I've noticed many people struggling to grow lavender in Zone 9. And believe me, they are not bad at gardening at all. In most of the cases I have seen most of them have chosen the wrong lavender variety to grow well in Zone 9. We can grow Lavender from zone 5 to zone 11. But lavender performs well in cooler climates like zones 6 to 8. It’s important to select a lavender species that can handle the warmer conditions of Zone 9. In this article, I’ll walk you through how to pick the right variety and provide a complete lavender growing guide for Zone 9.
Selecting the right lavender variant for Zone 9
If you want to put the least effort into maintenance then go for Spanish Lavender.
I will not recommend English Lavender at all as it needs cooler temperatures.
I have created this list of Lavender Species that we can grow in Zone 9.
(Scroll the below table side-wise to see the complete information.)
| Lavender Variety | Planting Time | Blooming Time | Maintenance Difficulty | Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas) | Early spring | Early spring to summer | Low | Tolerates heat and requires little maintenance |
| French Lavender (Lavandula dentata) | Spring | Spring through fall | Medium | Long blooming season and great for landscaping |
| Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia - Grosso, Provence) | Late spring | Late spring to summer | Medium | Robust in hot climates; ideal for essential oils |
| English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia - Hidcote, Munstead) | Spring | Summer | High | Highly fragrant; great for culinary use |
In my table you can see, that I have recommended English Lavender but only the Hidcote and Munstead variants.
All the above-mentioned lavender variants need full sunlight. Without proper sunlight, the lavenders can go leggy and sparse.
This is a French Lavender that needs pruning. The pruning technique is mentioned in this article. Just keep reading.
Lavender Growing Tips for Zone 9
In this section, I will tell you everything you need to know to be successful in lavender growing.
I have already mentioned the planting time for each variant.
Maintain proper spacing while planting lavenders
Lavender does not like moisture as this is not a tropical plant. But in Zone 9, you can see the climate is humid. You should try to decrease the moisture. I know it's difficult, but the best you can do is maintain the spacing between two Lavender plants. People in colder regions do not worry about maintaining proper spacing. I recommend you give 8-24 inches of space in between two lavender plants. It will help to keep the moisture level lower.
Note: You can apply a light layer of mulch. It will retain the extra moisture. ( I will suggest you to use gravel or sand mulch )
Watering
You need to water your lavender plants regularly in the first year only. It will take 1 year to settle the roots properly. Then you can consider watering infrequently. Once you feel that the soil is dry, water it. As Zone 9 is warm. you need to water often. But the lavender is drought tolerant so if you miss the watering for a few days it will not be an issue.
Pruning tips
Prune after the blooming season. Focus on trimming the spent flowers. (If possible cut about one-third of the plant)
Note: Do not cut the woody part. Reason: lavender has a hard time regenerating from old wood.
For harvesting, cut the stems about an inch above the woody base. Create small bundles by gathering the stems. Then hang them in a dark and dry place if you want to preserve the scent.
If you do not prune your lavender for a long time, you can see something like this:
Actually, the lavenders are pest resistant. Most of us fail to grow lavender just because of the humid climate. If you follow my advice on proper spacing and do not keep the soil wet always, you will see success.
If you need any recommendations for selecting porch plants, then I have something for you: Low maintenance porch plants for Zone 9
I will bring more gardening tips for Zone 9. Subscribe to my site to stay connected. (And it motivates me to share more experiences with my readers)
