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Planting and Caring for Lavender in Pots

Planting Lavender, Caring for Lavender

Lavender in pots, Lavender in containers, English Lavender, Spanish lavender, French Lavender, Common lavender, True Lavender, lavandula angustifolia, lavandula stoechas, How to grow lavender, How to care for lavender

What could be more welcoming in a doorway or vestibule than a big pot of lavender in full bloom cheerfully welcoming all passersby with its heavenly fragrance and colorful blossoms? Lavender (Lavandula) is a very attractive perennial that enjoys a long flowering season and is fairly easy to grow.

Select the Right Lavender

  • Since not all lavenders are hardy, containers allow you to grow lavender that would otherwise not be suited to your garden.
  • Any lavender variety will grow in a container and can be clipped in decorative balls and cones, but some are better suited than others. They produce flowers fast and maintain a manageable size in pots.
  • Click here to find the best lavender varieties for your pots and containers

Guide Information

Genus Lavandula
Exposure Full Sun
Maintenance Average
Water Needs Low
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Tolerance Drought, Deer, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Attracts Bees
Landscaping Ideas Patio And Containers
Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’ (Lavender)
Lavandula angustifolia ‘Rosea’ (Lavender)
Lavandula angustifolia ‘Thumbelina Leigh’ (Lavender)

Planting Lavender in a Pot

  • Select a container that provides your Lavender enough room to grow. A 12-16 in. pot (30-40 cm) will be perfect. Make sure it has at least a 1/2-in. hole in the bottom. Add small stones for swift drainage.
  • Select a good sandy potting mix that easily drains water and fill the pot three-quarters full. Add a tablespoon of lime.
  • Add your Lavender plant and fill the pot with soil within a couple of inches of the top. Firm the soil to remove air pockets. Your Lavender’s crown should stick up about 1 in. (2 cm) above the soil.
  • Water thoroughly
  • Add a 2 in. layer of mulch (5 cm) to help retain moisture.
  • Lavender requires at least 6 hours of sunshine per day. Shade reduces growth and fragrance. Place your container in a sunny location that is sheltered from the wind.
Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ (Lavender)
Lavandula angustifolia ‘Little Lottie’ (Lavender)
Lavandula angustifolia ‘Nana Alba’ (Lavender)

Caring for Potted Lavender

  • Once established, lavender is fairly drought-tolerant. However, it grows bigger and is more floriferous with regular watering, specifically when planted in containers. Water when the soil is dry and then drench so that water flows freely out the bottom of pots.
  • Overwintering: If you live in a climate where the winters are harsh, store your potted lavender plants in a garage or indoors during the winter to protect them. The plants need very little water from November to February. Wait until the pot is noticeably lighter or even until plants start to wilt and then water only on top of the compost. Do not fertilize in the period of dormancy.
Lavandula pedunculata subsp. pedunculata (Lavender)
Lavandula stoechas ‘Regal Splendour’ (Spanish Lavender)
Lavandula stoechas ‘Ballerina’ (Spanish Lavender)

Pruning Potted Lavender

Pruning your Lavender will prevent your shrub from turning to wood. This is important because the parts of the plant that turn to wood will not produce new lavender stalks. Pruning once a year is great. Pruning twice a year is better.

  • When pruning your Lavender, never cut into the woody part of your Lavender. Always leave the leafless wood intact since cutting it could injure the plant. A good rule is to prune two leaf sets above the woody part. This will encourage stable growth and a healthier, thicker lavender plant.
  • Always use a very clean set of pruning shears or secateurs that have been washed clean of dirt and disinfected with a bleach solution. Taking this precaution will help ensure that your Lavender plant doesn’t pick up a bacterial disease. You should also make sure the shears are very sharp so that they make a clean cut that will heal quickly.
  • While pruning in spring can delay flowering, it is a good time to trim away dead or damaged parts. Prune your Lavender plants just as the new growth begins, cutting back to leave some new shoots at the base of each branch.
  • In late summer or early fall, after the last flush has faded, prune your Lavender stems down to an inch above the wood. This will provide better air circulation.

Discover These Helpful Guides for Further Reading

Best Lavenders for Pots and Containers
Continuously Blooming Lavenders
Creating a Lavender Hedge
Drought Tolerant Companion Plants For Lavenders
Lavender Varieties and Blooming Seasons
Lavender: How to choose the right one?

Garden Examples

A Long-Lasting Summer Duo for your Borders: Lavender and Cosmos
A Lovely Contemporary Garden Idea
A Lovely Mediterranean Border with Lavender and Lilies of the Nile
A Charming Garden Idea with Thyme, Lavender and Other Shrubs
An Eye-Catching Border with Allium, Salvia and Lavender
A Fragrant Summer Border with Roses, Lavender, Pinks and Sea Holly
A Fabulous Duo: Rose ‘Bonica’ and Lavender ‘Hidcote’
A Charming Mediterranean Flagstone Pathway
A Long-Lasting Summer Idea for your Borders with Lavender, Achillea and Sedum
Compare All Lavandula (Lavender)
Compare Now
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Lavandula (Lavender)
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

Guide Information

Genus Lavandula
Exposure Full Sun
Maintenance Average
Water Needs Low
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Tolerance Drought, Deer, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Attracts Bees
Landscaping Ideas Patio And Containers
Compare All Lavandula (Lavender)
Compare Now
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Lavandula (Lavender)

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