January 2026 Culture, Production, Variety Info

Culture Report: Mastering lavender production By Joaquin C. Velazquez

Lavender has become an increasingly popular choice for gardeners seeking low-maintainance, fragrant plants that attract pollinators. At Monrovia’s Oregon nursery, the team has refined its lavender production methods to ensure healthy, robust plants that meet the demands of today’s discerning consumers. 

STARTING WITH SUPERIOR GENETICS 

The foundation of Monrovia’s lavender program begins with careful variety selection. Rather than propagating its own material, the company evaluates the best varieties available in the market each season, focusing on three key criteria: color range, growth habit and characteristics that set each cultivar apart. 

This selective approach ensures that only the most garden-worthy lavenders make it into production. By sourcing all material as liners from trusted suppliers, Monrovia can focus its resources on growing premium finished plants. In Spanish lavender, varieties such as ‘Primavera’ and ‘Anouk’ have started to gain popularity, and varieties like ‘Javelin Forte’ have proven to be as easy to grow as they are popular. 

CREATING THE IDEAL GROWING ENVIRONMENT 

Soil composition plays a critical role in lavender production success. Monrovia uses a well-draining growing medium amended with fir bark, which serves a dual purpose. The bark component ensures proper drainage while helping to maintain a neutral pH — a crucial factor since lavender thrives in soils that aren’t overly acidic. This careful attention to growing media prevents the root rot issues that can plague lavender when drainage is inadequate. 

The nursery utilizes hoop houses to create an optimal microclimate for lavender growth in the early, cooler spring. These structures trap heat effectively, which is particularly valuable in Oregon’s cooler climate in the beginning of the growing season. By growing in hoop houses in the beginning, the team also gains precise control over water management — one of the most critical factors in producing quality lavender. This controlled environment protects plants from excessive rainfall that could compromise plant health and allows growers to deliver moisture exactly when and where it’s needed. As the weather warms and plants mature, lavender is moved outdoors to finish growing. 

STRATEGIC SPACING FOR PLANT DEVELOPMENT 

Monrovia employs a two-stage spacing strategy that maximizes efficiency while promoting plant quality. Initially, containers are placed tightly together immediately after potting, creating an insulating effect. As plants develop and begin branching, they’re spaced out to the final position, allowing each plant adequate room to reach its full potential for shipping. 

ENCOURAGING BRANCHING AND CONTINUOUS BLOOM 

Pruning practices at Monrovia are designed to create full, well-branched plants that produce abundant blooms. The plants are mowed once to encourage lateral branching — a key step in developing the dense, mounded habit that consumers expect from quality lavender. This mechanical pruning occurs before the final spacing, ensuring that plants branch out to fill containers properly. 

Deadheading plays an equally important role in the production cycle. This principle of continuous deadheading ensures that plants leaving the nursery are at peak performance, covered with buds and blooms that will continue to develop at retail. 

NATURAL WEED MANAGEMENT 

Rather than relying on herbicides, Monrovia takes a proactive, natural approach to weed control. Mulch is applied at the time of canning, creating a barrier that suppresses weed germination from the start. The production team maintains vigilant hand- weeding schedules, addressing any weed pressure before it becomes problematic. Healthy, vigorously growing lavender plants naturally outcompete weeds, and avoiding chemical applications whenever possible eliminates any risk of phytotoxicity that could compromise plant quality. 

A HOLISTIC PRODUCTION SYSTEM 

Monrovia’s success with lavender production demonstrates how attention to detail at every stage, from variety selection through finished plant, creates a superior product. By combining controlled environment growing, strategic cultural practices and a commitment to plant health over chemical shortcuts, the Oregon operation produces lavender that performs reliably in diverse garden settings. This integrated approach ensures that whether customers choose lavender for its fragrance, flowers or foliage, they’re getting plants that will thrive when planted.