💜 When to Plant Lavender

🌿 Herb
Warm Season

Perennial in zones 5-9; needs excellent drainage and full sun

📅 Planting Calendar by USDA Zone

Select your zone to highlight your exact planting dates. Dates are calculated from each zone's average frost dates.

Find my zone
Zone Last Frost Start Indoors Transplant Direct Sow
Zone 2A May 30 Mar 21 May 30
Zone 3B May 15 Mar 6 May 15
Zone 4A May 8 Feb 27 May 8
Zone 4B May 1 Feb 20 May 1
Zone 5A Apr 25 Feb 14 Apr 25
Zone 5B Apr 18 Feb 7 Apr 18
Zone 6A Apr 21 Feb 10 Apr 21
Zone 6B Apr 10 Jan 30 Apr 10
Zone 7A Apr 5 Jan 25 Apr 5
Zone 7B Mar 28 Jan 17 Mar 28
Zone 8A Mar 20 Jan 9 Mar 20
Zone 8B Mar 12 Jan 1 Mar 12
Zone 9A Feb 28 Dec 20 Feb 28
Zone 9B Feb 15 Dec 7 Feb 15
Zone 10A Feb 1 Nov 23 Feb 1
Zone 10B Jan 15 Nov 6 Jan 15
Zone 11A Jan 1 Oct 23 Jan 1

Lavender is a fragrant, drought-tolerant herb that attracts pollinators and looks beautiful in any garden.

Top Growing Tips

  • Must have excellent drainage — raised beds or sandy soil work best
  • English lavender is hardiest (zones 5-8); French/Spanish need zones 7+
  • Don’t over-mulch or overwater — mimics its native Mediterranean conditions
  • Prune after flowering to maintain shape and prevent woody centers
  • Harvest when about half the flowers on the spike have opened

Companion Planting

Good companions: roses, echinacea, yarrow

Avoid planting near: shade-loving or moisture-loving plants

Harvest Timeline

Cut stems when flowers are just beginning to open