Does a Lavender Plant Come Back Every Year and What You Need to Know

Lavender plants are known for their fragrant flowers and ability to come back year after year. They are perennials, meaning they typically live for more than two years.

In zones with cold winters, lavender plants may not come back every year, as they can be sensitive to frost and freezing temperatures. If you live in a zone with harsh winters, you may need to take extra steps to protect your plant.

Lavender plants can be propagated through division, which involves separating the roots of the plant to create new ones. This method is often more successful than trying to grow lavender from seed.

By understanding the needs of your lavender plant and providing the right conditions, you can help it come back strong every year.

Expand your knowledge: Lavender Plant Live

Lavender plants can come back every year, but it depends on the climate and variety you have.

In mild Mediterranean-style climates like Oregon or Texas, lavender should reliably grow back each spring after pruning down the long spent stems in the fall.

English lavenders are hardy in zones 5 through 8, while French lavender cultivars can only grow in the warmer climates of zones 7 though 10.

Lavender is a perennial flower in California, so it will grow back every year, making it a great choice for attracting pollinators like hummingbirds and bees.

In zones 5 through 10, lavender is technically a woody, perennial, evergreen shrub, but in zones 3 through 4, it will go dormant and die back in the winter.

If you live in a region with cold winters, like New England or Montana, lavender will typically die in the winter unless it is brought indoors or otherwise protected.

Lavender is an herbaceous perennial plant native to the dry sandy soils and blazing sun of the Mediterranean region, making it well-suited for warm climates.

Broaden your view: Lavender Plant Pruning Winter

Lavender is typically known as a perennial, but it can also be grown as an annual. Depending on the climate, it may die back in the winter or remain evergreen. Either way, the root zone remains intact and continues to fuel the plant's growth.

If you live in an extremely cold northern area, outdoor lavender is commonly grown as an annual because it cannot survive frigid -30°F temperatures. This means you have to choose fast-growing varieties that will flower in the first season, such as 'Pinnata Lavender' or 'Lady'. These herbs will need to be replanted every year.

Annual lavender is most common in Montana, Wyoming, the Dakotas, the Midwest, and New England. Gardeners in these climates can experiment with cold hardy varieties like 'Phenomenal' or 'Munstead', but unexpectedly extreme winters could still kill them off.

To grow lavender as a perennial, you'll need to choose the right variety for your climate. Most lavenders can only tolerate mild winters, with the exception of extremely cold-hardy English lavender cultivars like 'Munstead' or 'Hidcote' that can handle down to -10°F (-12°C) in their dormant state.

Here are some specific zones where different types of lavender can thrive as perennials:

Proper pruning is also key to growing happy perennial lavender. Most gardeners prune their perennial plants once in the spring and again in the fall. Pruning keeps lavender from getting too woody and also encourages more floral growth.

To grow perennial lavender, you need to choose the right variety for your climate. Most lavenders can only tolerate mild winters, but some English lavender cultivars like 'Munstead' or 'Hidcote' can handle temperatures down to -10°F (-12°C).

To determine the hardiness zone for your area, check the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. For example, English lavender is a perennial in zones 5-8, while Lavandin hybrids are hardy in zones 5-10.

Preparing well-drained soil is crucial for growing healthy lavender. Lavender prefers ultra well-drained, sandy or gravelly soils to thrive. This is especially important during winter months when the ground can get waterlogged.

To help you choose the right variety for your climate, here's a breakdown of the types of lavender and their hardiness zones:

Proper pruning is also essential for growing happy perennial lavender. Prune your lavender once in the spring and again in the fall to keep it from getting too woody and encourage more floral growth.

Growing perennial lavender plants requires understanding its growth habits and specific varietal adaptations for your region. To keep lavender around for many years, choose the right variety for your climate.

Most lavenders can only tolerate mild winters, but some English lavender cultivars like 'Munstead' or 'Hidcote' can handle down to -10°F (-12°C) in their dormant state.

Lavender prefers ultra well-drained, sandy or even gravelly soils to thrive. This is especially important during winter months when the ground can get waterlogged, which lavender hates.

To grow the healthiest, most attractive lavender, prepare well-drained soil and prune your lavender properly. Pruning helps lavender stay perennial and encourages more floral growth.

Here's a list of perennial lavender varieties and their hardiness zones:

By choosing the right variety, preparing well-drained soil, and pruning your lavender, you'll be on your way to growing beautiful, perennial lavender plants.

Transplant lavender plants when they're ready to be planted in the ground, typically after they've developed a robust root system.

Logan Hailey, a gardening expert and former organic lavender farmer, recommends transplanting when the seedlings are ready, which usually happens after they've been growing for a few months.

Wait until the weather is calm and the soil is moist before transplanting to minimize stress on the plants.

Transplanting in the morning or evening is ideal, as this allows the plants to settle in before the heat of the day.

Gently remove the seedlings from their pots, taking care not to disturb the roots, and plant them in a hole that's twice as wide as the pot.

Backfill with soil, firming it gently around the roots to prevent air pockets.

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Lavender is a semi-woody herbaceous shrub that can survive for 10 years or more in most climates.

Its herbaceous non-woody parts typically develop for a single season, leaving behind a hardier base that remains throughout its lifetime.

Whether or not lavender comes back in the spring depends on your growing zone.

In some zones, lavender will come back year after year, but in others, it may not.

The lifespan of a lavender plant can vary greatly depending on the specific growing conditions in your area.

Some lavender varieties are nearly year-round bloomers, experiencing only a few weeks of downtime.

Jagged Lavender, specifically Lavandula pinnata buchii, is an excellent choice for your winter garden, blooming from December through April.

These plants are tender and should not be exposed to temperatures below 30°F.

Jagged Lavenders have oversized, finely dissected, and fern-like foliage, with soft green-gray color that looks stunning against the deep, dark flowers.

The flowers grow in a candelabra shape on top of tall 25″ stems.

Lavandula Pinnata Buchii, also known as Jagged Lavender, is an excellent choice for your winter garden, blooming from December through April.

These plants are nearly year-round bloomers, experiencing only a few weeks of downtime here and there. They're super fast growing, making them a great option to use as annuals if needed.

Jagged Lavenders have oversized, finely dissected, and fern-like foliage, which looks stunning against the deep, dark flowers that grow in a candelabra shape on top of tall 25″ stems.

They're tender, so it's essential to protect them from temperatures below 30°F.

Lavandula x intermedia varieties, also known as French Lavender, are a great option for those who want a more resilient lavender.

They bloom in mid-to-late summer, making them a lovely addition to any garden or outdoor space.

French Lavenders are a popular choice because they tend to retain their foliage and color well into the winter months.

This makes them a great option for those who want a lavender that doesn't look half-dead in the winter.

A fresh viewpoint: Lavender Plant French