Lavender flowers are only around for a short time, but there are plenty of uses for lavender leaves! Learn how to harvest, dry & use them in DIY projects.
While the leaves haven’t been studied as specifically or extensively as the flowers, “Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) flowers, leaves and oil contain linaloyl acetate, linalool, perillyl alcohol, 1,8 cineole (eucalyptol), and at least 100 other known compounds.” (source)
The powerful aroma of the leaves indicates that they doubtless have overlapping benefits with the flowers, which is why I enjoy including them in salves, balms, soaks, and other DIY projects.
It’s also enjoyable just to pick a handful of leaves to rub between my fingers and sniff when I’m walking around my garden – they smell so good!
To dry lavender leaves, simply snip them with sharp scissors, arrange them on a paper towel, and leave them on a counter for several days until they are dry.
How to Dry Lavender Leaves
Harvesting and drying lavender leaves is super easy!
To harvest, snip off the top tips of the plant while the leaves are green, avoiding the tougher woody section found further down the stem.
If you just want a handful here and there for a project, then you can snip them any time during the growing season. If collecting a larger amount of lavender leaves, soon after the flowers bloom is a good time to do so.
Next, spread the leaves out on a clean dish towel or paper towel and allow them to air dry for several days. (Learn more about my drying methods by visiting my article, “How to Harvest and Dry Flowers & Herbs from Your Garden“.)
Once dry, store them in a brown paper bag, or a glass jar tucked into a dark cabinet.
As long as they have a noticeable color and scent, they’re good to use. However, if you notice the color or scent of your lavender leaves has faded, then it’s time to compost them.
You can make lavender oil from lavender leaves in the very same way that you make an herb infused oil with the flowers.
To make it: Fill a canning jar about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way with dried leaves. Fill the jar with your favorite oil, such as sunflower, sweet almond, rice bran, etc. Stir a few times to release air bubbles.
For a quick infusion: Set the uncovered jar down into a small saucepan filled with a few inches of water. Heat over a low burner for a few hours, keeping a close eye that the water doesn’t evaporate out. Remove from heat and strain.
For a slower, but stronger infusion: Cap the jar of dried leaves and oil and tuck away in a cabinet for around 4 to 6 weeks, shaking occasionally as you remember to. When the infusing time has passed, strain.
Tip – Use your infused oil to make your own lotion! Here’s a video of me making a simple herbal lotion recipe from my Handmade Lotions & Creams eBook collection. (Sometimes an ad plays first, but the video will play right after! If you have an adblocker you won’t see the video player.)
Use lavender leaf infused oil to make this easy DIY sinus and headache balm.
It’s an all-natural remedy that helps relieve stuffy noses, allergies, and headaches.
Visit my article on Sinus & Headache Balm for the full recipe!
HERBAL SALVES & BALMS
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Lavender Leaves : Harvesting, Preserving, and Uses
FAQ
Can lavender leaves be dried?
Do dried lavender leaves smell?
How do you dry lavender leaves in a dehydrator?
Can You Dry lavender leaves?
The best type to use for drying is English lavender. The reason is because it contains more oils than other varieties. But don’t worry, you can dry any variety you have in your garden – whether it be English, Spanish, or French. If you want to dry lavender leaves, you can cut them at any time.
How long do you let lavender flowers dry?
Let the lavender dry for 2 – 4 weeks. Check every so often to see when the lavender is dry. When you brush the flowers, they should fall easily from the stems. You can leave the flowers on the stems or brush them off to use in sachets or for baking. Harvest the lavender. Harvest lavender just before the buds open.
When should you cut lavender leaves for drying?
If you want to dry lavender leaves, you can cut them at any time. The timing doesn’t matter for the leaves, but it does matter for the flowers. The flowers are the most fragrant and colorful when you cut them before the buds open. So, the best time to cut the flowers for drying is when the buds are bright purple, and right before they open.
Do you need a stem for dried lavender?
Depending on you plant to use the dried lavender, you may want to leave some of the stem attached when you prune your plant . For example, having 2 or 3 inches of the stem may be useful for making a decorative wreath, but you would need maybe 6 inches of stem for a vase arrangement.