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To overwinter French lavender, you need to protect it from cold, wet conditions while keeping it in a dormant but healthy state.
French lavender (Lavandula stoechas) is less hardy than English lavender, so overwintering it takes a bit more care and planning.
If you’ve been wondering how to overwinter French lavender without losing it to frost or rot, the good news is that it’s absolutely doable with the right approach.
In this post, we’ll walk through how to overwinter French lavender step by step, including protecting it outdoors, bringing it inside, and avoiding the most common mistakes.
Let’s get into it.
How to Overwinter French Lavender Successfully
Overwintering French lavender comes down to two main things: keeping the roots from freezing and keeping the plant dry.
French lavender is native to the Mediterranean, where winters are mild and wet but rarely freezing.
That means it hates soggy, cold soil more than it hates the cold itself.
Understanding how to overwinter French lavender starts with understanding its limits.
Most French lavender varieties are only hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9, and even in zone 7, a harsh winter can do damage.
If you live in zone 6 or colder, your best bet is to grow French lavender in a pot and bring it indoors.
If you’re in zone 7 or 8, you can often overwinter French lavender outdoors with some protection.
The goal is to keep the plant alive but not actively growing, since new growth is what gets killed by frost.
1. Overwinter French Lavender in Pots
The easiest way to overwinter French lavender is to grow it in a container in the first place.
Potted French lavender gives you full control over its environment, so you can move it wherever it needs to be.
Before the first frost, bring your potted French lavender indoors to a cool, bright spot like a sunroom, garage, or unheated porch.
A temperature between 40 and 50°F is ideal for overwintering French lavender indoors.
Water sparingly, only when the top inch of soil feels dry, because overwatering is the number one killer of French lavender in winter.
Stop fertilizing completely, since you want the plant to rest, not push out tender new growth.
2. Protect French Lavender Outdoors
If your French lavender is planted in the ground and you live in a mild climate, you can overwinter French lavender outdoors with a few tricks.
First, stop watering in late fall so the soil isn’t wet going into winter.
Next, mulch around the base with gravel, sand, or straw, but keep the mulch away from the stem to prevent rot.
You can also build a simple windbreak using burlap or a cold frame to shield French lavender from icy winds.
If temperatures are predicted to drop below 20°F, drape a frost blanket over the plant at night and remove it during the day.
This is how to overwinter French lavender outdoors without losing it to a sudden cold snap.
3. Prune French Lavender at the Right Time
Pruning is a big part of how to overwinter French lavender, but timing matters more than you’d think.
Lightly trim your French lavender after it finishes blooming in late summer, but never prune in late fall or winter.
Cutting French lavender before winter stimulates new growth that won’t harden off in time and will die in the cold.
Instead, wait until early spring to do any major shaping, once the risk of frost has passed.
Just remove dead or damaged stems in winter and leave the rest alone.
4. Watch Out for Wet Soil and Rot
The biggest threat to French lavender in winter isn’t the cold, it’s wet feet.
French lavender needs excellent drainage, so if your soil is heavy clay, amend it with grit or plant in a raised bed.
If you’re overwintering French lavender in a pot, make sure it has drainage holes and never let it sit in a saucer of water.
Good airflow around the plant also helps prevent fungal issues like root rot and botrytis.
So when you overwinter French lavender, think dry roots first and everything else second.
5. Acclimate French Lavender Gradually in Spring
Once winter is over, don’t rush your French lavender back outside.
If you overwintered French lavender indoors, harden it off slowly over a week or two.
Start by placing it outside in a shaded spot for a few hours a day, then gradually increase sun exposure and time outdoors.
This step prevents shock and gives your French lavender a strong start to the growing season.
It’s the final piece of how to overwinter French lavender and one people often forget.
So, How Do You Overwinter French Lavender?
You overwinter French lavender by keeping it dry, protecting it from freezing temperatures, and letting it rest instead of grow.
Whether you bring it indoors or shelter it outdoors, the key is to avoid wet soil and cold drafts.
Now that you know how to overwinter French lavender, you can enjoy its fragrant blooms again next year.