This is a common and important question, and the answer is no, cross-pollination does not change the characteristics (flowers, scent, etc.) of the existing lavender plant itself.
Here's why:
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Genetic Material Remains the Same: The lavender plant you currently have is a specific genetic individual. Its DNA, which determines its flower color, size, growth habit, and the chemical composition of its essential oils (and thus its scent), is fixed. It doesn't change from season to season based on what kind of pollen lands on its flowers. Think of it like a pregnant woman: her genetics don't change based on the father of her child; only the child's genetics are a mix.
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Impact is on the Seeds (Next Generation): Cross-pollination affects the seeds that are produced by that plant. When pollen from a different lavender plant lands on and fertilizes the ovules of your plant, the resulting seeds carry genetic material from both the "mother" plant (your plant) and the "father" plant (the pollen donor).
If you collect these seeds and plant them, the new plants that grow from those seeds will be hybrids. These new, seedling plants are the ones that will exhibit characteristics potentially different from either parent, including:
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Flower Color: They might have a different shade of purple, or even pink or white flowers, depending on the genetics of the parents.
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Flower Size/Shape: The size and form of the individual flowers and the overall flower spike could vary.
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Plant Size and Growth Habit: The new plant might be taller, shorter, more compact, or more sprawling than the "mother" plant.
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Scent Profile / Essential Oil Composition: This is particularly relevant. If an English lavender (known for its sweet, less camphorous scent) is cross-pollinated by a Lavandin (which has a higher camphor content), the offspring from those seeds are likely to have a scent profile that's a blend of the two, potentially making them less desirable for culinary use or certain essential oil applications. A recent study even showed that pollination can influence the relative amounts of key chemical compounds in essential oil.
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Analogy: Imagine you have a red rose bush. If a bee brings pollen from a white rose bush to your red rose, your red rose will still produce red flowers this season. However, any seeds that form on your red rose from that cross-pollination, if planted, might grow into new rose bushes that produce pink flowers (a mix of red and white genetics).
In summary:
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Your existing lavender plant's characteristics (flowers, scent) will remain the same regardless of what pollen lands on its flowers.
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The characteristics of any new lavender plants grown from the cross-pollinated seeds will be a mix of the parent plants, leading to variability in appearance and scent.
This is why, if you want to maintain a specific lavender variety with its exact traits, you must propagate it through cuttings, as cuttings are genetic clones of the parent plant.
Lavender Farm in Door County Wisconsin. You can buy lavender products online at islandlavender.com
