does lavender come back every year
Olivia Hensley
Updated on July 02, 2026
Key Takeaways: Lavender does come back after Winter if they are planted in the appropriate climate. French and Spanish lavenders are not cold hardy and may not come back after a cold Winter with freezing temperatures whereas English lavender can tolerate cold climates and grow again in the Spring.
Can I leave lavender outside in winter?
English Lavenders are cold hardy and can be left outside over winter. Non English lavenders will only survive winter in mild climates and need to be transferred into pots and brought inside over winter. Prepare your lavender for winter by pruning them into a mound shape that resists winter weather and tidy away leaves.
Do lavender plants survive the winter?
English lavender species are hardy, so can survive outdoors throughout winter and tolerate frost. Whereas Spanish, French and Italian lavenders are not frost tolerant and will need to be transferred to pots and taken indoors over winter, if they’re in a climate that receives regular frosts.
Does lavender come up year after year?
Lavender (Lavandula spp. ) is a woody perennial, so it does continue to grow from year to year, but the stems remain upright through the winter in preparation for new spring growth. With proper care and pruning, lavender will survive in the garden for years to come within its hardiness range.
Why does my lavender plant look dead?
Symptoms. The lavender has a wilting or drooping appearance and the foliage is turning brown or yellow. Causes. Watering too frequently, slow draining soil, high humidity, planted too close together or organic material around the plant (such as mulch or leaves).
Is my potted lavender dead?
If the stems snap easily, they are dead. Test the entire plant to get a sense of what sections are dead, and which still have life. From Farmer Rick: “Remember to look at the inside of the wood you cut – if you see any green, there is life, and hope for the plant.”
How do you overwinter lavender?
If your plant will be inside for the winter, keep it in a cool, non-freezing location with sunlight and air circulation. Slow down watering of plants. Lavender prefers a dry soil, and the amount of rain that naturally falls will be sufficient for the plant.
What happens if you don’t prune lavender?
An annual pruning is an important step for long-lasting lavender (Lavandula spp. and hybrids) plants. Without it they grow a large, lanky, woody base that can split open — it looks bad and shortens the plant’s lifespan.
Should lavender be cut back before winter?
Unpruned lavenders tend to become woody and have decreased blooms. However, lavender should not be pruned during the winter. Unlike many perennial plants and shrubs that can be pruned now, it is best to wait to prune lavender until after bloom in spring or in early fall before any danger of frost.
Can potted lavender survive winter?
English Lavenders will survive winter in pots and tolerate frosts and cold weather, whereas French and Spanish lavenders will not survive outdoors over winter in climates that experience frost and will need to be brought indoors for protection.
How long does lavender last?
When sited correctly and pruned judiciously, lavenders should live for five to seven years. Although lavender is fairly drought tolerant, adequate moisture is required throughout the growing season. Most critical are the weeks after planting to ensure that soil around the rootball does not dry out.
What month does lavender bloom?
Lavender Blooming Guides
Flowering typically occurs as early as May (in areas with mild summers and winters) with another flush of blooms in June followed by another flush of color in late summer or fall.
What do you do with a dead lavender plant?
Whenever possible, compost dead plants so they can return to the soil. If diseased, remove and burn. Should you replant right away (in fall) or wait until spring? Lavender plants need 8-10 weeks in the ground to get established before winter arrives.
How do you maintain lavender?
Lavender Care
Plant lavender in full sun and well-drained soil (add organic matter to improve heavy soils). Starting with the proper conditions is essential for successfully growing lavender. Water plants deeply but infrequently, when the soil is almost dry. Prune every year immediately after bloom.
Should I cut back dead lavender?
The basic rule of pruning lavender is not to trim into brown, dead wood. You’ll usually find brown branches at the base of the plant. Remove them only when they are truly dead. Never cut them back, hoping to stimulate new growth.
Why is my lavender plant turning GREY?
Lavender can turn gray because of frost damage or as a result of a fungal disease, caused by over watering or slow draining soils. Usually the fungus botrytis spp is responsible for lavender leaves turning gray although there are a few pathogens that may cause lavenders to turn gray.
Why is my potted lavender dying?
If you have lavender in pots dying it may be because the plant is over or underwatered, the soil is inconsistent with the plant’s needs, the plant is too little, getting too much sunlight, or the plant may need to be fertilized. Again, cold temperatures may affect potted lavender.