Plant guide:ð Lavender
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Growth
Winter Die-Back in Lavender
Commonly affects: Lavandula angustifolia / L. x intermedia (Lavender)
Sections of the plant, or the whole plant, appear dead or brown after winter, with no new growth emerging in spring from affected stems.
Potential Causes
- 1Cold damage exceeding the specific variety's hardiness, since some lavender types (particularly French lavender) are far less cold-hardy than English lavender
- 2Wet, poorly-draining winter soil combined with cold causing root damage
- 3Wind exposure in an unsheltered location increasing cold stress
Solution Steps
- 1Wait until late spring before cutting back apparently dead growth, since lavender can be slow to show new growth after a hard winter
- 2Choose a cold-hardy variety (such as English lavender types) if winters are severe in your area
- 3Ensure sharp drainage going into winter, since wet-plus-cold is far more damaging than cold alone
- 4Provide wind shelter or a protective mulch layer (kept clear of the crown) in marginal climates
Prevention Tip
Wet soil combined with cold is what actually kills most lavender over winter â cold alone, with good drainage, is usually well tolerated by hardy varieties.
