender farms in WA, though! The lavender farm season in Perth, for example, runs from mid-December to early February.
South Australia
In South Australia, lavender tends to bloom from mid-spring to late summer.
Some lavender farms will plant different varieties to ensure there are flowers almost year-round.
Does Lavender Flower All Year Round?
If you’re wondering when lavender is in season in Australia, it really depends on the variety you grow!
Some types flower in the spring, while others flower in autumn. You even have some varieties that bloom in the winter.
How often lavender flowers is also dependent on the variety. English lavender, for example, blooms multiple times in a year.
As for how long lavender flowers for, it usually lasts 3–4 weeks.
Spring
Several types of lavender can flower in early to mid-spring for the first bloom of the year, before they flower again in summer.
English lavender starts flowering in mid-spring, as does Spanish lavender. Italian lavender can also start flowering in spring. It makes for the perfect touch of purple amid all the other flowers you might have in your garden.
Summer
This is peak lavender blooming season in many places, especially the more southern states like New South Wales and Tasmania.
From early November to early January, many lavender fields across the country are in full, gorgeous bloom (making it the best time for a visit!).
Most types of lavender will be flowering at this time, in particular Lavandin and Portuguese lavender. Meanwhile, English lavender will be reaching the end of its own blooming season.
Autumn
French lavender has the longest flowering time, starting in early summer and blooming repeatedly until mid-fall.
Spanish lavender and Lavandin can also have some late-season blooms in early fall, before they grow dormant.
Winter
There are, in fact, lavenders that flower in winter!
Spanish lavender, for example, can start blooming in late winter, adding colour to your garden ahead of the spring months. Special hybrid lavenders also flower in winter, such as the Lace Series or the With Love variety.
If you want a touch of pink instead, the Princess Lavender blooms in vivid fuchsia, while the Ruffles Collection has a range of colours.
Types Of Lavender
There are many types of lavender, each with their own blooming seasons.
But there are a few main types of lavender that are commonly grown in gardens and pots!
1. English lavender
This lavender variety (Lavandula angustifolia), also known as ‘true lavender’, is one of the most commonly grown. These blue-purple flowers are suited to cool, temperate climates – mild to warm summers and winters.
The plant is edible, and is also very good for drying lavender since it has plenty of oils.
In Australia, English lavender blooms multiple times a year, primarily in spring and summer.
2. French lavender
French lavender (Lavandula dentata), or fringed lavender, is more delicate than other varieties. This type of lavender doesn’t tolerate extreme temperatures, thriving more in mild summers and warm winters.
It also has lighter colours, and a less strong fragrance, but its flowering season lasts longer. Plus, the plant can grow fairly large — up to 1.0m in height!
French lavender plants in Australia can start flowering in late winter, but will mostly bloom in spring.
3. Spanish lavender
Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas) has pretty silver leaves, which are very aromatic and perfect for potpourri. This type of lavender has deep purple flowers, and tolerates humidity very well.
Also called Butterfly Lavender, it thrives best in mild summers and winters.
In Australia, Spanish lavender will usually bloom from late winter through the summer.
4. Lavandin
Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia) is a hybrid lavender that marries the cold tolerance of English lavender with the heat tolerance of Portuguese lavender.
This type of lavender has highly fragrant flowers, with colours that range from dark violet to white. They prefer dry conditions, making them perfect for more tropical climates.
This variety blooms only once a year. Lavandin in Australia can flower anytime from late spring to summer, although some plants might not get started until early autumn.
How To Care For Lavender Plants
Growing lavender is very straightforward — you can grow lavender from seed, or propagate lavender from cuttings. Plant lavender somewhere with full sun, at least six hours a day, although they’ll tolerate partial shade.
Keep them out of strong winds, but make sure they still have good air circulation.
Lavender plants prefer sandy, well-drained soil that’s slightly alkaline, since this kind of soil doesn’t retain too much moisture. It makes them perfect for rock gardens, ground cover, and fence borders.
Once mature, lavender doesn’t need much watering. You do, however, need to prune lavender regularly. This helps maintain its health and appearance, and encourages new growth and flowering.
When to prune lavender in Australia? Generally, you should prune twice a year: in spring and autumn.
The general rule is to cut a third of growth, but you can also get an expert gardening service to prune your lavender — and the rest of your plants, too!
Then, you can rest assured that your lavender plants will bloom full and healthy, adding colour and fragrance to your life in the different seasons.
