About Island Lavender Distillery
Island Lavender Distillery is the Tymstra family's lavender farm in the hills around St. Catherines and Bonshaw, southwest of Charlottetown. Trish Tymstra began by making natural beauty products in her farmhouse kitchen and selling them at a market booth in Charlottetown. As demand grew, the family planted their first lavender in 2014, and today about 5,000 plants grow on ten acres. Trish runs the business with her husband Paul and daughters Lauren and Nikki.
The main rows are English Hidcote and Munstead, with French Phenomenal in the gardens. The family distills lavender in small batches in a copper still, making essential oil and floral water for their product line; each run can take weeks.
In a normal year the farm and its gift shop open in late June, and the lavender reaches full bloom in mid-July, when the u-pick runs. Bundles of about 150 stems cost 12 CAD, you pay for what you cut, no reservation is needed, and the family shows you how to harvest, bundle and dry your lavender. The farm and farm shop are closed for the 2026 season and plan to reopen in July 2027.
Their gift shop at Founders' Hall in Charlottetown stays open year-round, selling dried lavender and the full line of lavender-oil products. When the farm reopens, Matos Winery & Distillery, also in St. Catherines, is only a few minutes away.
Lavender here
- When it blooms
- mid-July
- Visiting
- U-pick and farm gift shop in summer, with mid-July bloom; closed for 2026, reopening July 2027; Charlottetown shop at Founders' Hall open year-round.
- Varieties grown
- Hidcote, Munstead, Phenomenal
From the farm shop
- Lavender essential oil
- Lavender floral water
- Natural lavender bath and body products
- Dried lavender
What to do
- Cut your own lavender bundle in July (12 CAD per bundle of about 150 stems)
- Learn to harvest, bundle and dry lavender from the family
- See Hidcote, Munstead and Phenomenal lavender in full bloom
- Shop farm-distilled lavender oil and floral water at Founders' Hall in Charlottetown, year-round
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Farm usually opens late June; full bloom and u-pick mid-July; closed for 2026, reopening July 2027
- Hours
- Charlottetown gift shop at Founders' Hall: Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., year-round
- Admission
- U-pick: 12 CAD per bundle of about 150 stems
Good to know
- Dogs
- Leashed
- Reservations
- Walk-in
Tips for your visit
- The farm is closed for 2026; plan a farm visit for July 2027 or shop in Charlottetown.
- Bring your own scissors and basket to avoid waiting, plus a hat, sunscreen and water.
- The mailing address is St. Catherines, but the fields are described as being in the Bonshaw hills, so check directions first.
Pair it with a nearby stop
Matos Winery & Distillery · about 5 minutes away
Matos is in the same rural community, an easy stop on the way back toward the Trans-Canada Highway.
Getting there
Questions
Is Island Lavender Distillery open in 2026?
No. The farm and farm shop are closed for 2026 and plan to reopen in July 2027. The Charlottetown gift shop is open year-round.
How much is u-pick lavender?
12 CAD per bundle of about 150 stems.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes, on a leash.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Bonshaw & the West River, Prince Edward Island
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
