How to Overwinter Lavender Indoors and Outdoors

Lavender is happiest outdoors, but you can keep tender varieties in pots and bring them inside for winter. Winter care depends on the kind of lavender you grow, your climate, and how well the soil drains. Here are some lovely varieties and advice for helping lavender make it through the colder months.

Is Lavender a Perennial or an Annual?

Lavender is a perennial, sun-loving plant native to the Mediterranean region. In colder climates, a tender variety may not survive winter outdoors, so gardeners often grow it as an annual or keep it in a pot and bring it inside.

The right variety can make all the difference. Many English lavender cultivars can survive winters in Zone 5 and warmer, but check the plant label for your cultivar’s hardiness. Good drainage matters, too: lavender does not do well in wet or waterlogged soil, especially in winter.

Find your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone here.

Types of Lavender

English Lavender

English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is one of the most cold-hardy types. We grow a variety called ‘Hidcote’, which has dark purple flowers. Despite its name, English lavender is native to the Mediterranean region, not England.

In a suitable climate, English lavender can overwinter in the ground outdoors. Choose a sunny spot with sharply draining soil. Lavender is more likely to struggle in heavy, soggy ground than in lean, dry soil. In colder areas, a light, airy mulch of straw or evergreen boughs may offer some protection after the plant has gone dormant and the ground has begun to freeze.

Spanish Lavender

Spanish lavender (L. stoechas) and fringed or French lavender (L. dentata) are less cold-hardy than English lavender. Common names can vary, so check the botanical name on the label when choosing a plant. In colder regions, grow these tender varieties in containers so you can move them indoors before freezing weather arrives.

Lavender prefers a pot with drainage holes and a quick-draining growing mix. Choose a container only slightly larger than the root ball; a pot that is much too large can hold excess damp soil. A mix of two parts potting soil to one part perlite or coarse sand can improve drainage. Lavender prefers soil that is near-neutral to slightly alkaline, but don’t add lime unless a soil test or the potting mix instructions call for it.

How to Overwinter Lavender

Lavender Outdoors

Many English lavender plants can stay outdoors through winter in a suitable climate. Give them full sun and well-draining soil. Avoid covering the plant with a heavy, damp layer of leaves. In colder areas, wait until the plant is dormant and the ground has begun to freeze before adding a light mulch.

Lavender Indoors

Move tender potted lavender indoors before freezing temperatures arrive. The plant’s growth may slow in winter, but it still needs plenty of light. Place it in your sunniest window or use a grow light if the room is dim.

• Watering: Lavender needs less water when its growth slows. Let the soil begin to dry between waterings and make sure excess water can drain from the pot. Don’t let the roots sit in water.
• Temperature: Keep the plant in a cool, bright location away from hot air vents and cold drafts. Avoid placing it in a warm, dim room.
• Fertilizing: Hold off on fertilizer while growth is slow. Resume feeding only if needed when new growth begins in spring.

Even when your lavender is resting, its foliage may still hold a lovely fragrance—a reminder of summer on a winter’s day.

Come spring, wait until your last spring frost has passed and nighttime temperatures remain above 50°F (10°C) to plant lavender outdoors again. Also, don’t forget to harden them off before exposing them to full sun and cool spring temperatures!

Lavender is more than a pretty plant. See lavender’s uses for health and home.