Garden PlannerEvidence-aware. Garden with confidence.
Entire healthy mature lavender plant in a real garden bed, showing growth habit and scale.Primary identification image. 45–75 cm tall, 60–90 cm wide at maturity.

Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia Mill.

Also called: English lavender

Family
Lamiaceae
Season
Perennial evergreen perennial shrub
Best grown in
Portland, Oregon

A long-lived, drought-tolerant shrub whose flowers are among the most bee-visited in any garden; needs lean, dry soil.

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Life cycle & growth stages

  1. 1. PlantPlant in spring in gritty soil.
  2. 2. EstablishmentFew flowers the first year.
  3. 3. FloweringPurple spikes for 4–6 weeks in summer.
  4. 4. HarvestCut spikes as florets open.
  5. 5. TrimCut back by a third after flowering.

Growth stages are ordered chronologically; timing varies with cultivar, temperature, light and care.

Planting calendar for Portland, Oregon

transplant from last frost to 4 weeks after; 365–400 days to maturity from planting. Windows are derived from the region's average frost dates (last Apr 5, first Nov 5) and are estimates until you confirm your own dates in the calendar.

LavenderLavandula angustifolia
PlantStart indoorsDirect sowAutumn sowTransplantTendHarvest
Lavender———Apr 5–May 3 (estimate)May 3–Apr 5 (estimate)Apr 5–Jul 5 (estimate)
  • Transplant outdoors: Apr 5 – May 3
  • Tend and monitor: May 3 – Apr 5
  • Harvest: Apr 5 – Jul 5

Spacing & support

In-row 60–90 cm; rows 90–90 cm. Planner footprint: 4 cells of 30 cm.

Side-profile diagram of mature lavender: canopy 45–75 cm tall, 60–90 cm wide, deep root zone, support and harvest-access envelope.

Soil & water

Soil
Poor, gritty, alkaline, sharply drained soil
pH
6.5–7.5
Fertility
low
Water
Drought-tolerant; water only to establish.
Frost
hardy; tolerates frost

Support & training

No support structure needed.

Lavender mid-season before harvest, showing branching, vining, rosette or upright habit and space occupied.

Harvest signs

  • Flower spikes when the lowest florets open
  • Cut in the morning for drying
Lavender at harvest readiness, showing the visual cues: flower spikes when the lowest florets open; cut in the morning for drying.

Common problems

Pests: rosemary beetle (Europe), froghopper

Diseases: root rot, shab

Appearance alone is not a diagnosis; confirm with a regional extension guide.

Side-by-side: healthy lavender leaf or fruit and an example of root rot.

Container growing

  • Minimum 20 L (30 cm deep)
  • Use quality potting mix and water more frequently
Mature lavender in a correctly sized container (20 L or more) with drainage visible.

Companion overview

1 reviewed relationship record (evidence: low).

Supported or conditional

None reviewed

Avoid or separate

None with evidence

Traditional claims only: Cabbage.

Full companion profile

Crop rotation

Lavender is a permanent planting; rotation does not apply, but do not replant it where a related crop failed from soil disease.

Crop rotation hub

Sources, reviewer & update

Sources

Reviewer: Garden Planner editorial team (pending independent horticultural review)

Last reviewed: August 15, 2026 · version 1

Found an error or have feedback? Let us know.

Growing lavender

Lavender is planted in spring from pot-grown plants into sharply drained, low-fertility soil in full sun. It flowers in its second summer and lives 10–15 years if trimmed back by a third each year after flowering, never into bare wood.

Lavender planting material (crown, set, clove, slip or tuber) beside a ruler or coin for scale.
Lavender seedling at cotyledon and first-true-leaf stage, in soil, distinguishable from common weeds.
Lavender mid-season before harvest, showing branching, vining, rosette or upright habit and space occupied.

Lavender is a pollinator plant first: bumblebees and honeybees work the flowers for weeks. It belongs at the dry, sunny edge of a vegetable garden, not among irrigated crops, where it rots.

Two or more mature lavender plants with a tape measure showing in-row spacing (60–90 cm).
Lavender flower detail or bolting stage.
Immature flowers of lavender developing on the plant.

Edible parts and safety

Edible: flowers (culinary cultivars, sparingly).

Hands or tool harvesting lavender correctly (cut, pull, twist or pick) without damaging the plant.

Pests and diseases

Common pests: rosemary beetle (Europe), froghopper. Common diseases: root rot, shab. These vary by region; a photograph is an example, not a diagnosis. See the pest and disease guides and your local extension service.

rosemary beetle on lavender, with a wider damage-context view.

Timeline

Season timeline for lavender: sowing, transplanting, flowering, harvest and bed occupancy aligned to frost dates.Text alternative: Transplant outdoors Apr 5–May 3; Tend and monitor May 3–Apr 5; Harvest Apr 5–Jul 5.

Related plants

See also: Lamiaceae family page · crop rotation · regional calendar · guides

Our Methodology & Sources

We synthesize peer-reviewed research, university extension publications, and trusted horticulture resources. Our evidence levels help you understand how strong the science is behind the guidance.

Evidence tiers

Supported evidenceConsistent results from multiple robust studies
Traditional claimHistorical use reported, limited scientific support
Context dependentMixed or variable results across conditions
No verified relationshipNo reliable evidence identified

Primary source types

  • Peer-reviewed journal articles
  • University extension publications
  • Government & research institute reports
  • Systematic reviews & meta-analyses

Last updated

August 24, 2026

Learn more about our approach