Young Living

The differences between clonal lavender and population lavender

Do you know the differences between clonal lavender and population lavender? Did you know that Young Living shares a fascinating history with lavender and that we use both species to create the Lavender essential oil so many of us rely on each day? Buckle up, because it’s story time!

Young Living and saving French lavender

Young Living’s relationship with this beloved essential oil goes back to 1985, when Young Living Founder D. Gary Young brought lavender seeds back from France so he could grow his own. France boasts a rich, 100-year history of growing very fragrant lavender. Gary began growing lavender on a quarter-acre lot in Spokane, Washington, USA, in 1988. Years later, when disease killed off much of France’s unique lavender species, called population lavender or Lavandula angustifolia, Gary brought back seeds to help restore the plant and replenish France’s lavender fields.

What makes clonal lavender and population lavender different?

There are many species of lavender plants, and among them are clonal lavender and population lavender. But how different can they be? Let us list the ways.

When you think of clonal lavender, remember that it’s:

Produced from stem cuttings
Uniform in shape and size
Incapable of diversity or evolution
The preferred plant for many lavender farms

Population lavender differs from clonal because it:

Is grown from seeds
Has unique and subtle fragrance differences
Grows into unique sizes and shapes
Produces essential oil with a delightful variety of aromas

When Gary brought population lavender seeds back from France, he invested in local farmers to produce and grow the best lavender available. While the majority of Young Living’s oil is obtained from population lavender, we also include a variety of clonal lavender to create a rich diversity in our oil that you won’t find outside Young Living.

Features and benefits of lavender

Lavender is often celebrated as the “Swiss Army knife of essential oils” because of its many uses. It served as a go-to oil for thousands of years, with people adding it to their baths, laundry and food. Lavender is a favourite essential oil because of its tranquil aroma when diffused and skin care benefits when applied topically. It also: