Your Cool Home is supported by its readers. Please assume all links are affiliate links. If you purchase something from one of our links, we make a small commission from Amazon. Thank you!
Taking care of a lavender tree plant is all about mimicking the dry, sunny conditions of its native Mediterranean home.
Lavender trees are basically lavender shrubs trained into a single-stem “tree” form, and they need sharp drainage, full sun, and careful pruning to stay healthy.
If you’ve been wondering how to take care of a lavender tree plant without killing it, you’re in the right place.
In this post, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about how to take care of a lavender tree plant, from watering and pruning to overwintering and troubleshooting.
Let’s get to it.
How to Take Care of a Lavender Tree Plant: The Basics
Taking care of a lavender tree plant starts with understanding what this plant actually is.
A lavender tree isn’t a separate species—it’s a standard, which means a lavender shrub grafted or trained onto a tall stem to look like a small tree.
Because of that, how to take care of a lavender tree plant is nearly identical to caring for regular lavender, with a few extra considerations for that exposed trunk.
Here’s what matters most when you take care of a lavender tree plant:
1. Give It Full Sun
Lavender trees need at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight every day.
When you take care of a lavender tree plant, sunlight is non-negotiable—shade leads to leggy growth, fewer blooms, and weak stems.
A south-facing spot is ideal if you’re growing your lavender tree in a container.
2. Use Well-Draining Soil
The number one killer of lavender trees is soggy roots.
To take care of a lavender tree plant properly, plant it in sandy or gravelly soil that drains fast.
If you’re using a pot, mix potting soil with perlite or coarse sand, and always choose a container with drainage holes.
3. Water Deeply but Infrequently
When you take care of a lavender tree plant, let the soil dry out completely between waterings.
Lavender is drought-tolerant, so it prefers to be underwatered rather than overwatered.
In summer, water once every week or two; in winter, cut back to once a month or less.
4. Keep Humidity Low
High humidity invites root rot and fungal issues.
If you take care of a lavender tree plant indoors, avoid misting it and keep it away from steamy bathrooms or kitchens.
Good airflow around the plant also helps prevent disease.
Pruning and Shaping Your Lavender Tree
Pruning is where taking care of a lavender tree plant gets a little more hands-on.
Without regular trimming, your lavender tree will turn woody and stop producing those fragrant blooms.
Here’s how to prune when you take care of a lavender tree plant:
1. Prune After Flowering
The best time to trim is right after the flowers fade, usually in late summer.
When you take care of a lavender tree plant, never cut into the old woody stems—they rarely regrow.
Instead, trim back about one-third of the soft green growth.
2. Shape the “Canopy”
Your goal when you take care of a lavender tree plant is a rounded, bushy top on a clean trunk.
Remove any shoots that sprout from the trunk itself.
This keeps the tree form looking tidy and directs energy upward.
3. Deadhead Spent Blooms
Snip off faded flowers throughout the season.
This encourages more blooms and keeps your lavender tree plant looking neat.
It’s one of the easiest ways to take care of a lavender tree plant and get more color.
Overwintering a Lavender Tree Plant
Cold, wet winters are tough on lavender trees.
If you live in a cold climate, how you take care of a lavender tree plant in winter can make or break its survival.
Here’s what to do:
1. Move Containers Indoors
Potted lavender trees should come inside before the first hard freeze.
Place them near a sunny window in a cool room, and water sparingly.
When you take care of a lavender tree plant indoors over winter, less water is always better.
2. Protect In-Ground Plants
If your lavender tree is planted in the ground, mulch around the base with gravel or straw.
This keeps moisture away from the crown, which is crucial when you take care of a lavender tree plant in wet climates.
3. Avoid Wet Feet in Winter
Winter rot is the biggest threat.
Take care of a lavender tree plant by ensuring it never sits in waterlogged soil during the colder months.
Raise pots on bricks if needed, and skip watering unless the soil is bone dry.
Common Problems When You Take Care of a Lavender Tree Plant
Even with perfect care, lavender trees can run into trouble.
Here are the usual suspects and how to fix them:
1. Yellowing Leaves
Yellow leaves usually mean overwatering.
If you take care of a lavender tree plant and notice this, let the soil dry out and check drainage.
2. Leggy Growth
Not enough sun causes stems to stretch.
Move your plant to a brighter spot and prune it back to take care of a lavender tree plant effectively.
3. Root Rot
Mushy stems and a foul smell signal root rot.
Unfortunately, once rot sets in, it’s hard to reverse—so prevention is everything when you take care of a lavender tree plant.
So, How Do You Take Care of a Lavender Tree Plant?
You take care of a lavender tree plant by giving it full sun, sharp drainage, infrequent watering, and regular pruning.
It’s not a fussy plant once you understand its Mediterranean roots—literally and figuratively.
Master those basics and your lavender tree will reward you with silvery foliage and fragrant blooms for years.