Plotwright
Home
English lavender
Habit (mature) · Cultivar 'Jean Davis' · Andrey Butko / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Limited coverage
English lavender
Lavandula angustifolia
A Mediterranean-native evergreen subshrub for sunny edges, pollinator beds, and low-water garden structure. The source of true oil of lavender; well-loved but at times difficult to grow east of the Mississippi because it does not tolerate wet feet or heavy clay.
Review: Source-backed
Climate fit: narrow (38/100)
Border
Pollinator
Structure
Light
Full sun
Water
Low water
Mature size
18-24" tall · 24" apart
Hardy in zones
5a-9b
very cold to frosty winters
Summer heat range
Warm-Hot
warm to hot summers Interim Plotwright tier until the plant AHS range is authored.
Native in Illinois
No
Related products
Sponsored
Drainage and aeration
Perlite, pumice, raised-bed mix, aerators, and drainage-focused containers.
Search drainage and aeration on Amazon
Acid-soil care
Sulfur, acid-loving plant fertilizer, pine bark, and pH monitoring.
Search acid-soil care on Amazon
Soil testing and pH
pH meters, soil test kits, lab mailers, and amendment calculators.
Search soil testing and ph on Amazon
Container growing
Grow bags, planters, potting mix, saucers, casters, and container irrigation.
Search container growing on Amazon
Transplanting and establishment
Trowels, transplant spades, starter fertilizer, root stimulators, and watering bags.
Search transplanting and establishment on Amazon
Harvest and processing
Harvest baskets, berry bowls, canning gear, drying racks, and kitchen garden tools.
Search harvest and processing on Amazon
Plotwright may earn a commission from purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you.
A Mediterranean evergreen perennial native from southern France through the Iberian peninsula, and very tolerant of drought and dry soil. Thrives in hot, dry summers; in humid Southeastern summers it reads "difficult" — more from the humidity than from the heat itself.
Climate notes
Cold hardiness
Now
Zone 6b
USDA
Chicago, IL · 1991-2020 average annual coldest day
Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer
Well-suited
2050
Zone 7b
Plotwright
Your zone + climate-model shift · SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry)
Well-suited
In plain terms: cold winters — coldest nights typically around -3°F.
Well-suited today and still thriving in 2050.
Heat tolerance
Loading current AHS heat-zone and plant heat-fit data at your coordinates…
Appears in collections
+2
Collection · 6 plants
Mediterranean drought-tolerant edible
A low-water edible palette of culinary herbs + a hardy grape for hot dry sunny sites. Mediterranean-origin plants thrive on neglect; their primary failure mode is overwatering, not underwatering.
English lavender
Rosemary
Garden sage
Oregano
Common thyme
Fox grape
Collection · 4 plants
Sunny pollinator border
A durable sunny border with summer bloom, seedheads, and upright winter texture.
English lavender
Purple coneflower
Black-eyed Susan
Switchgrass
Sources & citations
Cite this page
For lesson plans, articles, or research that uses this page. To cite a single upstream fact instead, use its specific source listed below.
Plotwright. (2026, May 17). English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). Retrieved 2026, June 5, from https://plotwright.garden/plants/lavender
Sources for every fact
Every fact on this page traces to a source. 18 fields cited18 source-backed.
NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
University extension service
Backs 17 fields
Identity
Summary
Plant type
Light
Moisture
Hardiness
Heat zone
Size
Spacing
Habit
Design roles
Seasonal interest
Growth stages
Lifecycle
Regional guidance
Success tips
Designer notes
Wikimedia Commons
Photo · CC BY-SA 3.0
Backs 1 field
Image
Community photos
The photos above are our reviewed reference set, curated for accuracy.
Plotwright
Climate-aware plant planning — every plant checked against your zone now and in 2050.
support@arteractive.co
© 2026 Plotwright