Lavender farms see second blooms on young plants

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Autumn is not typically when lavender is a colorful sight around Sequim.

However, some keen eyes might have noticed that a few farms still have some pops of color in their fields.

That’s due to the age of the plants and ideal conditions for a second harvest, according to local farmers.

Sergio Gonzalez, co-owner of Meli’s Lavender at 62 W. Diane Dr., said some lavender plants can have a second bloom.

“When they’re babies, they give a second bloom for a few years,” he said.

“The oil is the same quality, and the only difference (between old and young) is the second bloom.”

Kristy Hilliker, co-owner of B&B Family Farm, just wrapped up her 12th season owning and operating the lavender farm with her family at 5883 Old Olympic Highway. She said they have some second blooms from their royal velvet English variety in one field that might be the latest they’ve ever seen.

It was the first field they harvested in the summer and she said young plants can get a second bloom if the conditions are ripe with hot, dry weather.

Hilliker said sometimes their French lavender will see second blooms too, depending on the weather.

In her years on the farm, she estimates that her younger plants, upwards of 4 years old, can see second blooms, but it’s typically plants that are 2-3 years old.

“This year, we really only got second blooms on one field and they’re two-year-old plants,” Hilliker said.

“We have plants younger than that of the same species, and we hardly saw second blooms on them.”

Royal velvet’s buds can be used for culinary purposes, and its stems and buds can be used whole for wreaths and dried bunches, farmers said.

Hilliker said their second bloom will be distilled within a day or two of harvesting.

“It’s still as good as the first batch,” she said.

Hilliker notes that when buying lavender online, some sellers will say varieties always get a second bloom, but she encourages buyers not to take that verbatim.

“All the stars have to align so that a specific variety may always bloom,” she said.

Since lavender farming began in Sequim, farmers have reported first blooms at various times due to the area’s microclimates, such as being closer to the water or Olympic Mountains.

“I’ve heard from other lavender growers, more east of us, that they get second blooms that we rarely do,” Hilliker said.

Looking ahead, she said lavender tends to be hardy in winter and care for older plants is fairly minimal in colder months.

“We do sometimes tell people who get more snow that those young little plants might need a cover or pulled under an eave as the weight of the snow can be damaging,” Hilliker said.

“Up to two years old, maybe three, they don’t need anything. Once they’re trimmed, they’re usually pretty good.”

For more about B&B Family Farm, visit bbfamilyfarm.com/, and for more about Meli’s Lavender, visit facebook.com/melislavender.

To find more about next year’s Sequim Lavender Weekend and area farms, visit sequimlavenderweekend.com.