Variety traits

Winter hardiness — Spanish lavender

Lavandula stoechas L.

The low frost tolerance of Spanish lavender restricts its outdoor cultivation to zones warmer than USDA 8. The crop is critically sensitive to temperatures below -10°C and excessive soil moisture during the winter period.

In the reference 8 varieties crop French lavender, where this is mentioned in the description.

Spanish lavender is characterized by low winter hardiness, corresponding to USDA zone 8, which implies a critical survival threshold in the range of -7...-12°C. In the RHS classification system, the species is rated as H4, meaning there is a risk of plant damage during severe winters with temperatures below -5°C.

High sensitivity to low temperatures makes this species unsuitable for overwintering in open ground in temperate climates. Successful overwintering requires the provision of ideal drainage, as the combination of frost and excessive soil moisture leads to the death of the root system even at moderate sub-zero temperatures.

Due to its limited frost resistance in regions with cold climates, Spanish lavender is cultivated primarily as a container crop with mandatory relocation indoors for the winter period or as an annual plant.

General information about the subject — on the page Winter hardiness.

Sources8

Varieties of French lavender mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.