Growing Lavender: A Guide to Healthy Plants & Beautiful Blooms
Beautiful lavender starts with the right spot
Lavender brings fragrance, silvery foliage, and flowers worth slowing down for. Give it a sunny spot and freely draining soil, and you’re off to a good start.
Here’s how to choose a variety, plant it confidently, and care for it through the seasons—with practical help for watering, pruning, and those “why does it look unhappy?” moments.
Before choosing a variety, Find your growing zone and check the plant’s listed hardiness range.
Lavender Essentials
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Give it sunshine
Choose a spot with at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. Leave enough space for the variety’s mature spread so air can move between plants.
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Give roots breathing room
Lavender needs soil that drains freely. If your garden stays soggy, choose a raised bed or a container with drainage holes. Keep the base of the stems above the soil and clear of piled mulch
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Water thoughtfully
Water thoroughly after planting. Check the soil before watering again; let it begin drying rather than keeping it constantly wet. Young plants need closer attention than established garden lavender, and containers dry faster.
Plant it right from the start
Choose your spot first. Look for at least six hours of direct sun and soil that drains freely. Leave room for the plant’s mature width rather than crowding young plants together.
Plant at the same depth. Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and slightly wider. Gently loosen tightly circling roots, then position the plant with the top of its root ball level with the surrounding soil. Backfill and water thoroughly.
Heavy soil? Change the setup. A raised bed or a container with drainage holes is often a better choice than a planting hole that collects water. For containers, use a freely draining potting mix and empty any saucer after watering.
A useful growing tip: Keep mulch away from the base of the stems. Lavender needs that area to stay airy, especially during humid weather.
Growing in a container? Read our guide to growing herb plants in pots.
Bring a little lavender indoors
For dried bundles, cut flower stems when the first few flowers on each spike have opened. Harvest after the morning dew has dried, using clean snips and leaving the leafy growth on the plant.
Gather small bundles and hang them upside down somewhere dry, shaded, and well ventilated. Once fully dry, use them in a vase or tuck the dried flowers into sachets.
Leave some flowers in the garden for visiting pollinators—a little for you, a little for the bees.
Keep your lavender thriving
How often should I water?
Check the soil rather than following a fixed schedule. Newly planted lavender needs regular checks while its roots establish. Water deeply when the root zone begins drying, then let excess water drain. Established garden plants need less frequent watering, but prolonged drought may still call for a soak. Check containers more often during hot or windy weather. Avoid frequent little splashes and standing water.
How do I prune without damaging it?
After flowering, remove spent flower stems and lightly trim leafy growth to maintain a rounded shape. Keep green leaves below every cut; avoid cutting into bare, woody stems, which may not regrow. In cold climates, avoid a hard autumn trim. Wait for new growth in spring before assessing winter damage and removing dead stems.
What does lavender need in winter?
Winter survival depends on the variety’s cold hardiness and good drainage. Choose a lavender suited to your growing zone, and keep its crown clear of wet leaves and mulch. Container roots are more exposed to freezing than roots in the ground. In colder areas, move pots to a sheltered location appropriate for the variety, and check occasionally so the soil does not become completely dry or stay soggy.
Why is my lavender yellow or wilting?
Check the soil before adding water. Wilting can happen when roots are too dry or when soggy soil damages them. If the soil feels wet, let it dry and check that drainage holes are clear and the saucer is empty. If the root ball is dry, water thoroughly and let excess water drain. Persistent decline or a soft, dark stem base needs closer inspection—more water is not always the answer.
Lots of leaves, but hardly any flowers?
Start with sunlight: lavender needs at least six hours of direct sun daily. Too much fertilizer can encourage leafy growth at the expense of flowers, so avoid feeding it like a hungry vegetable plant. Young plants may need time to establish, and flowering season varies by variety. Check its expected bloom period before assuming something is wrong.
Can I rescue a woody lavender plant?
Lavender naturally develops woody stems as it ages. Light, regular pruning helps keep leafy growth compact, but cutting into bare old wood may leave branches that never regrow. Trim only where green leaves remain. If the center is mostly bare and growth is confined to the tips, replacing the plant may give you a better result than a drastic haircut.
Find your lavender match
Start with your climate. Check each variety’s growing zones and mature size before choosing. Winter cold, summer humidity, and drainage all affect how lavender performs.
For smaller spaces: English lavenders such as ‘Munstead’ and ‘Hidcote’ are popular choices for compact plantings and containers. Compare their mature dimensions with the space you have.
For fragrant stems and dried bundles: Explore ‘Grosso’ and ‘Provence’. Leave enough room for their mature spread, and plant where you can easily reach the flower stems at harvest time.
For humid summers: ‘Phenomenal’ is worth considering for its tolerance of heat and humidity. It still needs sunshine, good airflow, and freely draining soil.
For a container you can protect in winter: ‘Goodwin Creek Grey’ offers distinctive silver foliage, but it is less cold hardy than many English lavenders. Check its growing zones before leaving it outdoors year-round.
Explore our lavender plants and compare each variety’s growing requirements before choosing your favorite.
Find your garden favorite
A little fragrance.
A lovely place to begin.
Whether you’re dreaming of a sunny border, a patio container, or your first dried lavender bundle, start with a variety that suits your space and climate.
Explore our lavender plantsCheck each variety’s growing zones and mature size before choosing.