Even though lavender is known for being pretty tough, the winter months can still be a bit tricky for this Mediterranean favorite. Not every variety handles the frost the same way, and sometimes a bad spot in the yard or a few winter care mistakes can cause the plant to give up the ghost. Here’s how you can make sure your lavender makes it through to spring.
Pick the Right Varieties at the Garden Center
Want to make sure your lavender survives the big chill? It actually starts with your shopping trip. Take a close look at the tags on those young plants. You’ll see terms like “winter hardy,” “frost hardy,” or “winter resistant,” and they don’t all mean the same thing.
In the gardening world, “winter resistant” often refers to plants that can handle a light frost for a short time, but might freeze if the temperature stays low for too long. On the other hand, a truly “winter hardy” plant is a champ—it can stay outside all winter long without a problem.
Tried and True Varieties
Generally speaking, lavender loves Mediterranean warmth, but some varieties are surprisingly cold-tolerant. What really stresses these plants out isn’t just the cold, but wild temperature swings. If you live in a region where the weather jumps from freezing to thawing and back again, your lavender is going to need some extra protection. Choosing a hardy variety gives you a huge head start.
English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is your best bet for planting directly in the garden. Since it originally comes from mountainous regions—growing at altitudes up to 5,000 feet—it’s naturally built to handle the cold. Look for cultivars like ‘Hidcote Blue,’ ‘Imperial Gem,’ ‘Miss Katherine,’ or ‘Munstead.’
Tips for Proper Winter Care
Even if you’ve planted a hardy variety, a little TLC goes a long way. Once the temperatures start to drop in the fall, it’s a great idea to cover your plants with some evergreen boughs or dry leaves. This provides a layer of insulation and, more importantly, keeps the crown from getting too soggy. As any lavender lover knows, “wet feet” is the quickest way to kill these plants.
Poor drainage and standing water during the winter are lavender’s worst enemies. Only water your lavender on days when the ground isn’t frozen. And here’s a pro tip: if a blanket of snow covers your plants, leave it there! Snow actually acts as a fantastic natural insulator, protecting the lavender underneath from harsh winds and deep freezes.
Don’t Prune Too Late in the Season
Timing is everything when it comes to maintenance. While you definitely want to prune your lavender, avoid doing it in the late fall. Try to get your last trim done by late September at the latest. If you prune too late, the plant might try to put out tender new growth or even flowers, wasting the precious energy it needs to survive the winter.
Caring for Potted Lavender
When lavender is in the ground, the earth provides a natural thermal buffer. In a pot, however, the roots are much more exposed, and the soil can freeze solid very quickly. To keep your container plants safe, wrap the pots in burlap or bubble wrap to provide some insulation.
If you’re growing a variety that isn’t hardy—like Spanish Lavender or French (fern-leaf) Lavender—you’ll need to bring the pots inside. A sunroom or a cool, bright garage is perfect. Unlike English lavender, these types are much more sensitive to prolonged freezing temperatures and won’t survive a harsh winter outdoors.
Watch Out for Winter Sunburn
It sounds strange, but even though lavender loves the summer sun, the winter sun can be dangerous. The combination of bright sunlight and snow can cause moisture to evaporate from the leaves while the roots are still frozen and unable to drink. This leads to “winter burn” or desiccation. Keep an eye out for signs that your lavender is drying out, and consider providing a little shade or extra mulch if you notice it struggling. With a little prep, your lavender will be back and smelling amazing by summer!
